to wonder would you have a living funeral?

[slipperandpjsmum]

I have been reading about them, prompted by a friend who is considering having one.

Has anyone been to a living funeral? If you knew you were reaching the end of your life would you consider having one?

What a weird idea

Sounds like a funeral shower Lol

No, I would just have a party.

To call it a living funeral is just morbid.

You can't have a funeral unless one of the atendees is deceased.

Never heard of them, but I suppose it might make more sense to enjoy it (as you will be paying for it) than turn up in a box.

No - a funeral is for the mourners.

No, it would be wierd.

A late relative had a big family reunion/party shortly before he died. Nobody knew he was terminal and he died not long after. I think I would consider the same if, God forbid, I was ever in that position.

No, but I'd like to be a fly on the wall of my dead one

My mum lives alone and has dementia. She is very lonely. She never leaves the house alone. She has lived there 50 years. The neighbours never visit her, even though some of them have also lived there 50 years.

We know that when the time comes, they will all dress up and come to her funeral. People are very strange.

God, some people can't bear to be left out of anything
Funerals are a chance for those left behind to mourn (or celebrate), but it is very definitely an after the event occasion.

No but if I knew I was likely to die soon I might blow a lot of money on a big fuck-off party.

Surely every birthday party after you pass 70 is potentially a living funeral...

If circumstances allowed me to have a living funeral then I would definitely have one. It would be nice to get a chance to say goodbye to everyone and tell them what they meant to me. It's a lovely idea.

DH went to one recently, although it was billed as a party/reunion rather than a living funeral, the man is dying from cancer so everyone knew what it was.

If it was me, I think I'd prefer to make time to visit/see individual people or small groups. A party that was all about me would feel a bit self-indulgent, I think.

I think if you're on the way out you're totally allowed to be self indulgent.

I wouldn't do that. But I can understand those that do. My dad died last year, someone said at the wake "He would have loved this!".

All together, telling daft stories about each other, not just my dad, drinks and food.

Maybe it shouldn't be "living funerals", maybe we should all get together more as family and friends, eat drink and be merry.

Gerard Duveen, who was a former lecturer of mine held a 'living funeral cum farewell party' when he knew he was dying from cancer. I think he was interested in people's reaction to his impending death and to see people for the last time.

I would be tempted to do the same for the rather more prosaic reason that if others are going to get a booze and feed up at my expense, I'd like to be there to enjoy it too.

slippers are you OK? Sounds like you maybe feeling a bit excessively morbid.

But to answer your question: potentially, yes. There are a lot of people I'd want to thank.