Funeral

Death is sad, there is no question about that. Death takes a person away from those who love them, it removes any last vestiges of hope, and it is final. It may bring feelings of loss, anger, guilt, frustration. All negative emotions. For those to whom it means relief, which must always be accompanied by guilt for thinking so, then it marks the end of a terrible time, a full stop to a nightmare.

But a funeral is a beautiful thing.

It celebrates and shows respect for the life of an individual, remembering the person they were, not perhaps the person they became as life ebbed away.

It brings together those who loved the departed, allowing them to grieve and say their goodbyes, each cherishing their own memories.

It allows those who love the bereaved to provide support and comfort without awkwardness. Families come together, joined in their sorrow. But they cast aside grievances, catch up on each others' lives, care for each other and promise to meet up before the next funeral - hope for a wedding.

The service is of comfort even if all the words don't make sense. Regardless of belief, the words reiterate that the departed are no longer suffering, their troubles are over.

It would be wrong to say that funerals are nice - nothing that has a prerequisite of death can be nice - but they are full of love and that in itself is wonderful.