A close friend's mom died on February 5, 2014. The service was today. Like most of you, I have been to many funerals and pretty much know what to expect.
Catholic: Church service with the casket.
Non Denominational Christian: Bible readings, a message from the pastor, family members, friends sharing the life of their lived ones and a photo collage and a slide show with contemporary music.
I have never been to a funeral like this
Today we witnessed:
Everyone getting "lei" ed
Very colorful clothing, Hawaiian shirts, dresses, shorts, short shorts, short dresses and tall shoes and flip flops.
Poetry in Hawaiian and English
Singing by her sister (WOW! rendition of Were You There)
Singing by a deaf sister with beautiful signing by her son (also in Hawaiian and English)
Emotion
Passion
Loud weeping and sobbing
Multiple descriptions of the deceased new teeth, deformed toe nails and an extremely long thumb nail that has been considered a weapon. These descriptions all started with the pastor reflecting on how she always sat in the front row wearing flip flops. Each person there after repeated what the previous person said about the teeth and nails and added on.
A partial 12 step meeting (34 days sober from a neighbor with no teeth) He actually got up and said, "Hi, my name is ..." I can't remember his name
References to her weed smoking and drinking
A description of an ankle monitoring system by an incarcerated sister let out for the day. She was happy to not be accompanied by 2 sheriffs. And the "ankle bracelet" which she showed us, matched her dress.
Many interruptions and calling out when people were speaking including the pastor, to add or correct something the speaker was saying.
But the thing everyone had in common was that they all knew she LOVED the Lord and was at home in his arms.
It is what it is...
Namaste
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