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30 Wild Funeral Stories About Inappropriate, Weird Or Funny Things Happening
Interview With Expert
![“All My Family [With] Mouths Agape”: 81 Crazy Funeral Stories From The People That Attended Them](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/strangest-things-witnessed-funeral-fb39-png__700.jpg)
In many people's minds, a funeral is a place of tranquility and composure. At least when they think about a traditional funeral. But more and more people are choosing to have non-traditional funerals.
Bath University sociologists found that people who've chosen to cremate their family members and have a celebration-of-life service instead of a traditional funeral feel more in control of their grieving process.
Traditional or not, people should still grieve appropriately and treat the whole ordeal with respect. Sadly, that's not the case for every funeral. Many people shared their stories of end-of-life service mishaps when one netizen asked: "What's the craziest or strangest thing you've ever experienced or witnessed at a funeral?"
Bored Panda got in touch with the Redditor who started this thread, u/AffectionateHand2206. They were kind enough to share their own strange funeral story and tell us which entries from the thread surprised them the most. Read our conversation down below!
To know more about funeral etiquette, Bored Panda also contacted Kari The Mortician. Kari Northey has been a licensed funeral home director for 20 years and has worked in the funeral business for almost 30 years.
She's a passionate educator who shares her knowledge about the funeral business with fellow funeral directors and consumers alike. She kindly agreed to tell us more about the etiquette of modern funerals. Read her expert insights below!
More info: Kari The Mortician | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My cousin passed away some years back. He was blind and had a ton of friends, many also blind. When we sung the hymns the guide dogs present howled / bayed along, it was so beautiful.
At the wake I also saw a guide dog veeeery carefully eat a sausage roll off the table right in front of his blind owner. I laughed and the dog whipped his head around to look at me, like ‘oh s**t you can see me?’.
Joe Reaves 5 months ago
Even with all the training in the world, sausage rolls are hard to resist.
"A while back, I went to the funeral of a friend," the thread's author tells Bored Panda. "He had died surprisingly, leaving [two] young kids and an absolutely shocked wife behind." The Redditor says that this was the story that prompted them to ask others about their weird and inappropriate funeral experiences.
"The moment the service was over and during the entire funeral procession, two women who would barely even have qualified as acquaintances were heard wailing and yelling about how they'd lost their brother and close friend above the 200+ mourners."
RELATED:
#2
Several giggling ladies singing, "Spam, spam, spam" from Monty Python just under their breath when the pastor got boring. Several pews were laughing.
It was a song the deceased would sometimes sing. It was funny.
#3
Not really at the funeral, but my neighbor put her husbands dogs ashes in his coffin, labeled Colonel’s medals. The dog got buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery.
"It was so bad that my friend's siblings asked them multiple times to tone it down," u/AffectionateHand2206 goes on. "His children looked even more disturbed by what was happening than they had before.
"Then when the coffin was lowered into the ground, the two women pushed his kids and widow aside and pretended that they were going to throw themselves in. His siblings and a few guests intervened. The women tried to free themselves and go at it again. One even claimed that no one could understand the extent of her grief."
"It was bizarre and heartbreaking at the same time," the Redditor adds.
#4
My sister looked a lot like my grandmother.
My grandmother had a style, heels, a cigarette holder, wig, dress, pearls.
My father (not always appropriate) whispers in sister’s ear, “Why don’t you go in her closet and come out dressed like your grandmother?”
10 minutes later, we hear the click of the heels, the smell of a cigarette in a long holder, and a spot on n imitation of her voice.
My aunt, uncle, cousins all thought she was a ghost.
#5
The lady who convinced my mother to ditch chemo and use essential oils, handed out biz cards at her funeral.
#6
Not super inappropriate, but my grandfather was always a trickster. He had a great sense of humor. He had this little song he would sing to me, my siblings, and my little cousins where he would just repeat the words “poo poopy doo” over and over. At his funeral, my aunt was telling stories about him and in the middle of her telling a story, my 6 year old cousin screamed “POO POOPY DOO” in front of 50 people. Needless to say it lightened the mood a little bit and made everyone a little happier remembering him in a good way.
We asked u/AffectionateHand2206 what stories from the thread stood out to them. "There were a number of bizarre and disturbing stories, but because of my own experience, the response of u/Mental-Pitch5995 stood out to me. Especially this bit:
'When my bf died. He was young, extremely well known and popular with the ladies. An unknown woman was crying hysterically and tried climbing into the casket with him. His brothers pulled her out and me with others escorted her outside to calm her down.' It made me wonder if this kind of thing happens a lot more than I ever cared to know."
#7
At my aunts funeral they played thunderstruck by AC/DC and had a table of white rum shots. let’s just say it was exactly as she would’ve wanted. love you aunt kathy.
Nannychachi 5 months ago
When my oldest daughter got married, her husband wanted "What a Man" by Salt n Pepa played as he walked in. She said no. Two years ago she played it at his funeral. He was the best.
Ann Turner-Drevalas 5 months ago
I was just at a friends memorial where AC/DC songs were heavily in the rotation as she often said she wanted. she was 74, but they were her favorite band. There was an open bar & almost everyone had an inappropriate story to tell involving her, she was fun!
the_avenging_knight (her/she) 5 months ago
Your aunt sounds like she was a fun person, wish I could've met her.
Nikki Gross 5 months ago (edited)
One of my BFFs that I've known since I was young was a full Native American, so of course was her Mom. Denise was a HUGE fan of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, etc. but her absolute favorite band was The Doors which was one of the bands she saw numerous times. Unfortunately she had terminal Breast Cancer, so she planned out her own funeral to save my BFF from having to deal with it. One of the songs that she had played was "Riders In The Storm" by The Doors, which did NOT go over well with some of her more conservative family members, but since she planned her own funeral there wasn't anything that the douchebag members of her family could do.
Nerd Groupie 5 months ago
You're supposed to drink every time they say thunder in the song. I hope they didn't take a shot for each one!
#8
My grandmother's funeral was out in the country. Rolling fields, a few trees here and there. As the service goes on, I see a dog, trotting through the field next to the cemetery. It's a long distance, and the dog just lopes along, while a rather boring preacher droned on and on. I'd glance to the coffin, then back at the dog, it barely seemed to get closer. I notice everyone facing that direction is now watching the dog. It just keeps trotting closer. It slips under the cemetery fence, and now crosses grave after grave until he is only a few feet away. everyone is watching it intently as it walks up to the casket, sniffs, and lifts it leg to pee on my grandmother. Suddenly every single person, in unison, leaned forward, some shaking hands and arms and made a squeal or a shout or yelled at the dog. it looked surprised and ran away.
We all started laughing.
#9
They used youtube to play one of the woman's favorite songs with lyrics on a projector. Just after starting the song, YouTube started an ad that showed a woman straining on the toilet and it was not skippable. Everyone busted up laughing. The woman's husband said she would have found it funny, too.
Another response that stood out to the Redditor was by u/Thernuk: "The lady who convinced my mother to ditch chemo and use essential oils handed out biz cards at her funeral." "I felt rage on u/Thernuk's behalf," u/AffectionateHand2206 tells Bored Panda.
The Redditor posts various questions on the AskReddit subreddit from time to time. "I'd say I am a generally curious person and I love finding things that connect people."
"And sometimes it's the shared unusual experiences that remind us that no matter how out there our experiences are or seem, there will (almost) always be someone somewhere who can relate to them. I find that thought comforting," the Redditor shares.
#10
Probably me and my brothers not realizing we were supposed to open my moms ashes box and release them, so instead we awkwardly dropped her entire box in the river like a bath bomb.
#11
The corpse farted. The family of the deceased were religious and were against embalming. Decomposing bodies produce gas, and it has to go somewhere. Your gut bacteria don't die when you do. They begin digesting YOU since your body stops producing the mucous and stuff that protects your stomach and intestinal lining. Well, all of that culminated in the loudest, most foul smelling bodily emission ever witnessed by man. Several people were puking, many on the verge of puking. People were running for the exit. This was at a tiny church that was basically a house with extra seating in the living room. Think the worst fart you've ever smelled intermingled with the smell of decaying flesh. It was so bad. I think it's the only time I have ever been envious of a corpse. Lucky bastard couldn't smell a thing.
#12
I *Caused* one. I was a photographer, a model I knew got this really long white dress with this shoulder attached train/cape thingy. She wanted to get pictures of it, and there was a large hill nearby, so I would be lower down shooting upward she would be in sparkly white flowing dress on the crest of the hill catching the wind and light. She is posing, things are going well. She looks down the other side of the hill (the hill was a drumlin, so kind of knife like at the peak). She suddenly comes running down the hill "We need to go, NOW".
So, on the other side of the hill was a cemetery, and there was a service going on. They looked up and saw this ghostly woman on the hilltop. Started gasping and pointing. Yeah. That was one of four times I caused issues with the public doing photography shenanigans,.
Kari Northey, an educator and a licensed funeral home director with 27 years of experience under her belt, tells Bored Panda that funeral etiquette today is quite different from what it was back in the day.
"It was a formal event years ago and attendees wore suits and dresses and arrived promptly for the events," she explains. "Now, just like with the more casual dress code on airplanes and restaurants, people will wear jeans or sweats to attend a funeral and arrive late."
#13
My best friend’s grandfather died and they had a military funeral for him, which I attended. It was a small funeral, so I sat with the family. I had noticed a butterfly flying around where we were sitting, and as the man leaned over to hand the flag to her grandmother, it landed on his shoulder. It stayed there until he stood, saluted, and turned to leave. I don’t know if anyone else noticed it, but I thought it was a particularly beautiful moment.
#14
At my mom’s funeral which my dad only agreed to because her sisters were being a******s about my agnostic mother not having a proper funeral one of them walked up to me and said “Aren’t you so sad you never had kids and gave your mom a grandbaby.” Had to bite my tongue to keep from saying yeah so sad my stillborn daughter and eight miscarriages didnt give mom a grandchild.
#15
At my husband's funeral, they were folding the flag over his casket, and one of the guys were bragging about how good he was, never dropped a flag, and always perfect creases on and on. As the corners came together, he caught it on the casket, ripped the flag, it hit the ground.
Someone behind me said, "That was xxx (husband's name) telling you to humble yourself because we are all tired of hearing how perfect you are." Everyone looked at me, and I just smiled because that was my husband to a T!
Kari The Mortician also tells us about how the practice of families sending 'thank you' notes to those who sent flowers and donated in memory of their loved ones has slowly faded away. "Now, just like with weddings, showers, and gift giving, 'thank you' notes are not often sent and those who generously give receive no nod of thankfulness."
#16
My friends dad died, and we were in the back of the altar. i looked up and saw his literal father standing next to me. i did not know until later that his father had a twin.
Auntriarch 5 months ago
My father in law had a non twin brother who looked exactly like him. I knew about this uncle, but my mum didn't, she damn near fainted when she saw him.
#17
My cousin died of a heart attack aged late 20’s/early 30’s.
Her father walked up to the casket at the funeral and as he was just about to reach it, he jolted backwards and fell over. Heart attack. His pacemaker worked and he was up and about again in about 2 minutes.
For about 60 seconds, all hell broke loose. Women crying, screaming, chaos. There were about 100-150 people just finding their seats when it happened.
He was actually joking about 3 minutes after, saying his rhythm was ‘off’, and felt s****y for the few days prior, the pacemaker set his rhythm properly again and except for the punch in the chest from the pacemaker, actually felt much better than he did previously!
It was seriously a ‘movie’ moment - one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had.
#18
My mother switched her wedding ring with my dad’s ring while he was in the casket.
There's also been a change in funeral processions. "[They] were a solemn showing within the community of one last reverent ride to the cemetery," Kari adds. "And now it has become unsafe with distracted drivers and drivers who are never taught the etiquette or more importantly the law of funeral processions."
#19
At my Grandpa's funeral, my grandparents' friend tried to sign me up to sell Mary Kay under her while I was crying beside his grave.
At the same funeral, the preacher giving the eulogy talked about whether or not my Grandpa spanked his kids enough. He said "Daddy was a hard man, but was he hard enough? Did he spare the rod too many times?" And then mentioned my dad and his sisters by name and said they should ask themselves that question when they think of their Dad. We were all like, WTF.
#20
You wont believe me but someone's phone went off with the ringtone "Staying Alive".
innosins:
At my Grandma's funeral, someone had Linkin Park's 'In The End' as their ringtone.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 5 months ago
Any other songs just as inappropriate at a funeral? Queens Another One Bites The Dust?
#21
My Uncle, a really great guy, passed away one summer. Huge family turnout for the Catholic funeral mass. My father was executor, and handled all the details of the burial & mass. My Uncle requested in his paperwork that his remains be cremated, no viewing, just a mass and last rites at the grave. At that time, you weren't allowed to be cremated and have a mass of Christian burial...
My father followed his wishes, but failed to inform (or purposely didn't tell) the Church - or our relatives - of the arrangement. This included my *mother*, who was my Uncle's youngest sister. Never got to ask him why he didn't say anything. But he and my Uncle were practical jokers, and tight as ticks; so I think he was going to make it happen regardless of the consequences.
Day of the mass at the Church, my mother told me and my brother to go to the hearse and be pall-bearers with some other cousins. The driver and assistant said they didn't need any of us, and to wait at the Church entrance. Brother and I stared at each other - what were these guys gonna do; lift the casket themselves? Then they opened the rear door of the hearse, and... there he was. No casket, no box, no urn; just a compressed brick of ash and (I assume) some binding cement. Like a solid, rectangular cinder block.
Too much went on after that for me to detail here. Suffice it to say there was loud discussions that day, Traditional Catholic relatives made a scene in the parking lot; other not so traditional ones laughed uncontrollably, and my mother was staring holes through my father (she was pissed at him for at least two months.) The priest was actually the coolest head there that day; he allowed the ceremony to go on; and even brought the remains into the Church as if it were in a traditional casket.
Everybody - angry or not - still went to the restaurant for the reception; my family *never* passes up a free meal. More loud discussions and accusations. Lots of stories about my Uncle and his brothers and sisters. Many children driving their drunk parents home. But nobody was crying. From the moment his remains were taken out of the back of the hearse to the end of the reception; no one cried. And a lot of people were laughing.
Craziest funeral I've ever attended.
When it comes to things people should never do at funerals, Kari The Mortician says interrupting solemn moments is one of the biggest faux pas. "I have seen someone ask a grief-stricken parent who is standing alone saying goodbye to their teenage child if they would give them the service folder that the parent is holding."
#22
My brother in laws girlfriend locked her self in a car, cried and screamed threatening to kill herself.. AT my father in laws funeral. She was fine five minutes later and explained to my in law she did it because she’s not used to not having all the attention (she thought her being pregnant would make people forget that the father died?).
#23
My family owns a funeral home. Years ago, you had to use records to play music at funerals. of course, when there were no funerals, and people were just cleaning up, etc., they would play other records.
My grandfather had a funeral going on, and told his father to just play the record that was on the turntable, because he had set it up the day before.
Unfortunately, someone had changed it. It was the song “Give me five minutes more.”
Hysterical now, evidently not so hysterical at the time.
#24
Strangest and most infuriating was listening to the preacher giving the eulogy and talk about how my friend was in Hell because she committed [self-harm], and how we're "not supposed to worry about that now".
When you're not a member of the grieving family, you should also be aware of where you sit down, Kari says. "It is terribly selfish to sit in the family area if you are not family [and] intrude on the private immediate family moments when they are not your immediate family." Kari also says it's inappropriate when families start fighting over cremated remains or who will receive the jewelry or the flag of a veteran.
#25
Someone trying to "quietly" open a can while they were doing the closing prayer.
#26
Went to my granduncle's funeral in Ireland as a ten year old boy. turned out he was a hero in the IRA back in the day, and six masked IRA guys emerged and fired shots with automatic rifles over the grave. best funeral ever.
#27
My brother committed [self-harm]. At his funeral we had a receiving line so people can say their condolences to his widow and family. Some old guy who may have been an acquaintance of my dad, walked up to my brother's wife and just said, "So how did he do it?".
Kari The Mortician also mentions one more worrying recent trend that is inappropriate in the eyes of many funeral guests. "More and more people are taking selfies at funerals or sharing photos of the deceased to receive attention on [to] themselves when it is not the time or place." Out of respect for the deceased and the grieving family, it's best to put your phone down during the service altogether.
#28
My niece walking up to fathers coffin and tweaking his nose.
#29
Not super peculiar or strange but my stomach growled so loud during my grandpas funeral, DURING THE FINAL PRAYER, that the Karen next to me gave me a disgusted look. Super embarrassing but makes me laugh now. Pretty sure grandpa would’ve laughed too lol.
Anna Ekberg 5 months ago
Like anyone could control their stomach growling. I would have laughed too.
#30
The female relative who came to the visitation straight off of a day on the lake - wearing her bikini top, jean shorts, and flip flops.
What do you think ?
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
I'm the one who caused the mystery at my FIL's funeral. He had a lifelong habit of tucking a toothpick above one ear. I chose a quiet moment when no one was paying attention to linger at the open casket just long enough to tuck a fresh toothpick over his ear, and gradually the room buzzed with everyone wondering how it appeared since clearly the funeral home hadn't put it there. It will always be my little secret.
Fussy1 5 months ago
Not going to be your little secret for long 'Stephanie Did It'!. Lol
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Vanessa MacKenzie 5 months ago
which one of the actual funny not awkward parts of the funeral stories would you like us to reinact? 😁
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The Starsong Princess 5 months ago (edited)
I have a few - when the minister started prating at my aunt’s funeral and everyone bowed their head, my five year old niece said loudly “what are you all looking at?” Our whole row burst out laughing. My aunt would have thought that was hilarious. The second one - My cousin had these two old aunties, Aggie and Jane, on the other side of her family that I would see every five years or so. Jane passed away when I was away at school. But, a few years later at my grandmother’s, I saw Jane come in. I said to my cousin “I thought your Auntie Jane passed away?” My cousin said “No, that’s Auntie Aggie. She’s wearing Jane’s wig. She said it’s a perfectly good wig with lots of wear left in it.” This struck us as hilarious and we laughed so hard that my mother told us to leave the room and compose ourselves before the service started
Trisec Tebeakesse 5 months ago
I became a superhero at a funeral. It was a dozen years ago now, for my Great-Uncle Ray. He was the last living veteran of WWII in the family, and also the only Eagle Scout, BSA. (Until my son earned it a few years later.) In any case, during the wake, I experienced growing abdominal pain. I was not missing the funeral, so I went the next day in a miserable state. I went directly to the hospital afterwards. I self-diagnosed Appendicitis, but did not know the root cause. In any case, something in my Uncle must have morphed into me - because it turned out to be Stage III Colon cancer. I obviously survived (and still in fine health), but my superpower now is that I beat cancer.
Littlemiss 5 months ago (edited)
My husband's younger brother died. As the siblings went to scatter their brothers ashes a huge gust of wind blew out of nowhere on what was a calm still day. The ashes up everywhere, they were coated in them. Both siblings were gagging and choking on the ashes. It was my brother in laws last practical joke on them they figured. He went out as he lived, recklessly.
Steve Hall 5 months ago
I grew up a country boy and learned very young that the best fights can be seen at funerals. Always think before you speak because there is always someone nearby that doesn't like you.
Papa 5 months ago
The only weird one I can think of was at the funeral for a young man who had died in an automobile accident, leaving behind a wife and three small children. One of the widow's uncles asked her if he was texting her when driving, and if that had caused the accident.
Cecil 5 months ago
How can ppl be so clueless? This should have resulted in Uncle being committed
Load More Replies... Sharkfin6 5 months ago
I hope this text box is big enough. I just need to get this out. My very average, loving fiance has this completely BONKERS list of demands for his funeral. Some of those demands include, but are not limited to, and are subject to change and increase is dramatics: handing out little trinkets to guests containing a mini- ouija board with a note saying "lets keep in touch"; hiring a couple of actors to come in mid-service and stand ominously at the back of the room wearing long trench coats, dark sunglasses and fedoras, saying nothing to anyone; being laid FACE DOWN in his casket so that anyone that disliked him can have the opportunity to kiss his rear one last time; have all his friends go up to make speeches telling wild, embellished stories about all the wild times they spent together and ending with "i cannot believe this BIOTCH had the AUDACITY TO JUST UP AND DI3 LIKE THAT"; his casket is to have a confetti canon activate once it's lowered into the ground.
Bethany J 2 months ago
These are all fantastic ideas. The being laid face down part might be my favourite
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Stardust she/her 5 months ago
In Hindu culture we mourn the dead for 13 days. One of my great uncles died and towards the end of the 13 days we went to visit his family and everyone were so normal as if nothing had changed. Some people were in fact talking about how they didn’t like the way he spoke with them back when he was alive
Lee Banks 5 months ago (edited)
I have a sister that is not allowed to sit next to me, during funerals. We make everyone laugh for the people we love. Last time, we threw grapes at the head of the guy who was making it about himself. Edit: We are grown. It was deserved. We'd had other behavior, at previous funerals. Both deceased persons would have approved. The only reason we can't sit next to each other is every other person that loves the departed laughs, too.
Becky Scherer 5 months ago
Close friend of my husband (he was supposed to stand up in our wedding, but sadly passed before). He was a civil war reenacter so they set off a blank on a small cannon afterward. Set off car alarms in the neighborhood. He would have laughed so hard.
Mi So 5 months ago
My great aunt asked my parents to handle her affairs for her, after her passing. One task was to take her ashes back to where her parents are buried, to be buried with them. My parents took on the long road trip, & had arranged with a minister to do the burial when they got there. The time came & they were standing graveside, just them & the cemetery workers, waiting….and waiting….just waiting & not knowing what to do because no minister. He had gone to the wrong cemetery, only realizing his error when he couldn’t find an open grave, or my parents. He was horribly embarrassed when he finally arrived at the correct location. Fortunately, another of my great aunt’s requests was no funeral, and only my parents at her burial, so all was fine. But I’m sure that minister never made that mistake again!!
T'Mar of Vulcan 5 months ago
Went to a colleague's sister's funeral. The pastor grinned the whole way through the service. Found it disrespectful. At the commiseration in the church hall after my dad's funeral, my dad's sister asked my mother for his clothes. She wanted to give them to some guy in her retirement home. My mom was gobsmacked.
Skadi Lifdis 4 months ago
At my grandpa's funeral: first off, the mortician did a terrible makeup job, so grandpa was green. Everyone had told my young cousin he was just sleeping before the funeral but she was bright enough to know it was a funeral and asked our older cousin when was grandpa going to die. She told her "Oh sweetie, Grandpa already died" to which she started bawling. After she calmed down, she slowly walked up to the casket, stood there for a moment, and then reached out and poked him in the cheek. She looked back with a huge grin and shouted "Hey! He's kinda squishy!" and poked him again. The entire church started loudly sobbing, as our cousin rushed up to get her and I slunked down trying my best not to laugh. The rest of the funeral was terrible - the priest skipped whole sections of verses in the eulogy and seemed like he'd rather be anywhere besides there.
Uncle Schmickle 5 months ago
My Dad had a great sense of humour. My mate has a crazy sense of humour. As we drove into the cemetery for Dad's funeral, my mate played bells ringing from his phone and called out " bring out your dead ". If you're a Monty Python fan, you'll know the scene this refers to ! We all had a good laugh, especially the cemetery manager who WAS a Monty Python fan. Dad would have loved it.
Kimberly Herbert 5 months ago
BG: My sister and I were raised Catholic. Dad's family was mostly Episcopal. So various services we went to for them (Weddings, Baptisms, Confirmations, Funerals) had a somewhat familiar pattern. Well my Aunt's MIL passed and we went to her Baptist Funeral. My sister and I genuflected as we entered the pew. Got slapped by the women behind us. The preacher saw it and got there before our parents. Parents were talking to family members and we were told to go sit by our cousin on the family row. The preacher got there before our parents, Aunt and Uncle. He wouldn't accept their excuse that we had been "disrespectful". He told them to leave right then. Found out later this was a last straw situation and the women were actually kicked out of the church congregation.
Lene 5 months ago
My paternal grandma was very fond of smoking and drinking. Not an alcoholic but did like her little morning drink and was never shy to try out a new whiskey or brandy. At her wake there was no alcohol at all. It broke my heart for her because I know that she'd have wanted us to at least have a beer. Instead there was coffee and sodas. My bf and I drove to his sister's place (5min drive) and then I had a beer and finally I calmed down. My maternal grandma died of cancer but kept telling everybody that it was going fine and she expected to come home from the hospital any time. Her siblings sat there, at her funeral, in total chock because they all thought it was going fine with her and *boom* she died. The wake? I got a can of Christmas beer in my bonusdad's van with him and my mom. Nobody had arranged for a wake after the funeral because it's a broken family and everybody hates everybody. So for me, the wake was in a van. Smh.
Joy 5 months ago
My dad's side of the family is super religious. My aunt died and even though she was super religious as well, she was a very, very open minded and liberal one. She had her pastor oversee her funeral. Her pastor is a lesbian and brought her wife with her. When my uncle went up to speak a few words about my aunt, he decided to warn everybody about the end of times. Fun stuff!
Mila Sliacka 5 months ago
Just came across this article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12753389/amp/Drunk-priest-barely-able-stand-overseeing-funeral-stillborn-child-devastated-relatives-fined-Polish-police.html TLDR: drunk priest fell asleep during funeral.
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
I'm the one who caused the mystery at my FIL's funeral. He had a lifelong habit of tucking a toothpick above one ear. I chose a quiet moment when no one was paying attention to linger at the open casket just long enough to tuck a fresh toothpick over his ear, and gradually the room buzzed with everyone wondering how it appeared since clearly the funeral home hadn't put it there. It will always be my little secret.
Fussy1 5 months ago
Not going to be your little secret for long 'Stephanie Did It'!. Lol
Load More Replies... Vanessa MacKenzie 5 months ago
which one of the actual funny not awkward parts of the funeral stories would you like us to reinact? 😁
Load More Replies... The Starsong Princess 5 months ago (edited)
I have a few - when the minister started prating at my aunt’s funeral and everyone bowed their head, my five year old niece said loudly “what are you all looking at?” Our whole row burst out laughing. My aunt would have thought that was hilarious. The second one - My cousin had these two old aunties, Aggie and Jane, on the other side of her family that I would see every five years or so. Jane passed away when I was away at school. But, a few years later at my grandmother’s, I saw Jane come in. I said to my cousin “I thought your Auntie Jane passed away?” My cousin said “No, that’s Auntie Aggie. She’s wearing Jane’s wig. She said it’s a perfectly good wig with lots of wear left in it.” This struck us as hilarious and we laughed so hard that my mother told us to leave the room and compose ourselves before the service started
Trisec Tebeakesse 5 months ago
I became a superhero at a funeral. It was a dozen years ago now, for my Great-Uncle Ray. He was the last living veteran of WWII in the family, and also the only Eagle Scout, BSA. (Until my son earned it a few years later.) In any case, during the wake, I experienced growing abdominal pain. I was not missing the funeral, so I went the next day in a miserable state. I went directly to the hospital afterwards. I self-diagnosed Appendicitis, but did not know the root cause. In any case, something in my Uncle must have morphed into me - because it turned out to be Stage III Colon cancer. I obviously survived (and still in fine health), but my superpower now is that I beat cancer.
Littlemiss 5 months ago (edited)
My husband's younger brother died. As the siblings went to scatter their brothers ashes a huge gust of wind blew out of nowhere on what was a calm still day. The ashes up everywhere, they were coated in them. Both siblings were gagging and choking on the ashes. It was my brother in laws last practical joke on them they figured. He went out as he lived, recklessly.
Steve Hall 5 months ago
I grew up a country boy and learned very young that the best fights can be seen at funerals. Always think before you speak because there is always someone nearby that doesn't like you.
Papa 5 months ago
The only weird one I can think of was at the funeral for a young man who had died in an automobile accident, leaving behind a wife and three small children. One of the widow's uncles asked her if he was texting her when driving, and if that had caused the accident.
Cecil 5 months ago
How can ppl be so clueless? This should have resulted in Uncle being committed
Load More Replies... Sharkfin6 5 months ago
I hope this text box is big enough. I just need to get this out. My very average, loving fiance has this completely BONKERS list of demands for his funeral. Some of those demands include, but are not limited to, and are subject to change and increase is dramatics: handing out little trinkets to guests containing a mini- ouija board with a note saying "lets keep in touch"; hiring a couple of actors to come in mid-service and stand ominously at the back of the room wearing long trench coats, dark sunglasses and fedoras, saying nothing to anyone; being laid FACE DOWN in his casket so that anyone that disliked him can have the opportunity to kiss his rear one last time; have all his friends go up to make speeches telling wild, embellished stories about all the wild times they spent together and ending with "i cannot believe this BIOTCH had the AUDACITY TO JUST UP AND DI3 LIKE THAT"; his casket is to have a confetti canon activate once it's lowered into the ground.
Bethany J 2 months ago
These are all fantastic ideas. The being laid face down part might be my favourite
Load More Replies... Stardust she/her 5 months ago
In Hindu culture we mourn the dead for 13 days. One of my great uncles died and towards the end of the 13 days we went to visit his family and everyone were so normal as if nothing had changed. Some people were in fact talking about how they didn’t like the way he spoke with them back when he was alive
Lee Banks 5 months ago (edited)
I have a sister that is not allowed to sit next to me, during funerals. We make everyone laugh for the people we love. Last time, we threw grapes at the head of the guy who was making it about himself. Edit: We are grown. It was deserved. We'd had other behavior, at previous funerals. Both deceased persons would have approved. The only reason we can't sit next to each other is every other person that loves the departed laughs, too.
Becky Scherer 5 months ago
Close friend of my husband (he was supposed to stand up in our wedding, but sadly passed before). He was a civil war reenacter so they set off a blank on a small cannon afterward. Set off car alarms in the neighborhood. He would have laughed so hard.
Mi So 5 months ago
My great aunt asked my parents to handle her affairs for her, after her passing. One task was to take her ashes back to where her parents are buried, to be buried with them. My parents took on the long road trip, & had arranged with a minister to do the burial when they got there. The time came & they were standing graveside, just them & the cemetery workers, waiting….and waiting….just waiting & not knowing what to do because no minister. He had gone to the wrong cemetery, only realizing his error when he couldn’t find an open grave, or my parents. He was horribly embarrassed when he finally arrived at the correct location. Fortunately, another of my great aunt’s requests was no funeral, and only my parents at her burial, so all was fine. But I’m sure that minister never made that mistake again!!
T'Mar of Vulcan 5 months ago
Went to a colleague's sister's funeral. The pastor grinned the whole way through the service. Found it disrespectful. At the commiseration in the church hall after my dad's funeral, my dad's sister asked my mother for his clothes. She wanted to give them to some guy in her retirement home. My mom was gobsmacked.
Skadi Lifdis 4 months ago
At my grandpa's funeral: first off, the mortician did a terrible makeup job, so grandpa was green. Everyone had told my young cousin he was just sleeping before the funeral but she was bright enough to know it was a funeral and asked our older cousin when was grandpa going to die. She told her "Oh sweetie, Grandpa already died" to which she started bawling. After she calmed down, she slowly walked up to the casket, stood there for a moment, and then reached out and poked him in the cheek. She looked back with a huge grin and shouted "Hey! He's kinda squishy!" and poked him again. The entire church started loudly sobbing, as our cousin rushed up to get her and I slunked down trying my best not to laugh. The rest of the funeral was terrible - the priest skipped whole sections of verses in the eulogy and seemed like he'd rather be anywhere besides there.
Uncle Schmickle 5 months ago
My Dad had a great sense of humour. My mate has a crazy sense of humour. As we drove into the cemetery for Dad's funeral, my mate played bells ringing from his phone and called out " bring out your dead ". If you're a Monty Python fan, you'll know the scene this refers to ! We all had a good laugh, especially the cemetery manager who WAS a Monty Python fan. Dad would have loved it.
Kimberly Herbert 5 months ago
BG: My sister and I were raised Catholic. Dad's family was mostly Episcopal. So various services we went to for them (Weddings, Baptisms, Confirmations, Funerals) had a somewhat familiar pattern. Well my Aunt's MIL passed and we went to her Baptist Funeral. My sister and I genuflected as we entered the pew. Got slapped by the women behind us. The preacher saw it and got there before our parents. Parents were talking to family members and we were told to go sit by our cousin on the family row. The preacher got there before our parents, Aunt and Uncle. He wouldn't accept their excuse that we had been "disrespectful". He told them to leave right then. Found out later this was a last straw situation and the women were actually kicked out of the church congregation.
Lene 5 months ago
My paternal grandma was very fond of smoking and drinking. Not an alcoholic but did like her little morning drink and was never shy to try out a new whiskey or brandy. At her wake there was no alcohol at all. It broke my heart for her because I know that she'd have wanted us to at least have a beer. Instead there was coffee and sodas. My bf and I drove to his sister's place (5min drive) and then I had a beer and finally I calmed down. My maternal grandma died of cancer but kept telling everybody that it was going fine and she expected to come home from the hospital any time. Her siblings sat there, at her funeral, in total chock because they all thought it was going fine with her and *boom* she died. The wake? I got a can of Christmas beer in my bonusdad's van with him and my mom. Nobody had arranged for a wake after the funeral because it's a broken family and everybody hates everybody. So for me, the wake was in a van. Smh.
Joy 5 months ago
My dad's side of the family is super religious. My aunt died and even though she was super religious as well, she was a very, very open minded and liberal one. She had her pastor oversee her funeral. Her pastor is a lesbian and brought her wife with her. When my uncle went up to speak a few words about my aunt, he decided to warn everybody about the end of times. Fun stuff!
Mila Sliacka 5 months ago
Just came across this article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12753389/amp/Drunk-priest-barely-able-stand-overseeing-funeral-stillborn-child-devastated-relatives-fined-Polish-police.html TLDR: drunk priest fell asleep during funeral.
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