Is It Wrong to Not Attend a Funeral

If someone you were especially closed to died, would it wrong to not attend their funeral? I don't like funerals....no one does....but my thing about why I don't like them is because I don't want THAT to be my last memory of them. What are your views of this, if someone you were especially close to died, would you feel obligated to go and show your last respect?

If it were someone close then yes I would go out of respect.

^^ I agree. If it's someone you were close to I think you should go out of respect. If it's the coffin thing that makes someone uncomfortable, they could always steer clear of the viewing. But especially if it's someone close, you should go.

When my uncle died, at his funeral I remember the priest saying that funerals aren't for the dead but rather the living. They're for the surviving loved ones to take the first step towards closure of the life that was and to resolve creating a new relationship with the deceased that's spiritual rather than physical. I think funerals are very important in that regard.

CatEyes10736 wrote:When my uncle died, at his funeral I remember the priest saying that funerals aren't for the dead but rather the living.

Marc, it's your decision if you attend or not. The only grief you're going to get (if you don't go) will be from the living, not the dead.

Exactly, the person is already dead, they are not going to care.

It isn't wrong, but I think that it is beneficial for the bereaved to attend the funerals of their loved ones, and to–like Cat said–make inroads towards closure. I have a friend whose mother died and he just couldn't bring themselves to attend the funeral. Later he regretted it.

I don't think it is wrong at all not to go. It is 100% up to you to make peace how you see fit.

Marc™ wrote:If someone you were especially closed to died, would it wrong to not attend their funeral? I don't like funerals....no one does....but my thing about why I don't like them is because I don't want THAT to be my last memory of them. What are your views of this, if someone you were especially close to died, would you feel obligated to go and show your last respect?

Of course I'd go. I don't like funerals either and honestly, that's the only time I'll really go to one....if it's someone that I know really well or someone close to me. Which is why I don't want to have to go to a funeral for the next 50 yrs. And really, that isn't going to be your last memory of them. That's just the ceremony. Your last memory of them would be when they were living. If it's someone you're esp close to, you should go. Even if you don't like it.