Catholic Funerals

[Ed Lecuyer]

I've never been to a Catholic funeral before, so it was a new experience for me.  The casket was a closed casket.

FYI: That would be the norm for a Catholic funeral.

[Dave Buczkowski]

Not necessarily Ed. It depends on what the family wants. The casket is usually open during viewing hours. How else can you comment on the skills of the undertaker...
Dave

[Ed Lecuyer]

At the Mass of Christian Burial (the funeral Mass) the casket is always closed. The casket is draped in the pall (white cloth) at the entrance of the church. This is done as a reminder of the deceased's baptism.

The only exceptions to this would be if the body has been cremated, and the ashes are present. (Although this is usually done after the Mass of Christian Burial, but not always.) Or if the body is not present at all.

You are correct that at the vigil ("wake") the casket can be open or closed according to the wishes of the family. The vigil is usually held at a funeral home, but is sometimes done in the church before the Mass of Christian Burial (usually the night before.)

In my other hobby, I'm a Catholic church musician/liturgist/choir director. While I don't play at funerals as a general rule, I am honored when someone I know has requested that I play at their loved one's Mass of Christian Burial.

[Bernie Perch]

This is not the happiest subject unless one believes in reincarnation or we go on to work in that roundhouse in the sky.

Starting at age 7 at my Grandmother's funeral, in the last 60 years I have probably attended way over a thousand wakes, funerals, memorial and gravesite services of friends, acquaintances and relatives and have sung at many hundreds of Catholic funerals (including my Dad's with my daughter) and I have probably have seen as many variations as anyone.  When I sing (and I feel that my singing voice is not really that great) I try to feel what the family is feeling and that can be tough when you are looking them in the eyes.

I believe that the Catholic Mass along with a positive eulogy bringing out the finer points of one's life is one of the best ways we can send one off.  Just a few weeks ago at my uncle's Mass, his grandson eulogized him in rap with modern organ music played in the background.

What does this have to do with railroading?  Well, when we took CNJ 113 out for its first test run, when we hammered past the Minersville station, we threw half of Bob Kimmel Sr's ashes into the blazing firebox as per his request.  Now that was a sendoff.

Bernie

[Mike Arnold]

When my Mother died in 2007 at 47 she was giving one even though she was Russian Orthadox. They did not cover her coffin. We even were allowed to put an icon on her casket. She was given one because my family was a founding family of the church. But it is very moving experience. Especially for her wishes that only an organ could be used and no "modern" church music and a guitar was nowhere to be found just the way she wanted it.
Mike

[Jock Ellis]

Bernie, is the rap on YouTube, yet? When I was in college I worked at the largest funeral home in Georgia. I loved wakes because so many beautiful young Catholic women would attend with their parents. I really enjoyed taking them to the room. I know, I'm terrible.

[Bernie Perch]

Jock,

I doubt if it made youtube, although one never knows.  It was very personal and just discussed the interaction between him and his grandfather.  If I were using the same words, I would have done it country gospel style like a discussion with God.

Your not supposed to be looking at the women during a wake, although from where I stand when I am singing at a funeral Mass, it's easy to see where you are coming from.  It's not like a Sunday Mass (like I did two hours ago) where you are lookin at all the "regulars".

Bernie