A Canadian Funeral
Two weeks ago my mother-in-law died and her funeral was last Wednesday. She had a typical funeral and burial for Canada. My husband arranged everything before she died. He talked to the people at the funeral home. They took care of collecting and preparing her body, arranging the service, arranging for limos to pick up the family and take us to the funeral home, the cemetary and back home. They also arranged a lunch for the people who attended the service.Avo was Catholic but we didn't have a mass at a church.We had a service at the funeral home chapel, but a priest said the prayers. The three grandsons said eulogies. A eulogy is when someone talks about the person who just died. The three young men said wonderful things about their grandmother who they called Avo because she was Portuguese. They talked about spending time with her, what she taught them and how she loved her family. One of my sons has 2 daughters and he said that he will make sure that they know who she was and why it is important to remember her.
After the service, we all went to the cemetary where she was buried. The priest said prayers there also.
Avo's youngest son picked out all of the flowers for the service. There was a big wreath on her casket and two huge bouquets in the chapel. The flowers were very bright because she loved flowers and bright colors.
Then we went back to the funeral home to have lunch and talk with the people who came. I talked to my two sisters, my husband's friend and my husband's aunt and cousin.
The night before the funeral all of Avo's family - her 3 sons and 3 daughters-in-law and her 4 grandchildren went to a restaurant to celebrate her life. We told stories and remembered all of the good times we spent together. Unfortunately my son's wife and daughters couldn't come because it's too difficult to travel from Fort McMurray in the winter and the little girls get upset if their routine is changed.
We are all sad that she died but we know she had a long and happy life. She was 92 years old and will be remembered by all of us, so in that way, she is still with us.
