I had to comment on Joan's reply. I work for our church doing a lot of stuff for our minister. Last week he had to conduct funeral services for a man who's parents were from Ireland. He had an Irish wake instead of a funeral. The minister told me it was really a nice change from the regular funeral services and it seamed to him that people had so much more closure upon leaving than normally. It was fun, enlightening, and everyone got to share special things about this man that would have normally gone unsaid. It deffinately made me want to consider this myself too. When you hear the good side of what I always thought was just a long drawn out affair that would emotionally drain a person, then hear it has almost the opposite effect, it makes you wonder. I wonder if society as a whole is not really hurting themselves by loosing some of these "old" customs. Interesting points to ponder... Just thought I'de share that too on what little I know of Irish wakes. Kay On Saturday, March 20, 1999 11:21 PM, [email protected] [SMTP:[email protected]] wrote: > In a message dated 3/20/99 2:18:15 AM Central Standard Time, FIANNA-D- > [email protected] writes: > > << For whatever reason, wakes moved to Funeral parlors after the war > >> > > I already have the funeral home picked out for my funeral service, because it > has a large "party" room that will be reserved for my wake > I have told family and friends many times that I will have the cost of a big, > big party included in my will, and that EVERYBODY who knows me is to be > invited. Not just to "pay their respects," but to sit a spell and laugh and > talk and eat and drink and maybe, just a little bit, to celebrate my life. > It would be a major compliment to me if they thought it were worth > celebrating! > > The man who owns the funeral home said they built the big room (complete with > adjacent kitchen) for those luncheons or receptions after a funeral when folks > no longer return to the home with the family. But he said he would be > delighted if it were ut to use again as a "wake house." > > And yes, I am of Irish descent, but no one around here is. Not even the people > at our church. > love > joan > > > ==== FIANNA Mailing List ==== > [email protected] > favorite sites: > Try: http://www.rare.on.ca/users/genealogyforum/index.htm > http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/ Thanks to Chirho > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4404/ >