When I was living in Australia in the early 1970's, we lived in a smallish town in country Victoria. The Headmaster's wife died suddenly. As she had been very kind to me as a newcomer, I intended to attend the funeral but was told in no uncertain terms that there would be no women attending. Needless to say, I didn't go. I attributed the custom to the large number of people of Irish background. Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: Geoff Riggs <geoff@riggs.org.uk> Date: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:15 pm Subject: Re: [SoG] no women allowed > The custom in Scotland that Sheila refers to also prevailed in > Wales until > the 1960s. In fact, my mother insisted she would observe it and > remain at > home when my father was cremated (in 1972). > > Geoff Riggs > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sheila Murray" <SheilaMurray@mtcharlesayr.fsnet.co.uk> > To: <SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 11:28 PM > Subject: RE: [SoG] no women allowed > > > > In Scotland, it has been the custom until very recently that > women should > > not attend a funeral. A short service would be held in the > house for > close > > family and then the men would go off to the graveside for the > burial.> > > I don't know if that is any help but I thought it was of interest. > > > > Sheila Murray > > > > > >Executors. So, why could she settle his estate but not attend his > > >funeral? I > > >cheecked a reference book (Death in England) but found no > mention of > such > > an > > >oddity. Thoughts anyone? > > >Mary > > >