Dear List, Having always told my children the only dumb question is the one you DON'T ask...............I have a couple of questions about something that nags at me every time it crosses my path. In obits.........Why are there so many ministers ministering at a funeral? In obits.........Why are some nieces and nephews special and not all of them? Thanks Bette Sutton-Rodey

Well, I'll stick my neck out and take a stab at this, but someone else probably has better answers! Why so many ministers? Having been through several family funerals, it is my opinion that this is an "honorary" thing....perhaps one minister is presently officiating at the person's home church, so it is "proper" to ask him/her to be involved. Then a favorite minister from the past, a family member who is a minister, a personal friend who is a minister may be wanted to be involved by the surviving family or "mother would have wanted" so he/she is asked to take a part. In the case of Hospice patients, there is frequently a home church pastor plus the Hospice chaplain who has been close to the family and out of respect is asked to assist. As for the "special nieces or nephews"....some families want to name extended family members in an obituary and others do not. Then, too, in some cases there are nieces and nephews who for one reason or other fulfill the role of sons and daughters in helping the deceased through illness or the death of a spouse, etc. I'll defer to others with better answers from here! Ann Grubb ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bette Rodey" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 1:26 AM Subject: [TNCLAIBO-L] Questions > Dear List, > Having always told my children the only dumb question is the one you > DON'T ask...............I have a couple of questions about something > that nags at me every time it crosses my path. > In obits.........Why are there so many ministers ministering at a > funeral? > In obits.........Why are some nieces and nephews special and not all of > them? > Thanks > Bette Sutton-Rodey > > > > ==== TNCLAIBO Mailing List ==== > VIRUS WARNINGS, SOLICITING, CHAIN LETTERS, JOKES, MISSING CHILDREN > NOTICES, POLITICAL MESSAGES, FLAMES, PRAYERS, etc., are grounds for your > immediate removal from this list. > >