Nearly two years ago, when my uncle passed away, I wrote something about funerals and reunions. It was born from an observation of mine, having attended several wakes of various family members in the last four years.
Wakes are, in a twisted sort of way, the best kinds of reunions. First of all, all the people you expect to come — and even those you don't — will come. Second, there's always people to talk to, and conversation never runs out. Third, people won't expect to be fed and are content with coffee and bread. Some even bring food. Fourth, you don't have to worry about the decor, and some people give you money (does that make me sound crass?). Lastly (and in relation to number one), you'll see almost all the relatives you haven't seen in a long time and you'll all be able to catch up.
The downside? There's always one person missing from the, er, festivities. And it's the one person whom people in the gathering have come to pay their respects to.
I'm sorry if it offends you, but it is true. I don't get to see many of my relatives, but I see them in such occasions, which strikes me as odd because why does it have to be only when someone dies do we get to see each other?
Right. Oh well, I've seen a wedding that had black themes and was held in a cemetery. I guess I should be just glad there's no actual corpse.