I am not a fan of funerals. But, when you think about it, who could possibly be? Is there someone who actually enjoys spending time at a funeral home? Well either way, that person is not me. It could have stemmed from past experiences, or maybe just the whole aspect of this ritual, but The whole situation irks me deeply. You get all dressed up to sit around in a stuffy room with an aura of sadness that floats around like a fog, depressing anyone in its midst. No, this is not for me. Now don't get me wrong, I believe it is the respectful action towards those loved ones that have recently passed, and I don't boycott simply because it isn't my preference. I bite my lip and express my admiration to a life that has been exhausted.

Many reasons come to mind when contemplating the reason for my hatred of funerals, but one sticks out like a (I could come up with a million cliches but you get the idea). The prevalent rationalization as to why I do not want a funeral for myself someday is the negative memories that are created by this ceremony. People would come to my funeral, some of whom I don't even know, stand above me and pay their last respects to an extinguished life. Hopefully the life being honored was one that did something to better the good of mankind, or at least made some sort of a difference somewhere. Even if a difference was made, a new memory is created at the viewing, one that will haunt and block out pleasant remembrances. This new memory will be the very last thing you remember. It is the image of your loved one lying if a box, dead. Most of the time, the person in that very box looks nothing like the person who's memory you have sought to preserve and celebrate. So now you have an image, a memory, of someone who you don't recognize in place of a family member or close friend. When you think back on the life of that person, your thoughts will be overshadowed by that haunting image from the funeral.

I completely understand that today a funeral is the most common used practice or ritual to send the deceased respectfully off to life after death (or whatever you believe happens), but it is also my right as an American to choose the fate of my possessions and, ultimately, the fate of myself. So burn my body, put the ashes in an urn, and put up some nice pictures of me doing something fun. Maybe even drink some beer and rehash some old stories, but never put me on display. I want to be remembered for whom I actually was, or what I accomplished in life, not what some mortician made me out to be.

Learn more about this author, Zachary Snyder.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Funerals: Not for everyone?
We want to hear your view. Write now!