I Remember When We Used to Have Wakes at Our Homes
by I remember when we used to have wakes at our homes. It was very common, but now there are funeral homes every where.
I remember when we used to have wakes at our homes. It was very common, but now there are funeral homes everywhere.
I lived with my family in Chicago, and it seems like the only funerals I ever went to were down south where my family was from. My grandmother died at the age of 58 of a heart attack. She lived out in the country on a gravel road about 20 minutes from town.
We went to her house for the wake. It seemed so odd to me, because I think it was my first experience at a funeral. When I looked at my grandmother in the coffin, I could have sworn her eyes moved. I guess I was only imagining it. Did you know that the reason people had their family members at their homes for the wake for 3 days, is because they did not have the tools and such back then to detect the pulse like they can now. They wanted to be sure the person was indeed dead before they were buried. It is said, for whatever reason they may have had to open a grave back then, they found persons who had pulled all their hair out, because they were actually buried alive.
My brother died in the military in 1975 while he was in Germany. After 7 days, his body was sent home to us. We had the wake at our home in the living room. Of course, I didn’t think any thing of it then, because I assumed that was the only way it was done.
As far as I can remember, the funeral home people dug the grave and picked up the body and took it to the cemetery. We would have a graveside service before the burial. That’s about all I can remember about it.
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Post Commentguraynsj
On January 28, 2011 at 2:17 am
Curiously enough.
tonywriter
On January 28, 2011 at 3:08 am
I am very sorry to hear about grandmother, Life is like a train we have to ride it and things will come and go like stations, well I am not a poet but all I can say be strong and move forward.
Thank you for sharing this article
pguims
On January 28, 2011 at 3:19 am
a very interesting share…
adventures
On January 28, 2011 at 5:09 am
A very nice one.
vijayanths
On January 28, 2011 at 5:19 am
we can\’t forget some tragic incidents in our lives.
vijayanths
On January 28, 2011 at 5:20 am
we can’t forget some tragic incidents in our lives.
UncleSammy
On January 28, 2011 at 5:36 am
nice share – thanks
Larry Fish
On January 28, 2011 at 6:39 am
Thanks for sharing, the thought of being buried alive is horrid.
Stable
On January 28, 2011 at 9:43 am
Thanks for sharing your memories LJ.
Cinders
On January 28, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Thank you for a very touching story, so sorry about your brother. I didn’t know that the wake was a means of ensuring you didn’t bury those still alive, it seems highly sensible. Thank you again for a wonderful post.
Ruby Hawk
On January 28, 2011 at 4:11 pm
We always had wakes in our homes until probably the last twenty years or so. We had two nights of sitting up and the burying was the third day. It was very common. it was a gathering of all the community. Neighbors came to sit up for the two nights. I wish we still did it that way. funeral homes are not the same as neighbors and friends gathering at the home to remember the deceased together.
iklika
On January 28, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Thanks for sharing
Xakousti
On January 31, 2011 at 9:06 am
Sorry for your Grandma and Brother. In Europe, in the villages they also have their services/funerals in the houses that last for 3 days. Now they have the “town Church” to go to. To some it seems odd, but to the rest of us, it normal. Thanks for sharing!
Xakousti
On January 31, 2011 at 9:07 am
Sorry for your Grandma and Brother. In Europe, in the villages they also have their services/funerals in the houses that last for 3 days. Now they have the \”town Church\” to go to. To some it seems odd, but to the rest of us, it normal. Thanks for sharing!
RS Lannan
On February 1, 2011 at 8:57 am
I’ve always found descriptions of wakes in books to be interesting and a little spooky. I don’t think most of us are comfortable with the idea if we’re not used to it.
Suni51
On February 2, 2011 at 2:48 pm
What a wonderful article, I really liked i,. thanks.
Erin Miller
On February 4, 2011 at 1:30 am
I recently went to my Grandmother’s wake but it was at a funeral home. I knew the history of wakes but I didn’t anyone who knew of the history as well let alone experienced it. Oh and the day my Grandmother died was the same day my book was published. She didn’t know about it in real life but I believe she lent a helping hand in me getting published.
LJ Spain
On February 4, 2011 at 1:34 am
Erin, I believe she did too. It is so awesome that you said that.
Erin Miller
On February 4, 2011 at 2:14 am
When our loved ones depart from the living they never truly leave. They stay to offer a helping hand and it is up to us on whether we accept the offer or not. That is part of my beliefs in the after life as well as reincarnation…