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A living funeral is a gathering centered around someone who will soon die. Also called a pre-funeral, or in Japan; a Seizenso. One of the more famous living funerals was that for Morrie Schwartz which was documented in both the book and film Tuesdays with Morrie and feature Detroit Free Press sports columnist Mitch Albom as one of the central characters. It may be important to the person's psychological state and also that of the dying person's family to attend the living funeral. It is also sometimes used as a time to read the will and explain the reasons behind some of the decisions contained within it.
Why
editA living funeral is usually done by someone who knows that they do not have much time left to live. Weather the reason is because the person is terminally ill or is at an old age. The person knows death is near and could use this as closure. It’s used to celebrate the happy times, and forgive our bodies for “failing.” [1]
Cost
editMoney is a big part of living funerals. This is another reason that people have them. Regular funeral prices can be extremely high. Having a living funeral can save some money. Some feel that the living funeral is more meaningful. In the end, it can be around the same price for the living funeral ceremony and when the person does eventually die, the burial. [2]
Aspects of a living funeral
editMost living funerals have the same aspects of a normal funeral; besides of course the deceased person. A common theme is for the funeral to start off the same way that a normal funeral would; somber music, a casket, bible readings, etc. From there the tone is usually switched. Different music is played along with an all around happier atmosphere. The goal is for this to be happy, to celebrate a life and to give thanks to everyone attending. During a living funeral, families and friends will share stories and memories of the person who is nearing death. This ceremony is often a very happy event where there can be closure. The soon to be deceased person often speaks about his or her life and who has had an impact on it. Many people want to be able to show their appreciation through the living funeral. Friends and family of the person hosting the funeral will say things that they would have said at a normal funeral. Except now their loved one is there to hear it. [3]
Japan
editLiving funerals started being done in Japan in the 1990's. Sometimes called, seizenso, which means living funeral. Elders in Japan feel that they are burdening their children with their old age. They are ashamed of their failing body. By having a living funeral they feel that they can take some of the stress away from the funeral. After this ceremony many Japanies "expect nothing" frm their families after they die..including a funeral. [4]
Controversy
editThere is a lot of controversy surrounding living funerals.
Many feel that we should stick with traditional funerals. They feel that this is the way to truely respect the dead. We’ve been doing it for so long they don't think anything should change about it. A living funeral is “a denial of ancestral significance.” [5]
These could also be seen as almost, egocentric. Because the person having he funeral is doing it to brag. Listing accomplishments during ones life is often popular to do during this ceremony. There was a living funeral broadcasted on national TV. That was considered ridiculous. Mizunoe Takiko, who had the funeral, said that the purpose of her funeral was “to express appreciation to all those who have been dear to me while I am still alive.”[6]
Fiction
editNon-Fiction
editLiving funerals became much more popular because of the book Tuesdays with Morrie. He brought up the question of why one should wait until he is dead to be appreciated. "What a waste," he said. "All those people saying all those wonderful things, and Irv never got to hear any of it."
The living funeral is a time to honor and appreciate the living.
See also
editWorks Cited
edit- ^ Ceremonies. Close, Henry. Ceremonies for Spiritual Healing and Growth. Taylor and Francis, 2012. http://reader.eblib.com/(S(l3pwge1uoxu5akgi5booohoz))/Reader.aspx?p=1099476&o=785&u=mKyUaTgCatU4QFkEYCpDmA%3d%3d&t=1359430452&h=7AC69DD72F8AD341C0215D22214BA5A21AB5CCA9&s=15609797&ut=2445&pg=1&r=img&c=-1&pat=n#.
- ^ video. “Serenity Funeral Chapel Living Funeral KMVT.” KMVT, n.d.
- ^ Handbook.Bryant, Clifton D. Handbook of Death and Dying. Vol. 1. SAGE, 2003. http://books.google.com/books?id=3z9EpgisKOgC&q=%22living+funeral%22#v=snippet&q=%22living%20funeral%22&f=false.
- ^ ShiftingLives. Suzuki, Hikaru. “Shifting Lives of Japanese Elders: Emerging Communal Relationships with Funeral Companies.” Research Collection School of Social Sciences Paper 78 (October 2005):http://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1077&context=soss_research&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fscholar%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dseizenso%26btnG%3D%26as_sdt%3D1%252C39%26as_sdtp%3D#search=%22seizenso%22
- ^ Japan.Breen, John. “Death Issues in 21st Century Japan” 9, no. 1 (2004): 2–12. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13576270410001652578#tabModule
- ^ Handbook.Bryant, Clifton D. Handbook of Death and Dying. Vol. 1. SAGE, 2003. http://books.google.com/books?id=3z9EpgisKOgC&q=%22living+funeral%22#v=snippet&q=%22living%20funeral%22&f=false.
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