Another more sensible thread got me thinking of the slightly "informal" Irish funerals I've gone to over the years.
As a kid, c5 years old, I remember being taken to a morgue in Ireland to look at a distant relative who'd decided to spend the night sleeping under a truck - not a good move for him and not a bundle of laughs for us - especialy as there were a few others awaiting collection.
I mentioned my uncles removal in the other thread but didn't feel it the best place to add that one neighbour on walking in and seeing the open casket took a picture of my uncle with a mobile phone, which was not expected. I also found it a bit strange that just before they put the lid down they took his glasses off and put them in his jacket pocket, I'm not sure he was planning on doing any reading!
A mate left the suit for his father to be buried in (full Irish catholic service in England) at the undertakers but forgot to take the book he'd been reading on the bus out of the bag. The undertakers were a bit perplexed why a seemingly devout guy wanted to be buried with a copy of God is not Great
And most recently the funeral of an old neighbour, where his 86 year old wife was so busy chatting outside she had to dash up the aisle as the music had already started.
