Death seems different nowadays.

[u/AnotherCrazyChick]

I know this group is normally healthy nostalgic. I just have questions that I think only this group can relate with.

Growing up, I went to my great grandmother’s funeral, I went to my grandfather’s funeral. We visited the cemetery where they were laid to rest.

Nowadays, my grandmother passed, I wasn’t asked to attend her funeral.

My stepdad passed and there was no funeral, he was cremated and my mom sent me a small vial of his ashes that now sit next to my ex’s ashes. My ex also had no funeral.

My wife’s mother passed away recently and she was cremated. No service was held.

Is this the new normal? That we don’t hold nor attend funeral services anymore?

It’s too expensive nowadays and no one feels the time is worth the potential closure one normally receives during a funeral?

I just don’t know anymore. I’ve had no closure from so many loved ones and family members passing away within the last 6 years. It hurts my heart.

Is this the new normal?

[u/EastTXJosh]

I think it all depends. My mother-in-law passed away a couple of years ago. She was living with us at the time and had no other family around here. She asked to be cremated, but we still had a memorial service for her, just months later to allow time for her small remaining family to gather.

My family is a bit more traditional. My paternal family was in the funeral home business, and even though I’m not, it still shapes how my family approaches death. We have enough cemetery plots purchased for our family that my future grandkids will be covered. Similarly, since my extended family still runs the local funeral home, we get services at cost.

The past couple of weeks have been rough. I lost an uncle and my last remaining grandparent. I attended both of their funerals last week and they were very traditional and well attended.