Something I came across recently, which, as the thread title suggests, is going to strike one as either useful or odd.
I suppose it's something somewhere between a wake and a traditional funeral service, but apparently there are some people out there nowadays who decide to stage a funeral for themselves. But with an exception to the traditional format: they are alive and present for the event.
A Youtube account of one family's thoughts on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk9pcb_vojuSo the underlying justification for proceeding with such a "living funeral" would in most cases seem to be taking the opportunity to express meaningful sentiments to the "pre-deceased" while they are still here. While he or she is still here and able to appreciate hearing those sentiments. Plus it would seem to be a much happier gathering than the traditional modern funeral, sad as it usually is.
As one would expect, however, there are mixed feelings about
this sort of thing. In doing a little research I found that a common contrary view is that people often need to let out suppressed, even negative, feelings brought up by another's passing, and a so-called living funeral, with the person still there to hear it all, is just not the place to do it. This would be true for numerous reasons, most of them obvious.
But a question also comes to mind: what, if anything, is to be done after the person
really dies? A brief, simple gathering and memorial in someone's living room, perhaps? Something more? After all, the person's "funeral" has already taken place.
I don't think I would care to go this route for myself, but if there are others who think they would benefit from something like this, then let 'em go for it.
Just one cautionary thought, though. If you do try this for yourself: don't be late in getting there.
After all, you don't want to be late for your own funeral!