Attending the funerals of famous people

Aunt Bea

Aunt Bea

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Location
Near Mount Pilot
Watching the news this week I've been struck by the numbers of people that line up to pay their respects to John McCain and Aretha Franklin.

I have never been moved to the point of making a cross-country trip or standing in line for hours to pay my respects to anyone and I can't quite understand what motivates people to do that.

I'm curious if any of you have done this type of thing or what your thoughts are on what motivates people to go out of their way to be in attendance at these events.
 

yes we stood and watched the funeral procession of princess Diana..simply because it was going right past where I worked... . There were thousands of people throwing flowers on the car blocking the drivers' view. Every few yards the car had to stop and security got out to clear them off!
 
People grieve in many ways. John McCain reached out to many here and I am guessing many paying their respects feel better sharing their grief with others in a social setting. I did do something similar after John Lennon was killed. A local radio station had a memorial at a local city park so I went there with friends and thousands were there, mainly just standing in silence while listening to his music. Not exactly the same thing though.
 
They were talking about this on a radio show yesterday, and how thousands of people attended public viewings of deceased people even back to Lincoln (SOURCE). I can understand that some people want to pay their last respects to someone they admired and their families, but I've never personally done it and wouldn't do it. Mark, I think that was neat what you did, if it was something like that close to my house I would probably attend. I think you're right too about some folks want to grieve with others in a social setting.
 
We watched the hearse drive by carrying President Reagan to his final resting place at his presidential library about 15 miles from our home. The streets and freeway overpasses were lined with people who were paying their respects. Some shared his political views though many did not. We were saluting a man who did his best to make the world a better place.

Watching that funeral procession drive slowly by was an emotional experience.
 
I wouldn't attend. If it was someone I had deep regard for I would probably donate to a charity in their memory.
 
I don’t ever feel an urge to do such a thing but if money weren’t an issue and I didn’t have social anxiety disorder, I would have loved to have paid my respects to Princess Diana and John Lennon.
These people were very special to me personally.
 
Funerals are a carryover from our barbaric past. I have zero desire to see a waxy corpse on display in an overpriced box. The concept of closure, vis-a-vis funerals, is nonsense, in my world. I choose to keep the deceased alive in my memory until I join them in peaceful non-existence.
 
I have attended the funerals of two former Governors. Both firmly supported the state police, but that was not the reason. Both Governors were real, if you know what I mean. They really wanted to do a good job for the people of the Commonwealth. I don’t mean to bring politics into this, but my favorite Governor was Dick Thornburg. He was definitely the most honest and honorable Governor that I served under.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Watching the news this week I've been struck by the numbers oJust depends on how f people that line up to pay their respects to John McCain and Aretha Franklin.

I have never been moved to the point of making a cross-country trip or standing in line for hours to pay my respects to anyone and I can't quite understand what motivates people to do that.


I'm curious if any of you have done this type of thing or what your thoughts are on what motivates people to go out of their way to be in attendance at these events.
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Interesting. It all boils down to how we show our respect for those that have given so much for others in our country and world.Some folks respect no one and that is OK......or is it?
 
treeguy64 said:
Funerals are a carryover from our barbaric past. I have zero desire to see a waxy corpse on display in an overpriced box. The concept of closure, vis-a-vis funerals, is nonsense, in my world. I choose to keep the deceased alive in my memory until I join them in peaceful non-existence.
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100% agree.
 
I'm watching the memorial for John McCain now. I don't think funerals and memorials are barbaric at all. But not all memorial services are open casket. My mom was cremated and she had a beautiful urn with a lovely picture at the services. And folks who were the friends of us bereaved were there to support us. That's really what matters. Just being there.
 
treeguy64 said:
Funerals are a carryover from our barbaric past. I have zero desire to see a waxy corpse on display in an overpriced box. The concept of closure, vis-a-vis funerals, is nonsense, in my world. I choose to keep the deceased alive in my memory until I join them in peaceful non-existence.
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And where is this reunion party going to take place? Since when is the past more barbaric than the present?
 
I grieve privately. Even for close family members. I don't want to remember the person laying in their coffin. For me it is a hard image to erase. I also don't like the after funeral get togethers or parties that some have turned into. In my family we bury as soon as possible with little fanfare afterwards but we never ever forget the person who is no longer with us.
 
I think, my opinion only, that people do it to feel part of 'history', to attend a 'happening', just like people used to attend hangings and beheadings. The only time I ever did it was when JFK came to my city to campaign before his nomination. I hardly got able to see him and getting there and out of there was pandemonium. Now I go the opposite direction of crowds.
 
Would not make a special trip unless I knew them personally. If it was coming down my street, I would stand outside for the motorcade but theres not much chance of that happening. Any motorcades here in Houston would be downtown and you could not pay me to go there!
 
Thanks for the interesting responses.

I am usually glued to the television watching these events but I would never make a special trip to be part of the event.

As others have said I would go out to watch a motorcade if it happened to pass by my home.

When it comes to the funerals of family and friends I rarely attend and if I do it is in and out after a brief word of condolence to the family members. I avoid the wakes and other get-togethers, it has been my experience that too often people get carried away and say things that would best be forgotten.
 
treeguy64 said:
Uh, what? No reunion party is possible in a state of non--existence. Your second question is too absurd to answer. Sorry.
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"Uh, what?" Says alot. Define non-existence. Nuclear war, genocide and chemical warfare are barbarianism at it's purest form. You watch too many movies.
 
No I would not attend the funeral of a famous person I didn't know. If their procession went past my house, I'd go out and watch it though.

I know this isn't true in all cases but sometimes I see people who seem to care more about the famous than their own family. Maybe because it's easier that way. When you are close to people your whole life its harder to keep the rose colored glasses on.
 

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