Is it okay not to have a funeral?

It is all in the definition of 'funeral'. My mom wanted the viewing, prayers, and burial for herself. So I did it. She was 89 and hadn't seen anyone in years, most of the attendees were there for me. She didn't seem to care if anyone showed up, she just wanted this for her funeral.

I did inform her when she was alive, there would be no evening and next day viewings. One viewing, the morning of the burial. She was fine with that.

My husband's cousin died at 60, he was cremated with no ceremony. Later on his siblings had a catered gathering in a restaurant, where we were to dress in colorful clothes and take the mic and tell funny stories about him. It was a success, and very comforting in a unique way.

If your parent doesn't want a formal funeral or memorial service, that can be his or her choice, surely? It doesn't prevent you from arranging whatever sort of friends-and-family gathering you will find appropriate and consoling after the death; and if you feel ethically bound you can always make it clear that the event is not officially in the deceased's name.

It's more of a problem if the parent stipulates black-plumed horses, a vigil and a five star wake and the family is thinking 'uh, who's paying..?'

My Mom pretty much feels the same way, but I've simply told her that she's not being fair to me (I'm her only surviving child) because it won't be affecting her anymore but is for me. I should have the option to get together with friends, and any family who want to come (out of state) just to share stories and mourn/celebrate/renew ties if I need that for myself. She's sort of backed off a bit, although reluctantly? The get togethers really aren't for the deceased - they're for the people left behind to have some closure. I'm not talking about a "formal" funeral service, etc.

My father recently passed away quite suddenly. Both him and my mom made their arrangements 2-1/2 years ago to be cremated and stated there was to be no visitation or services. My dad also included this in his will. My sister argued with him at the time that what if his kids wanted some type of service or memorial to which he replied "I don't care what our kids want, this is what your mother and I want". He made it verbally clear that he didn't want any kind of gathering, nor did he want to pay for anything. Well, my sister is holding a memorial party to "honor" my dad. My mom, myself and the rest of the immediate family will not not be attending because we know this is being done against my dad's wishes. When one makes it verbally clear as to what their wishes are along with writing it in two different documents, why does someone else feel it is open for a discussion? How do you "honor" someone when you are going against their wishes/requests?

Anything goes nowadays. If the person has expressed their wishes as your mom has, you don't have to decide. You can have a memorial at a later time if you want to.
We had a closed coffin funeral for my father (45 years ago). It was very hard on our family but at the time, that was standard practice. Times have changed, and now everyone has a choice and if they don't leave instructions, its ok to do what is best for the family (and expenses are really high for a funeral now, so that is a consideration.)
The last funeral I went to was a church service and the person had been cremated and the urn sat on the alter. The testimonials were all happy and complimentary and it was so much easier to think about and remember that person as wonderfully alive rather than staring at an empty shell of a body in front of us.
I, personally, hate wakes and "visitation" and I never go up to the open casket. I simply do not want my last memory of the person I loved lying there cold and lifeless. So, I sign the book, hug the family give my condolences and leave.
Our family have all opted for cremation and a memorial at a later time when grief is lessened. I have told my husband, if I go first, I don't want people parading past my body looking at me.

I'm 58 and I want nothing more than a direct cremation. Then stick me in my niche. No funeral Mass, no committal service, no nothing. However, I felt some pressure from both parish priests to have a Mass. So now there is one set up. I'm ticked off at myself for doing something I'm so dead set against. I feel it's a huge waste of time and money. I'd rather they make a donation in my name or do something I would enjoy and remember me like that. I want my money to go to my son, not the funeral home. I have few friends and my only family is my son. I figure by that time my soul has been judged and it's where ever it'd going to be. Nothing will change that. Most likely I will change the pre-planning back to what I want and just not tell anyone except my son. He will respect my wishes.

Fortunately, my mom informed me of her desire to be cremated before the Alzheimer's got worse. She will be 93 years old in 3 weeks and her gerontologist says he gives her another 2-4 years to live. At the outside, she'll be 97 when she passes on.
At this moment, she has 4 living brothers and sisters, but they are all near her age. Who knows if they 'll be around when she dies. She wasn't close to any of the nieces/nephews. Any old friends and her previous husbands have all passed away.
I am an only child with one grown son. Since it probably would just be the 2 of us, it doesn't make sense to have a service. My mother was not religious/spiritual, so it seems hypocritical to have anything dealing with a church.

A person doesn't have to have a service or gathering as their "final goodbye". People will remember them, (or not), as they were influenced by the departed. If the family just can't cope with not having a gathering, I'm sure the deceased won't really care, once they're gone.

Wow! What a scathing obituary for Marianne. But, if it was true what they wrote about her, then she deserved it and more. Too bad the kids had to suffer at her hand. Now she might be getting her just "reward".

my mom says the exact same thing! She doesn't want anyone staring at her either! Your solution sounds perfect.

I'm coming in late on this one....My dad died about 6 months ago. He didn't want any type of service. He was a private, introverted man. But, he also had lots of people in his life that would have wanted to show their love for him at a service. He didn't want people (his words) "Staring at me in my coffin". We posted an obit in the paper and set up a memorial page on the multiple myeloma website where people could post messages and donate. Our family did a private service at my mom's house..we all wrote something about dad, my brother made a video, we released balloons and then spread his ashes at his favorite place. It was beautiful.

Who is supposed to pay for a funeral or memorial service? There are lots of costs....even publishing the date, time & location in your city newspaper is 100's of dollars. If someone wants a memorial they should prepay it. If someone says they don't want one (or cannot afford it) then you should not have one. If a bunch of related people want to get together on their own dime to have a lunch meeting and share memories, then go ahead if that would help people process the loss. But you cannot tell a dying person, or even someone decades away from death, that they MUST have a funeral. Respect their wishes above all!

My Mom (95) and I have both purchased cremation services/plans in advance... All we have to do is call the company and they take "it" from there. Mom says she doesn't want any memorial or service at all, but I've told her the service isn't for her, but rather for the people left behind. I believe it should be up to them whether a memorial of some sort would help them with their grieving process. So - I've told Mom I don't know, but I might have some kind of get-together in her memory, even if that means just a Barbeque with friends, a "party" in a bar, or a more traditional memorial type service. I don't think it's fair for the deceased to dictate how those left behind should process their loss, and sometimes gathering with friends and/or relatives to remember the person and share memories is the best catharsis...

My mother, age 93, has already told me that she wants to be cremated,no funeral, just a mass said, followed by a catered breakfast across the street in the church hall. One of her dear friends who died 10 years ago was honored in this way, and Mom really thought it was very nice. So, that's what it will be - and thank you, Mom, for being brave enough to speak up about your final wishes, no matter how soon, or in the future, they may be.

an american city recently recieved a hunk of steel beam from the WTC wreckage. as the beam was trucked in there were soldiers standing at attention saluting the hunk of steel. seriously? id be more impressed if they were saluting the cutting torch that severed the piece of steel. im not into silly ritual. it was a blow coffee out my nose moment for me..
my mother died recently and i miss her fiercly but hymns and prayers wont bring her back. i left that to all the frauds who havent visited her in the last 6 years.

I think it is fine, if nothing has been requested specifically by the deceased . I personally want to be creamated and have my ashes strewn in water, I will make my wishes known to my lawyer.

As others have said, if you all are in agreement on this, then no funeral.

I would carefully read the donation agreement to see just how the medical school deals with the remains. Also read to see if they can decline the donation if they have too many of your mom's category.

When my dad died, we didn't have any kind of service. My family isn't religious and my dad never had a lot of friends and he and my mom moved 200 miles north to live near me. We had my dad cremated (per his wishes) and I still have his ashes. Every family is different and has a right to handle the death of a loved one in any way they choose. My mom's passing will be handled the same way. I would believe some of my religious cousins will be shocked that we're not having a funeral service, but my mom isn't religious either. To each his own is what I believe.

I think it is perfectly fine to skip the funeral service especially if there aren't friends and children did not have a close relationship with her ever. But do not stoop to printing an obituary like Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick children did. Google her name, and you will find it.

I would listen to the wishes of your mother and the rest of the family. I think it is perfectly okay to not have a funeral. My father did not want a funeral service when he died. I wanted to honor his wishes, but my mother did want one for him. So we had a service. It makes things stickier if all the important family members are not in agreement.

I have know people who did not want a service of any kind. I guess it would be something you would need to discuss with your mother and what her wishes would be. Whether it is a memorial or just a family gathering at the house.