A Funeral--Jake Style

[Laurettas]

I had to share this with all of you since it is just too good of a story to miss.

Yesterday was Jake's funeral and usually one would not think that would be something that one would really have a lot to share. Funerals are, well, funerals.

But then most people are not like my husband. He had been a pall bearer for numerous people and he had always told me that when it was his turn, he wanted to make sure that his pall bearers had to WORK. It was not going to be some honorary title as far as he was concerned.

The stage was set with a winter storm watch being called for our area yesterday. We woke to an inch or so of new snow, not much for people who had lived in Montana for years. But as the morning progressed, the snow kept increasing. We got up to about 3 or 4 inches of very wet snow on our rather steep rolling hills. And so it began.

The cemetery we chose was a rural one not far from our home with two directions it could be accessed from. My brother-in-law was driving both Jake's mother and myself, as well as Jake's sister. We decided to go one route in which the hills seem to be a little less steep. The funeral director chose to follow us in the hearse and we were off. We began the climb up the biggest hill and I was watching in the mirror, enjoying seeing the line of cars behind us. As we began the last, steepest ascent, I noticed that the hearse was falling farther and farther behind us. I was concerned, knowing that the only reason the gap would be widening would be because the hearse was having difficulty getting up the hill.

We got to the top and stopped, waiting for everyone to catch up. We waited......and waited......and waited. People began arriving from the other direction and went on up the hill to the cemetery. Finally, after several minutes, the hearse came up over the crown of the hill and I told my BIL that we needed to hurry and get out of the way so the hearse didn't need to stop and potentially get stuck again. So, up the hill we went, only to be stopped by several cars who were stopped up at the cemetery because they didn't know where to go. Of course, the hearse had to stop also because we were in front of him. It was on an incline. After a couple of minutes, everyone was out of the way in front of us so we proceeded up the hill. Unfortunately, the hearse was not so lucky. He couldn't move, so the men began, for the second time to push the hearse up the hill. This time, however, things did not go as smoothly and they couldn't get the hearse to move.

Then, suddenly here comes a four wheel drive truck up the hill. It was Jake's best friend from school. He hops out of his truck, hooks a big chain onto the front of the hearse and off Jake goes up the hill in the hearse. His friend comes walking down the road with a big grin on his face and said, "hey, this is our last four-wheeling trip together!". Jake and he both had Jeeps as teens and would spend hours climbing hills and pulling each other out of crazy situations that they would find themselves in.

In the meantime the priest had tried driving up the road to get to the cemetery but his car spun out on the first hill. He got out and began walking up the hill; eventually someone from church saw him and gave him a ride up the hill. He got to the cemetery about the time the hearse was getting pulled up the hill.

Well, after all of the trauma experienced trying to just drive on the county roads, there was no way that the funeral director was going to chance driving the hill up into the cemetery. So, the pall bearers, in their suits and shiny, slick shoes, got to CARRY Jake up the hill, across the cemetery to the burial site. It was glorious!

I have not laughed so much in a long time as I did watching all of these antics. It was an oh, so fitting, never to be forgotten, farewell to a man who was probably orchestrating the whole affair from his new vantage point.

Jake, my dear husband, rest in peace.

[CRguy]

That is a wonderful remembrance you have shared with us. I am sure if it made you smile, that Jake is too.
I loved the buddy with the last four-wheelin' trip..., now that IS a buddy.

Love, Peace and Harmony
...walkin' with you on the Journey
CRguy

[NedPlease]

I'm smiling and crying. Thank you for sharing. Take care of yourself.

[MissM]

A memorable way to go! Thank you for sharing.

[lohidoc]

I'm thinking Jake fixed it this way! I'm glad we can make jokes in the afterlife.

[Maia]

I'm smiling and crying.

Me too. I feel honoured you're sharing this with us. Thank you, Lauretta!

[michelle c]

I'm smiling and crying at the same time. Great story, thank you for sharing. Now when Jake said that he wanted them to work, he really meant it! I'm sure that he was looking down and laughing with you too. Funerals should definitely not be all doom and gloom and Jake made sure of this!

Love and hugs,

Michelle

[tammylayne]

Thank you for that description...I could almost see the slipping and sliding, and it did bring a smile to my face. You are obviously a woman that shared and loved in a marriage that was filled with humour, which I agree can be the best medicine. I love that you have such a happy memory, and even though Jake is no longer here, you are able to share a laugh with him, and I am sure that brings you some comfort!

Take care Lauretta....

[SkiFletch]

He got the last laugh didn't he? . Great story Lauretta

[rehab1]

...have done many a funeral, but this one tops em all....never experienced anything like this. Goes to prove that anything can go wrong; yup, have got to do a funeral this thursday....the son has EVERYTHING down pat, just perfect...(or so he thinks)....never seen a funeral go exactly as planned, its not going to happen and this brought smiles to me eyes...thank you for sharing this even in your difficult time of grief.
pete

[Phuong]

Even now he leaves you with a wonderful memory. Good for him!

[Lisahopes]

Fabulous story. Jake sure knows how to have fun!

[WorriedWife]

Jake got his wish and made those boys work!! I love it God bless you and Jake.

[Natty]

There are tears in my eyes both from the touching send off for Jake and the fact that Jake must have been laughing so hard to see that he got his wish of having to make people work at his funeral.

This is also a beautiful memory of you Jake to keep with you..despite it was on his last day up top with you.


Natty

[vickitwo]

Your story sounds like a comedy movie. It is good that there was some humor to take the edge off of such a solemn occasion.
I will share an amusing story. My father in law died many years ago of pancreatic cancer. I was unable to attend the funeral. My husband related this story to me. It was my FIL's wishes to be cremated and his ashes sprinkled in a lake. After his five children had sprinkled his ashes in the lake and departed up a hill they all looked back to remember the spot. There was a rock down the hill that they had not noticed previously that someone had painted the word stupid on with an arrow pointing to the very spot where they released the ashes. I think my father in law would have been very amused.

I am so sorry for your loss of your DH, Jake.

Vicki
DH age 52 DX 1/2012
Stage IV CC
transverse colon, omentum,liver, lungs
biweekly chemo since DX