The Perfect Funeral

I planned a lot of things for Michael in our life together. I planned our wedding, he did help, but I did most of the planning. I planned a surprise trip to Puerta Vallarta for His 40th birthday. I surprised him with a party for his 40th and 50th birthdays. I planned the vacations the date nights you name it, I was the planner in the marriage and I enjoyed it. Now mind you he went along with whatever I planned but I was the planner. Planning the perfect send off for his funeral was the last thing I would ever get to do for him so I wanted to make it great!

I don’t know that there is such a thing as a Perfect funeral but if there is my husband had one.  What an amazing celebration of life and an incredible send off for him.  

For years, thinking this wouldn’t happen until he was 96 years old, Michael had talked about the type of funeral that he wanted.  He shared with me that he wanted an Irish Wake.  He wanted a festive environment where people were happy and remembering him in a positive way.  

I wanted to make sure that I honored Michael’s wishes and then some.  

We indeed had an Irish wake for his viewing.  People stood in line for 2hours at the funeral home to pay their respects but once they were inside they didn’t leave.  We had 3 bars set up with a 2drink maximum. The room was electric with stories and laughter reliving the incredible life that Michael had lived.  There were hundreds of people that came to say goodbye to him and a hundred or so that stayed throughout the night.  

Michael’s favorite bible verse was Psalm 139:14 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  I had red bracelets that held that verse on it and they were handed to each of the attendees so that they could remember Michael and that they too are fearfully and wonderfully made.  

The next day was the funeral.  The time had come to say our final goodbyes but I even wanted that to be a celebration.  Michael was a graduate of Purdue University.  I arranged for the Boilermaker Special to lead the way from the funeral home to the church.  The church was filled with so many people who loved him.  I had the honor of eulogizing Michael.  No one knew him that way that I did and I wanted to share what an amazing life he had lived. I was able to deliver this without a tear, which for those of you that know me, that is quite the feet.  But it was for Michael and I found some added strength for him that day.   A former Gorgeous! Woman, someone that had received a makeover from Hello Gorgeous! Sang on Eagles wings.  As the Catholic mass ended, a bagpiper played Amazing Grace and led us out of the church.  The Boilermaker Special led the procession from the church to the cemetery and honked the horn and blew the whistle the entire way.    As it pulled into the cemetery it fittingly played the Purdue Fight Song.  Michael was placed in his final resting place and I couldn’t have been more at peace.  I loved him so very much,  this was my last chance to do something special for him.  I had so much joy in my heart for Michael.   It was the absolute perfect send off for my hero, the love of my life.  

I could not stop smiling.  It was perfect! Absolutely perfect.   It was everything I wanted for him, everything he would have loved and more.  It was the ultimate gift and the last thing that I had the opportunity to plan for him.  It was truly a celebration and a testament to a life well lived.  

As I stated in the beginning I don’t know if there is such a thing as a perfect funeral but if there is Michael had one.  I hope that all of you reading this have that special someone that will give you the perfect send off to your well lived life.