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You honored your father in life, that is what matters. Whether you have a funeral or not is entirely up to you.

So sorry for your loss.
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Reply to Hothouseflower
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You could just give the caregivers a gift card for dinner and thank them for their help .
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Reply to KNance72
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You could have a recap of his life in photos posted on the funeral home’s website. Ask them for music played in the background as the pictures unfold on screen. Inform people that this is how you’re celebrating his life. They can look it up, click on the link, and play it as many times as they like. My friend supplied 40 photos for her nephew. It was lovely.

There are companies that create a “farewelling.” It includes an online meeting where people sign in and can see each other onscreen. There are photos to see, and people speak up about their memories of the deceased. This worked well for my friend who had relatives in Europe; they didn’t have to travel to the US to go to a funeral.

I find no comfort in funerals. There is nothing pleasant about sitting in a hall with people I may not know, the crying and the wheeling of the corpse out the door with the mourning spouse and family behind. Just NO.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Even the will is not binding on an executor. The legal case I learned was about a testator who left instructions for a grave to be surmounted by “a magnificent equestrian statue of myself’. He didn’t get it.
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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Thank you. He didn’t have many friends only family. The ones pushing for a memorial service or something of that sort are caretakers and ppl that knew him but not close.
We, the family, and close friends were at his bedside while he was conscience. He was so happy. We gave him his flowers while he was alive. I feel in my heart he was pleased. He did not leave instructions.
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Reply to CaliBabe
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AlvaDeer Feb 15, 2025
I think this was so good, so lucky, such a wonderful end. I don't think there is anything else that need to be done. You honored him in life and gave him a peaceful end, and to be honest there's nothing better than that, nothing to beat that.
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Feel guilty because you are are failing in obligations to WHOM exactly?
Dad has passed.
My own family chose never to have services and to have simple cremation. My Dad asked that we go to the bar and hoist a glass to him! Kidding here, because he didn't drink, but the fact is that neither my mother, father nor brother had any services other than family and close friends having an evening to remember him at one of our homes. I don't want services and this is written in my instructions. My partner will not have services.

To be honest, I don't see the sense in them at all, though some families are comforted by them and want to have them.

In short, the answer is that you don't need to have services. If ANYONE asks "when are services" say "It was Dad's wishes not to have any, and we will let you know if we get together at some point in the future for a remembrance". End of discussion.

You have my condolences. I hope you have good memories and they sustain you.
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CaliBabe Feb 15, 2025
Thank you.
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If it was your fathers wish to have some kind of funeral or celebration of life, then by all means honor his wishes. Otherwise you and your family can do whatever you all think is best.
When my late husband died 4 1/2 years ago, I had him cremated and we scattered his ashes at his favorite beach with just immediate family in attendance.
I had put an obituary in our local newspaper so others would know of his death, but notated in it that his ashes would be scattered at his favorite beach.
I'm glad that you got to be with your father at his passing and I wish you peace going forward.
God bless you.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Did he prepay for his funeral. If he did that changes things some - but honestly even if he did the family doesn't HAVE to do anything - but that money (outside of burial or cremation) that he paid for the services etc will be lost.

But if he didn't prepay anything - frankly - no.

I do know that people can be judgmental when they don't feel that someone's wishes are honored. But in my opinion funerals are for the living. I've already told my kids to cremate me and do what they want - that they are under no obligation to have anything.

I've seen it done so many ways. Especially since COVID, things have changed. I've known people who cremated their loved one and had private family only memorials, I've known people who the funeral service was actually a celebration of life and a reunion of sorts. I've known people who still have the "traditional" funeral services. Culturally there are a ton of different types of celebrations and memorials.

I'm going to set you straight on something that someone said to me here. Guilt is for people who have done something wrong. GRIEF is the sorrow of loss. Not having a funeral is not "wrong", it is simply a choice like any other.

Maybe your family had your celebration of life by his beside. Is it strictly necessary for everyone to come together and stand in line and shake a bunch of hands, often of people they don't even know? Or would the family prefer to have a private graveside service or spread his ashes somewhere every one loved to be with him?

There are lots of ways to honor and remember without a formal service.
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Reply to BlueEyedGirl94
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Required?

If he had a Last Will this often includes directions about what he wants done with his body and also any religious or "celebration of life" services. The Executor of his Will takes care of all these arrangements. This of course can only happen if he also left enough funds to cover it.

If he left no instructions, it will be up to the family representative to do this.

My MIL was in LTC for 7 years. She had a very small family and she outlived her friends and neighbors. Her 3 sons (and other family) had been with her prior to her passing (which was rather sudden). She left no Will nor instructions but we had purchased a pre-paid cremation policy for her. She lived near us in MN and when the summer comes we will organize a family event to place her ashes in the lake she loved and share our loving memories of her life with us, with no church or other formal ceremony.

My Aunt recently passed and I'm her Executor, organizing a Catholic funeral mass for her even though she also didn't leave any specific instructions, but was a devout Catholic. Plus the majority of our family is Catholic and would be upset if this didn't happen. Funerals are really for those left behind. People shouldn't do anything out of guilt.

His family can have a small, intimate gathering to memorialize him. I'm sorry for your loss.
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Reply to Geaton777
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