Care | Compassion | Fellowship | Grief | Suffering

SHARED MOURNING
It was a dull afternoon in Belfast, Northern Ireland. My Grandfather had just finished the morning shift and was leaving to go home. As he left the place of employment, he stopped at the street corner, took off his cap in a token of respect as a funeral procession moved slowly down the road. In Northern Ireland it is the custom that a family and friends of a deceased person will carry the coffin, alternating pall-bearers along the funeral route to the deceased’s home. After an informal gathering, a hearse takes the casket to the deceased’s home. After an informal gathering, a hearse takes the casket and the mourners follow behind to the burial place. It is the custom for all the mourners to alternate carrying the casket and also mourn their departed friend and companion. They demonstrate their sympathy by bearing the burden with the loved ones. In this procession there was simply a black shiny hearse with the mourners walking,…