Waiting for funerals
This is in response to the recent “Funeral processions” (Voice of the People, April 19), by letter writer Terry Johnson, who stated the following:
“The time has come to stop allowing funeral processions to pass through red lights and tie up intersections. It’s too much of an inconvenience to the rest of us.”
I have been a funeral director for almost 25 years. Death is not an inconvenience but a time of sorrow for the families who have lost someone dear to them.
It should not be that much of a hardship for people to wait for a couple of moments for a procession to go by.
People should put the shoe on their foot and see how they would like it.
This person’s remark is unbelievable.
— Todd St. Ledger
McHenry
Funeral rights
In our schools, we teach the three fundamental needs of mankind: food, shelter and clothing.
I believe at some juncture after childhood, all of mankind depends upon fellow human beings to help fulfill these needs as well as the need for companionship, support, love.
The list could go on.
To that end, I hope the person who considers funeral processions to be an “inconvenience to the rest of us” thinks about all of the people throughout his or her life who sacrificed, gave without question and loved him or her.
Once a person dies, regardless of what we believe happens, that deceased individual was a fellow human being.
Perhaps it was someone unknown to us whom we laughed with at a social event, cried with at a moving movie, opened a door for at a store.
The rite and right of a funeral procession is an entitlement to everyone. It is an acknowledgment of the deceased person’s life and contributions, however large or small.
Whether one chooses the formality of such services or not is personal. Mankind does respect one’s choice.
My apologies for any traffic problems that may have occurred in Mequon, Wis., on March 24.
That was the day I laid Mother to rest.
I love you Mom.
— Barbara Kanack
Grayslake
