I'm sorry, Sophia. I'm glad she got to see and approve the dress. I hope Monday goes smoothly

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sophia.

That's what we (Irish Catholic) call the wake, or viewing--where the person is laid out and people come pay their respects in the couple days prior to the funeral.

We Protestants (the ones I grew up with) call that the wake, too.

I always thought TV writers were just being stupid, when they called the post-funeral gathering a "wake." I didn't realize real people did that (exception: "Irish wake" is often the description of the post-funeral gathering, if there's alcohol involved, but that's more adjectival, than what we really call it, which is sometimes, "collation" but usually just spoken of as, "Where are we going after?").

In other words, I thought the TV usage of "wake" for the after-gathering was like Christmas Eve is often show on TV, as if that's when most people buy, put up, and decorate their trees.

Matilda just got back from a 3-person jewelry class coffee date and plunged right into her first class. There's one more jewelry class kid living somewhere in the neighborhood, so the goal for this coming week will be to lure him out for morning coffee too.

Sophia, I'm so sorry for your and Maria's loss, but glad that her mom is at peace--and I'm absolutely certain that you gave her a tremendous final gift. My great-grandmother died at 96 just exactly two days after my mom took her on a trip away from her rest home to visit the hairdresser. She came back, looked at herself approvingly in the mirror, and said, "I look so nice! Now I'm ready to go." And two days later she did, peacefully, in her sleep. These things just *matter* sometimes.

JZ, my Nana had a facial and her hair done, a couple of days before she passed. My mother's hair dresser brings it up, and always says, "That's how I want to go."

My grandmother died with her first-ever pedicure! (But there was no way to know that at the time.)

Sophia, I'm so sorry for your and Maria's loss, but glad that her mom is at peace--and I'm absolutely certain that you gave her a tremendous final gift.

What JZ said.

(And that I didn't try to manage a demented parent through Covid protocols.)

That is for real! I can't imagine what a nightmare that must be.

what we really call it, which is sometimes, "collation" but usually just spoken of as, "Where are we going after?").

I think I would say collation only for refreshments at the church and/or "going back to the house after."

Suela, being the boss and having another job is definitely for the birds. I am currently filling in for an open position and I definitely should not be here posting because Friday is the only day I have any significant amount of non-meeting time to actually get work done.

I'm sorry to hear about Maria's mother. My condolences to her family and to you.

Sophia, I'm so sorry for your and Maria's loss, but glad that her mom is at peace--and I'm absolutely certain that you gave her a tremendous final gift.

What JZ said.

What JZ and Jesse said.

I always referred to the gathering after the funeral as a wake, but MedicGuy has vehemently insisted that the wake is before the funeral, and what happens after is called a repast.

A viewing has an open casket, and a visitation has a closed casket or an urn.

'Suela, I hate that those kind of machinations are a thing. It would be so nice if people just let other people do their jobs and supported them, rather than trying to cut them off at the knees. I hope you get some help soon to avoid burnout.

Yay for more stabbinations!

JZ, I'm glad you were able to repair the relationship with your father enough to be able to mourn him with little acrimony. It's so very evident how much you loved him and how much he loved you, and if nothing else, it's a beautiful thing to carry in your heart.

Oh yeah, I have also heard repast! I forgot about that one.

I think I've heard the funeral director use "repast" sometimes, when they announce at the conclusion of the internment.

The only wake I have ever been to was a post funeral party sort of thing with bagpipes. It's not part of my tradition at all, whatever it actually is or what you call it.