Funeral Attendance Debate

Comments debate the purpose of funerals (for the living or dead), the obligation to attend despite discomfort, and etiquette around paying respects versus skipping them.

📉 Falling 0.4x Politics & Society
1,450
Comments
19
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2214
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2008
9
2009
11
2010
30
2011
44
2012
20
2013
33
2014
35
2015
51
2016
56
2017
57
2018
72
2019
110
2020
137
2021
116
2022
149
2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
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Keywords

AFAIK UK HN funeral attend death grief surviving respects queen loved ones discomfort pay

Sample Comments

Natsu Aug 9, 2013 View on HN

Someone needs to hold a funeral for it. One of those funerals where people throw a party.

KineticLensman Aug 11, 2025 View on HN

> ...they skipped my funeral ... I would seriously question ...This isn't how death works

JohnDeHope Nov 18, 2022 View on HN

That’s somebody’s funeral I would like to attend, to pay my respects.

Threeve303 Jun 29, 2021 View on HN

Unless you're a funeral director

PreInternet01 Apr 9, 2024 View on HN

Hmm, well, imagine this turning up on HN! I attend 1,2-maybe-3 funerals every year because of this exact project, and while every one of these is very different, the experience is always humbling.Most of the time, literally nobody will show up. So, you'll pay your respect to the deceased using a short speech that is based on the information provided (which is usually pretty scarce, like: "found abandoned, identified, but no next-of-kin responded") complemented wit

pyre Feb 18, 2011 View on HN

At a funeral, people exchange stories, comfort, and grief.

phamilton May 14, 2018 View on HN

If you don’t go to folk’s funerals how can you expect them to come to yours?

jakobmartz3 Sep 10, 2020 View on HN

Interesting, but I wouldn't want them to do that at my funeral.. maybe a week before or something

GiorgioG Aug 11, 2025 View on HN

It is not ok. Be an adult and deal with the emotional discomfort to pay your last respects.

mooism2 Sep 3, 2009 View on HN

Shouldn't the funeral goers be spending time with the dying person while they can?