Funeral Procession Etiquette

[eastbayguy]

Guess my midwestern roots are showing again. Anyway, I attended a funeral today, and opted not to go to the cemetary. Waited at the church while the procession left. The procession must have taken the long way to the cemetary, as on the way from the church to my house, I met the procession going the other direction.

 

Aren't you supposed to pause when a funeral procession passes? I was the only person who paused in my block as the procession passed. Got lots of nasty glares from other drivers rocketing past me. One of the cops escorting the funeral procession gave me a thumbs up signal as he passed. Since when did people stop pausing for funeral processions? I thought it was a measure of respect for the deceased to pause when their funeral procession passed.

 

--EBG

 

P. S. Which circle of hell do you end up in for cruising at a funeral? About half of a local high school was at this particular service.

[+ deej]

>>Since when did people stop pausing for funeral processions?

 

Probably about the time they stopped pausing/getting out of the way for emergency vehicles.

 

x(

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

It has nothing to do with your midwestern roots. It has to do with the fact you were raised properly.

 

>Guess my midwestern roots are showing again.

 

>Aren't you supposed to pause when a funeral procession passes?

 

Yes, you are.

 

>drivers rocketing past me. One of the cops escorting the

>funeral procession gave me a thumbs up signal as he passed.

 

He knew you were right and that was nice of him to let you know you were correct.

 

>Since when did people stop pausing for funeral processions?

 

When people started to drive SUVs and road rage began. People need to be mentally checked before driving as well as vision. It has always been customary to stop. As a matter of fact you don't have too much choice in our town as the police stop the traffic for the larger funerals. People are too busy, therefore, people are always in a rush. You were right and the people doing Road Runner past you were rude and wrong.

 

VDN

:-)

[Chuck50]

Sorry to say that has gone out a long time ago. You might try riding in the procession sometime in the hearse or lead car and watch all the kinds of things that people do. I speak from Experience. It is disgusting. So Etiquette this and most has unfortunately gone by the wayside in the lack of attention society in which we live. The clicker world ,the I want it now. HUGS

[LovesYng]

I heard that in FL the procession is not allowed to run red lights anymore, that all must stop at "RED". Don't know how true this is.

 

When in doubt I whip it out:+

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

I guess this thread as touched a nerve with me because of a recent loss in my life. However, Chuck, you are so right in your post - many things have gone away in terms of common decency, etc.

 

Here are two VERY interesting link about funeral procession etiquette.

 

http://www.salisburypost.com/september99/091399f.htm

 

http://www.newsherald.com/archive/local99/lb071899.htm

 

VDN

[OneFinger]

I think the method for handling funeral processions differs from location to location. A few years ago, when I lived in California, I noticed a total disregard for funeral processions. It wasn't uncommon for people to cut into the middle of the procession. They wouldn't even think of pulling over or allowing the procession to have the right-of-way.

 

I currently live in Utah and there are NO motorcycle escorts for the procession. It is customary for people in the procession to turn on their headlights but that's now confusing with so many cars having daytime running lights. Without an escort, the hearse tries to time speed so that the entire procession makes it through the same light. Most cars here will stop on cross streets and intersections to allow the procession to negoiate turns into the cemetary.

 

When I lived in Michigan they had a practice I really liked. All cars in the procession were given a magnetic flag to place on the front passenger side of the roof. The last car in the procession had a double flag (on both the driver and passenger side) to indicate the end of the procession. Everyone in Michigan respected the procession and allowed them to proceed through red lights and negoiate turns.

 

But, I'm afraid funeral etiquette is being lost, not taught, or just disregarded. ;(

[eastbayguy]

Appreciate everyone's comments very much. Thanks for confirming that it isn't me with the problem here. Until I'm the passenger in the funeral procession, I'll continue stopping--thank you very much.

 

One fine point of etquitte on processions: If you meet a funeral procession on a multi-lane, divided freeway, what are you supposed to do then? From a practicality standpoint, given the size of most funeral processions, by the time you get pulled over and stopped, the procession is past. Plus, given the speeds involved, the act of everyone stopping is just plain dangerous. I've never even tried stopping on a divided freeway. All other times, I stop for the procession. Perhaps an error in etiquette, but occasionally even etiquette must yield to safety.

 

Thoughts?

 

--EBG

[Chuck50]

VDN Thanks so much for sharing those articles. I have seen the best of people and the worst of people in those situations. But enjoyed your sharing those two articles. Hope some more people will read them. HUGS Chuck

[+ deej]

During my Dad's funeral (20 years ago!), we had to travel across town on the interstate. I remember not being bothered by the people who sped past the slower-moving procession but appalled at the people who CUT IN as we were taking the exit.

[Kippy]

Try cremation-- it's the bomb!!! And... no procession to worry about!!!!!! R.I.P.

[OneFinger]

>Try cremation-- it's the bomb!!! And... no procession to worry about!!!!!! R.I.P.

 

I think your post is grossly insensitive and also inaccurate.

 

I've had several friends who were cremated. Some of the families still chose to have a procession (complete with family car and herse) after the funeral. The ashes were buried in a plot at the cemetary and included the traditional headstone.

[trilingual]

Sigh! In the immortal question posed by Velma Kelly and Matron Momma Morton, "What ever happened to class?" x(

[HotDad]

I'll be honest and admit that I've never heard of pausing when a procesion was going in the other direction. I'll also admist that I have, on more than one occaision, interrupted a procession unkowingly. In the old day, headlights on during the day was a clear indication of a funeral procession. Now, almost all cars have "running lights". In some cases, unless you see the lead car, it's hard to know that you've encountered a funeral procession.

[Kippy]

Insensitive???? Lighten UP!!!! It's "HEARSE" not "Herse"...:+

It's all biodegradable!

[+ Charlie]

In response to your P.S.: A friend of mine met one of his serial partners at the funeral of the partner's late boyfriend. The way he tells it, the relationship started on the way back from the cemetary, and was consummated that night. Tasteless, but amusing.