[Al Skierkiewicz]

Kim,
One policy that has stood the test of time for me, is to not remember what people say at funerals. They are often so grief stricken or in shock that they say things they don't mean or wouldn't normally say. So rather then get angry, I just forget they ever said anything and treat them as if they never said anything. Society just doesn't prepare us for death of people around us. We don't know what to expect, what is required of the survivors or what we should know is normal behavior for ourselves in these trying times. Rarely will we even have a chance to speak with a person and find out how they want us to act after their passing. It does help to talk to friends and relatives and it is OK to grieve.