Waiting for the Believers

This poster, by Allan Bruce Zee, is one of my favorites – I happened to be looking at it as I was ordering flowers for delivery to the wake this afternoon, and I was struck by the light, the empty chairs.

At the funeral parlour we will, of course, be in airless, windowless rooms. I expect the wake – tonight and tomorrow – will be huge and crowded, because Jane was a tireless and ever-present worker at church, either in her capacity as employee or volunteer. Between neighbors, church friends, school reps, this will be a big wake and an exhausting two days for her kids and her mother.

The family will have its private viewing soon. As in Zee’s photograph, the room is “waiting,” for the mourners; the chairs are empty and all is in suspense…but having had family members who worked in funeral homes, I know that right now, in that room, things are very busy, that floral arrangement after floral arrangement is being received and placed. The funeral director is fussing, making sure everything is as “right” as it can possibly be, in anticipation of the arrival of a family for whom nothing will feel “right” for a very long time.

Some wakes you almost look forward too. When a distant aunt of 90 is laid out, you know that there will be few tears, lots of “she had a good life” stories, and a chance to catch up with busy cousins. This is not one of those. This wake is going to be a rough one; the first wake Jane’s children will attend will be her own. Not good.

Please keep these kids, and Jane’s very aged mother, in your prayers – especially over the next few days. They are going to be surrounded by love, and support, and I know it will bring much consolation to them; it may even bouy them up – strengthen them to get through these days – but I remember, too, from my brother’s funeral, just how overwhelming a big wake can be.

Jane is gone.