Sophia died of a stroke late last month and her daughter Renia of Livonia, Mi., grieved deeply before being cleared for an international flight home to Poland. "I never saw her grieve so and she hit the floor upon hearing of her mom's death," her husband Ray voiced with animation.
Ray is a boyhood chum of mine from Detroit's east side near the City Airport where we grew up, asked me why we embalm our deceased. In Poland, he said, they refrigerate the deceased.
Sophia was "waked" in the backyard of the home she and her husband and family owned. All the village seemed to visit, Ray said, showing me photos of Sophia, and, a Mass card someone sent to remember Sophia and pray for the day as the Scriptures suggest is a good thing. Ray seems to be readying himself for his own dad's exit, I thought, as he took time to show me flowers, gifts and notes of concern and condolences sent to his wife renia, a native of Poland.
"More and more people can't afford a funeral in the USA," Ray said, as his son, Matthew looked on from his blackberry and computer, seemingly glued to his dad's voice.
Apparently, funeral homes required embalming. It is not law, however, Ray said.
Image and appearance is important in America, I thought. Refrigeration doesn't make the dead look so polished and pleasant.
Paying through the nose then is the lone option.
More people are contesting funerals these days with shorter visitation time. They also are opting for cremation.
My friend also mentioned in my pastoral visit to his home that Mt. Carmel Parish in Wyandotte is among the few cemetaries that are eco- and environmentally friendly.
Death.
Our deep roots and relationships brought Ray, Renia, Matt and me together at the death of +Sophia.
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her, O Lord!
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