>Dina Dempsey said, of humor in a eulogy,
>"Last time I checked, jokes were considered inappropriate at a funeral.
>It's not an audition for Comedy Central. If he's uncomfortable giving
>the eulogy straight, then perhaps he should decline the invitation."
>
>
>
>I must respectfully disagree. An Irish wake without humor would be a
>tragedy. Humor can respect the dead, just as a eulogy delivered without
>humor can be grossly disrespectful. It is how the eulogy is prepared, and
>how it is given that matters every bit as much as what is said. I supect
>that God, if He exists, has a better sense of humor than all the rest
>of us put together.
>
>Anthony Mournian
Hello again, Anthony!
Since I've gotten a few rather nasty private messages in addition to
those sent to the list, I will briefly respond.
I never said *humor* was out of place - only canned jokes researched
by a librarian for her boss. Humorous, personal anecdotes about the
deceased's life are _completely_ different and can bring a moment of
joy to a sorrowful occasion. In this case, it turned out that the
librarian had misunderstood the attorney's request - it wasn't for a
real funeral, just a fake eulogy for someone's 50th birthday.
BTW, as my last name might imply, I am well-acquainted with the use
of humor at Irish wakes :) However, please remember that a wake and
a funeral are not one in the same. The funerals I have attended have
all been solemn, sober events followed by a drunken revel later,
usually lasting into the early hours of the next day!
I stand by my original message - that if someone were asked to deliver
a eulogy and started asking around for appropriate jokes, then they
probably would not be the right person for the job. Unless the
deceased was, say, a professional clown ;)
Onward through the fog ...
Dina Dempsey, Law Librarian
Clements, O'Neill, Pierce & Nickens (713) 654-7600
1000 Lousiana, Suite 1800 (fax) 654-7690
Houston TX 77002-5009 dina@neosoft.com
A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.
— Henry Ward Beecher
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