The Viewing

2009 June 13

Created by Andrea 14 years ago
Aunty Dot and Aunty Mo were on holiday, and mum said that she wanted you in the Memorial Chapel for viewing, so they could say goodbye when they returned. I was not happy about this, but it was Mum's decision. We had organised that family photographs and a few of your essentials would be put into your coffin, a notepad and pencil for your doodling and also a screwdriver. As the coffin was opened the next of kin had to verify it was you, Mum couldn't go down, and therefore I had to go. I was shown into the room where you coffin was, you were dressed in your slacks, blue blazer and white shirt (open necked with no tie, like you wore it). Your hair was all wrong, you never did have it swept over in a side parting, and so I had them change it. It is an image that I am trying very hard to forget, because the body in the coffin was not you, and is not how I want to remember you. Let us say that anybody who reads this should not view a body when it has been dead for 11 days. I would not allow Karen to see you, and thankfully she agreed. This was worse than seeing you at the hospital and not a good day for me.