Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Heath Ledger Remembrance Forum
Heath Ledger - News Accounts
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: Kerry on February 09, 2008, 01:25:08 am ---In Australia, a viewing is held prior to the funeral. It is exactly what it implies, the viewing of the deceased in the coffin, prior to interment.
After the funeral/interment of the coffin, comes the wake. The wake can take many forms from formal and dignified to highly alcoholic and out of control. It all depends on the tradition within each individual family. So-called "Irish" wakes are loud, boozy and out of control.
--- End quote ---
This is more or less the way things are done among my people in Central Pennsylvania, except that nobody calls the gathering after the burial a wake. Burials usually take place in the late morning, and afterwards lunch is typically provided for those who attended. Nobody calls the lunch anything but lunch. I always understood a wake to be an event that takes place before the burial. At the risk of seeming irreverent, the idea of providing lunch after the funeral always reminds me of the line from A Christmas Carol, where the businessmen are discussing Scrooge's funeral, and one says, "I'll go if lunch is provided." :)
I also see very little black at funerals, but in the case of my family, anyway, I think that may mainly be a concession to economics. Most of my relatives are lower middle to working class, and if the menfolk own a suit at all it's apt to be dark blue or dark gray. We don't need lots of "dressy" clothes, so a black suit that got trotted out and worn only for funerals would be impractical and a waste of money. I don't have to "dress" for work, and I wore dark gray to my mother's funeral. She died in December, and the dark gray was my "winter" suit for going to church. Mother always said that she didn't want a viewing, so we didn't have one.
A long time ago, when I was younger and thinner and more clothes-conscious, I did own a black suit. When I wore it to a funeral, I got told to my face that I looked like the undertaker/funeral director.
I saw film of the funeral procession, and of Michelle with Heath's sister, on the news this morning.
I agree with Leslie re: Jake: If I'd gone all the way to Australia, I'd want to attend the service, hang the media. Obviously, the service wasn't limited to family.
MaineWriter:
I have seen various news reports about the number of people at the funeral, ranging from 100, to 300, to 600.
Kim Ledger's wife has been named Mary in one report, and Ines is another.
So much for getting the facts right!
But no source has mentioned Jake and he is not in any picture I have seen.
L
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Katie77 on February 09, 2008, 04:24:09 am ---Just to enlighten you about what we wear here in Austraia to a funeral......most people DONT wear black anymore.....it seems that any clothing is suitable and obviously as long as its tasteful.
In a lot of cases where it is a funeral for young people, a lot of the mourners are also young and a lot of the young blokes wear jeans and a nice shirt.
And it is summer here so casual clothing is obviously more comfortable....
The colour of ones clothing, is not considered a matter of importance at all.
And the wake, is a gathering of the mourners, usually after the funeral.
--- End quote ---
Ah, the new generation. My mother would be appalled. It's not a matter of being comfortable, it's a matter of showing respect. My mother's generation believed - and she taught me - that wearing jeans or other casual clothes to something like a funeral demonstated you couldn't be bothered to dress up and you were thinking more about yourself and your comfort than the seriousness of the event you were going to.
Now for Heath, the guy never did stand on ceremony and wasn't much of a fashion maven - unfortunately - so I can definitely understand the casual aspect.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: David on February 09, 2008, 03:39:56 am ---I read in Elle a while back (I think it was Elle) that it really isn't necessary to wear black to a funeral these days, especially during the summer, and it IS summer in Australia now. Any toned down color is appropriate - pastels, earth tones, beige, egg shell, gray, and black. Combining too many colors should be avoided. Keep it simple and respectful.
Red is definitely a color you want to avoid wearing to a funeral. Other bright colors should be avoided too.
--- End quote ---
Unless you want to make a point. If a certain friend of mine suddenly died, I would certainly wear a red dress to his funeral. He is partially color-blind, the only colors he can make out are strong colors like red. He likes me in red, so I would do it for him.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: opinionista on February 09, 2008, 11:07:39 am ---I know this is unlikely but maybe he [Jake] stayed with Matilda. She wasn't seen there either.
--- End quote ---
I like this idea a lot.
Or else, it was just rumor and he didn't go at all.
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