Cremation with a difference.

[sandyf]

Last Sunday the grandmother of my wife's niece died. We did the water ceremony on Monday and my brother in law did the cooking Wednesday for the evening ceremony, and then yesterday was the cremation. The daughter of the deceased, nieces mother, was a long time teacher at a government school and the cremation was deemed as "Royal". There must have been over 500 in attendance and all the teachers from the school were there in their white ceremonial uniforms. I have to say it was all very impressive, certainly put my ceremonial uniform that I had in the RAF to shame.

The white uniforms formed like a guard of honour and a black limousine arrived under police escort. Two men also in white uniform got out, each carrying a small casket. They made their way into the temple and all others in white fell in behind.

There was a short service and then it was time to file past the coffin. With the number of people I thought it would take forever but it all went fairly smoothly. When it comes to certain functions the Thais can be extremely well organised. Fortunately we only had to pass the coffin which was still out on a pedestal. I have done a few where the furnace was already in operation and that is quite an uncomfortable experience.

By strange coincidence one of the family members is a nurse at the Chonburi cancer hospital and did my ECG a couple of years ago. I would not have known but she recognised me and came over.

[David48]

Some images to share would be nice to compliment the words.

Sorry for your loss.

[Costas2008]

OP, Thank you for describing to us the cremation procedure of a civil servant in Thailand.

Yes, it is impressive and also moving as the light to fire the cremation supposed to be coming from the King.

What I can't understand is your last paragraph.

Where does it fit in your description of the funeral the meeting with the nurse that gave you an ECG?

[sandyf]

OP, Thank you for describing to us the cremation procedure of a civil servant in Thailand.

Yes, it is impressive and also moving as the light to fire the cremation supposed to be coming from the King.

What I can't understand is your last paragraph.

Where does it fit in your description of the funeral the meeting with the nurse that gave you an ECG?

Just a side issue really. When you come down the steps from the coffin, family members are at the bottom on each side and they hand out a small momento or in this case a booklet on the deceased. The nurse was among them and recognised me, the only family member I knew was the nieces mother.

[Jip99]

It sounds a nice ceremony.

I still have trouble rationalising the disproportionate amounts the Thais spend on funerals (especially for 'ordinary' folk) compared to what they spend when that person is alive.

[sandyf]

It sounds a nice ceremony.

I still have trouble rationalising the disproportionate amounts the Thais spend on funerals (especially for 'ordinary' folk) compared to what they spend when that person is alive.

You and me both. I think somewhere along the line Thai "Face" comes into it.

[kokesaat]

After you've attended a few Thai funerals, western funerals seem so boring. When my wife's mother died ten or so years ago, we hired out the store that sells coffins (small town outside of Udon) to do all the arrangements at the temple. All the normal flowers, decorations, etc were provided.......but when it came time to put a flame to the crematorium, a guidewire had been set up that allowed a large bottle rocket to track from about 30m away, directly into the crematorium........it exploded and set the kerosene drenched charcoal aflame. After the crematorium door was shut, a number of large rockets were set off to announce the final ceremony to the rest of the village. What a way to go!

[metisdead]

A nonsense trolling post has been removed as well as the replies.

[Chonburiram]

Last Sunday the grandmother of my wife's niece died... The daughter of the deceased, nieces mother...

Does this translate to: My wife's sister in law's mother died?

[davyboy]

After you've attended a few Thai funerals, western funerals seem so boring. When my wife's mother died ten or so years ago, we hired out the store that sells coffins (small town outside of Udon) to do all the arrangements at the temple. All the normal flowers, decorations, etc were provided.......but when it came time to put a flame to the crematorium, a guidewire had been set up that allowed a large bottle rocket to track from about 30m away, directly into the crematorium........it exploded and set the kerosene drenched charcoal aflame. After the crematorium door was shut, a number of large rockets were set off to announce the final ceremony to the rest of the village. What a way to go!

Yes, to watch the flame on the guide wire is very impressive.

[sandyf]

Last Sunday the grandmother of my wife's niece died... The daughter of the deceased, nieces mother...

Does this translate to: My wife's sister in law's mother died?

Only if you say "ex". Nieces parents divorced about 15 years ago and she was brought up by my wife and my late father in law. Nieces father was away in the navy and mother disappeared, came back on the scene a couple of years ago. Niece lives with us and now studies in China, came back the day before the grandmother died. The niece only ever met the grandmother a couple of times as they live some distance away. We do not know the family very well and only went to the funeral as a mark of respect.

[Chonburiram]

Ah, i see - was wondering about the unusual description of the degree of relationship...