A man was visiting a funeral parlor to see and sympathize with the bereaved.  He entered the room and went right up to the casket to view his old friend.  He stood there for a minute or so and then burst out laughing.  All the mourners looked at him but said nothing.
        He spent a respectable time talking with the relatives of the deceased and then, before he left, he went to the casket once more for a last look at his old friend.  The same thing happened - he burst out laughing.  A man came over to him and said, "This is no place for laughing."
        "Why that fella in the casket, he didn't believe in heaven or hell and here he is all dressed up and no place to go."
 
 

A trip to the past

In the early days, when someone passed away in newfoundland, there was a morbid loss felt by one and all in the community.  All homes had window blinds and if someone passed away, the blinds were pulled completely down until the funeral was over.  Even the neighbors of the deceased would show respect by pulling their blinds down half-way.
In Newfoundland's past, it was not a custom for Funeral Homes to perform the "Wake".  The undertaker would prepare the body for burial and then it was returned to the home in a coffin.  A suitable room would be selected as the "Wake Room" depending on what was available.  The "Wake" itself took place for two nights and the burial took place on the third day.  During the "Wake", there were no set hours to visit or pay last respects since anyone could do so around the clock.  This provided constant company for the mourning family.  At Catholic Wakes, the rosary was said, followed by a cup of tea or any beverage of preference.

"Wakes" in the past, could always draw a crowd.  Neighbors would bring food of all sorts to the family of the deceased, knowing that during this trying period, there would be no time for cooking.  With the constant gathering of people, there was bound to be many a story told and many a tear shed.  However, these "wakes" were often considered to be a source of much humor.  The anecdotes and tid-bits of information about times spent with the deceased were quite common and humorous.  There was absolutely no disrespect for the deceased but more so a joyful reflection on the life and good times had by all with the deceased and their family.  This reflection helped in easing the pain of the mourners.  After all...Laughter is the best medicine!

In The Shipping News, there was a perfect example of a traditional "wake", when everyone thought that jack buggit had passed away.
"the verge of the road crowded with cars and trucks.  they had to park far back and walk to the house, towards a roar of voices that carried a hundred feet.  a line of people filed through the parlor where, among lace whirligigs, jack's coffin rested on black-draped sawhorses..........joined the line sifted into the kitchen where there were cakes and braided breads, the steaming kettle, a row of whiskey bottles and small glasses.  the talk rose, it was of jack.  the things he had done or might have done."  this quote reveals the traditional setting of a newfoundland "wake" which was taking place in the home of jack buggit.  there was a crowd of friends around reminiscing, eating, drinking and providing support for his wife beety.  the "wake" scene, depicted here by annie proulx, could not have been more exact.  

On the third day, it was time for the funeral Services which was participated in by only men.  As could be expected, this day is one of total mourning since final good-byes have to be said.  The priest or minister would come to the home to hold a short service before proceeding to the church.  At this time, the deceased's favorite  hymns and prayers would be used as a sign of respect for the deceased's wishes.  The funeral procession usually included the spouse ( now referred to as the "widow of so and so "), the children of the deceased, the spouses of the children, the parents of the deceased, the grandparents, the brothers and sisters and the grandchildren.  After the church services, the procession moved to the graveside.  Once the burial was complete, there was prayer and mourning at the graveside.  In smaller communities in Newfoundland, it was quite common for all work to be halted on the afternoon of a funeral.  As one can see, "Wakes" and "Funerals" were a very important part of Newfoundland heritage.  As time passed on, many customs began to change, however, many Newfoundlanders were very reluctant to change and wanted to hang on to the ways of the past.  For example; many people could not become accustomed to the fact that funeral homes closed at 10 pm and they couldn't visit the deceased at any given hour.  This is something that has been accepted over the years, however, since "Wakes" in the home are almost unheard of today.

customs of today

Several of the customs and traditions have not totally changed from the past.  In my experience, funerals and "wakes" have not been a time of absolute sorrow but have been a time of reflection and memory of everything good in the deceased person's life.  In my community, if someone dies, there is a huge support system for emotional and physical needs.  I wouldn't be able to count how many lasagnas or apple pies that my mother has made when trying to help out a family in mourning.  This is a tradition which I think Newfoundlanders should be proud of since we take the opportunity to help our neighbors in their time of need.  It is nice to know that there is a community which can be considered as a bigger family that can be depended on if need be.

In Newfoundland, many families are split apart due to the lack of employment on the island. Just as a family reunites for a wedding, the other side of the coin is reuniting for a funeral.  I know that this may sound somewhat cold but I hope it is taken in the best way possible.  Many family members have great difficulty in getting an opportunity to come back to Newfoundland, for example; travel expenses may be too high, therefore a funeral is often a time for family reunions.  There is no disrespect for the deceased throughout these reunions and in fact, I believe that the reunion can bring strength to the mourning family.  The "wake", in this case is a time to reminisce, celebrate the life of the deceased and also to enjoy the support of the family.

Newfoundland has a culture which is all its own and this continues to be true when discussing the traditional customs for "wakes" and funerals.  i strongly believe that at the base of every newfoundland tradition, there is a firm belief in the support of others and the strength of the family.  in terms of "wakes" and funerals, the old newfoundland ways and even the new customs reveal a culture which is extremely sympathetic and warm-hearted.
 
 

This web page was composed by Jennifer Canning.  If you would like to e-mail me for more information about Newfoundland, feel free to do so.