Clowing at a memorial service

[Morning Glory]

bumbles- i like the idea of using puppets with different disabilities

[cte53271]

I didn't know that clowns dose shows for funerals or memoral services.

[Governor of Florida in 1682]

A clown can do anything that calls them. the hope is the family holding the memorial is aware and approves of the plan ahead of time. I told my with everyone at mine is required to sear a sponge nose unless they are in full regalia.

[cte53271]

thank Luki,

[Whatknot]

Originally Posted by BananaTree

Actually I was thinking something like Livin La Vida Loca or the Hokey Pokey...maybe even the bunny hop for while they aare viewing the body on their way out.

Marvelous! Maybe a ten pie salute, or black balloon animals... "And as we lower Mister-" *TTTTHHHHHHHHHHHPPPPT!!! Electronic whoopie cushion. Sigh dark humor... good times....

[saphireSue]

Well this years was a little different and to be honest not as good as in past as far as a grief councilling camp is supposed to be, more of an all day party, not focusing on things like they had done in the pass. As far as clowning goes we had fun, but I knew two of the kids in the camp had lost their dad this past year and I was disappointed in the camp sessions.

[Barry Daft (Mr. B. Daft)]

I had a friend who was from Brighton, England, called The Mudman. His girl friend was from Costa Rica. Two years ago whilst on holiday, Mudman went for a swim. The next day his body was washed up on the beach minus his liver. There was a dirty great big tiger shark bite out of the side of him. He was cremated, half his ashes were sprinkled on a mountain side in Costa Rica, the other half were sent back to Brighton for his UK family and friends to celebrate and remember. It was a sad and somber affair. I found this poem which was easily adapted.

Mudman was eaten by a shark
my dad by a killerwhale
then my baby brother was slurpped up
by a really hungrey sea snail.

Then a cuttlefish cut up my mother
an octopus strangled my sister.
A jelly fish stung my aunty on her toe,
giving her an orible blister.

Then a pufferfish poisoned my grandpa
and a dogfish ate my cat.
Then a catfish ate my dog
and I was really upset about that.

So go for a swim if you want
but don't expect me to come too,
I'd rather sit here with my camera,
I can't wait to see what gets you!

There is allways a place for humour, even in the most dire and saddest of situations if it is appropriate and sensative. The little ones dont really understand whats happening but they feel their parents and families saddness. The adults really appreiciate your efforts to minimise the little ones' pain. I have done three kids places at wakes over the years. Its just another kind of gig. I enjoy the challenge and find it very rewarding, knowing I have taken some stress of the parents at that point in their lives.

Did you hear about the undertaker who buried someone in the wrong place and was sacked for committing a very grave mistake?

Toodle Pip x

[Barry Daft (Mr. B. Daft)]

While I am thinking about funerals, this is another little story by Gary Hogg which I love to tell.

THE MONUMENTAL COCK-UP

Honest, God fearing folks were the Tuckers
With a craving for saintly protection
Dulcie handed out hymn books on Sundays
And Sid handed round the collection

They'd invested in the plot when Sid first retired
"It won't come in wrong" Dulcie said
"We'll order a headstone with cherubs and doves
To celebrate the lives we have led"

The celebration came quicker than Dulcie had planned
It came as a shock to poor Sid
She'd just popped into town for their pension
When the grim reaper did what he did

They were laying new tarmac on the High Street
With diggers and rollers and that
She stepped out from behind Dickman's pie van
And got rolled out herself, nice and flat

Now with all the arrangements that Sid had to make
He was pleased that they'd sorted the stone
All he needed now was the epitaph inscribed
So he got Chippy Scott on the phone

Now, Chippy Scott, the Monumental Mason
Took the epitaph down line by line
It was a right fitting verse Sid had chosen
And it ended with 'GOD SHE WAS THINE'

Chippy said "Aye Sid, I don't see a problem,
It'll just take a couple of days,
I've taken a lad on this morning,
I'll get him on, more or less, straight away"

The next couple of days were long ones for Sid
Getting used to him being alone
So he took the dog for a walk up the graveyard
To have a quick look at the stone

He struck a match so's to see the inscription
Took a swig from his hip flask of gin
It was a right fitting verse Sid had chosen
But it ended with 'GOD SHE WAS THIN'

He was on the phone to Chippy next morning at eight
Says "You know this 'GOD SHE WAS THINE' ?
Well your young apprentice has cocked it all up,
He's missed the 'E' off the last bloody line"

When you consider the nature of poor Dulcie's death
He couldn't apologise more
He says "I'll send him back up to re-do it,
As soon as he walks through that door"

Now the service was nice, not a long one
It was wet but there was still a few there
With heads bowed in sorrow at t'graveside
They solemnly gathered in prayer

Sid's tearfilled eyes strayed to the headstone
And thoughts of just what might've been
It was a right fitting verse Sid had chosen
But now it ended 'Eeeh, GOD SHE WAS THIN