30 Wild Funeral Stories About Inappropriate, Weird Or Funny Things Happening

"A while back, I went to the funeral of a friend," the thread's author tells Bored Panda. "He had died surprisingly, leaving [two] young kids and an absolutely shocked wife behind." The Redditor says that this was the story that prompted them to ask others about their weird and inappropriate funeral experiences.

"The moment the service was over and during the entire funeral procession, two women who would barely even have qualified as acquaintances were heard wailing and yelling about how they'd lost their brother and close friend above the 200+ mourners."

"It was so bad that my friend's siblings asked them multiple times to tone it down," u/AffectionateHand2206 goes on. "His children looked even more disturbed by what was happening than they had before.

"Then when the coffin was lowered into the ground, the two women pushed his kids and widow aside and pretended that they were going to throw themselves in. His siblings and a few guests intervened. The women tried to free themselves and go at it again. One even claimed that no one could understand the extent of her grief."

"It was bizarre and heartbreaking at the same time," the Redditor adds.

We asked u/AffectionateHand2206 what stories from the thread stood out to them. "There were a number of bizarre and disturbing stories, but because of my own experience, the response of u/Mental-Pitch5995 stood out to me. Especially this bit:

'When my bf died. He was young, extremely well known and popular with the ladies. An unknown woman was crying hysterically and tried climbing into the casket with him. His brothers pulled her out and me with others escorted her outside to calm her down.' It made me wonder if this kind of thing happens a lot more than I ever cared to know."

Another response that stood out to the Redditor was by u/Thernuk: "The lady who convinced my mother to ditch chemo and use essential oils handed out biz cards at her funeral." "I felt rage on u/Thernuk's behalf," u/AffectionateHand2206 tells Bored Panda.

The Redditor posts various questions on the AskReddit subreddit from time to time. "I'd say I am a generally curious person and I love finding things that connect people."

"And sometimes it's the shared unusual experiences that remind us that no matter how out there our experiences are or seem, there will (almost) always be someone somewhere who can relate to them. I find that thought comforting," the Redditor shares.

Kari Northey, an educator and a licensed funeral home director with 27 years of experience under her belt, tells Bored Panda that funeral etiquette today is quite different from what it was back in the day.

"It was a formal event years ago and attendees wore suits and dresses and arrived promptly for the events," she explains. "Now, just like with the more casual dress code on airplanes and restaurants, people will wear jeans or sweats to attend a funeral and arrive late."

Kari The Mortician also tells us about how the practice of families sending 'thank you' notes to those who sent flowers and donated in memory of their loved ones has slowly faded away. "Now, just like with weddings, showers, and gift giving, 'thank you' notes are not often sent and those who generously give receive no nod of thankfulness."

There's also been a change in funeral processions. "[They] were a solemn showing within the community of one last reverent ride to the cemetery," Kari adds. "And now it has become unsafe with distracted drivers and drivers who are never taught the etiquette or more importantly the law of funeral processions."