Yea, hear that. FUBAR
My uncle died a couple years ago. Unlike both my parents, he was not a JW nor was he ever but he was "favorable" to the witness beliefs according to my mother. I saw it as that he wasn't opposed to it and her beliefs. He accepted my mother as she was and listened to the pitch but lived without religion whatsoever, despite my mother's attempts at recruiting him. He was a nice guy, quiet and contemplative, honest and sincere. He drank but was never violent or abusive that I saw. He had a few friends but basically died alone in poverty.
Since there was no other family locally, my parents arranged a service at the funeral home. The first thing I saw upon entering were tracts laid out on a table in the foyer. I wasn't surprised at this but didn't care for it naturally. There weren't many in attendance and only a few people I knew to be his friends but the majority were JWs whom I'm sure didn't know my uncle. There in support of my mother obviously and I could accept that.
The service was "hosted" by a JW elder as there wasn't really anyone else, at least according to mum. In retrospect, I doubt anyone else was asked. My mother had drafted up a page in memory of her brother, a short biography, some stories to tell, the stuff you usually hear about a person's life at a funeral. None of it was mentioned by the elder who took the opportunity to preach the good news. A JW song was sung and that was it. Nothing about my uncle's life at all. I mentioned it with some "consternation" to my mother who didn't seem to mind and I got the impression that the sermon was more important. Up to that point, I basically ignored the pitch, song and borg members in attendance but that made me angry. I paid my respects to my uncle's ashes and waited it out.
It's been over 20 years since I've elected to spend any time with JWs other than my parents and didn't know any of them, which was ok by me. The host elder's wife whom I've never met before approached me and struck up a conversation. There was no talk of my brother, our relationship or family. Some very small talk then she started in with the pitch about the state of the world and how things are getting worse and all. I listened politely and remarked that life in this day and age is better in many ways than it has been overall and that most people are essentially decent. She ignored this and continued with the pitch. I rapidly lost interest in continuing the "conversation" and made it fairly clear to her through the always noticable use of body language, primarily a cold stare. I'm a patient and understanding person but have a reputation for speaking my mind with "extreme prejudice" when pressed or offended and I was both at the time. I chose to honor the situation and my uncle's memory instead.
I went over to the few people who were obviously "worldly" friends of my uncle and talked with them. A much better conversation there. Decent people.
My mother loved my uncle sincerely and always hoped he would take the "truth". To her, the service was hope in that he might be resurrected as a favorable one or something. Whatever. I shook my head upon leaving and decided to remember my uncle my own way.
Anywho, enough about me ;) Just thought to relate a similar story. Where the decent and the ignorant both live and die. Here in the Twilight Zone.
