I walked into the hall one sunday morning. I immediately got a sick feeling. It was the co's visit. (that's not why i had the sick feeling at the time)
Some faces were smiling, some were expressionless.
I suppose the co noticed that I looked perplexed. He came over to me and in a very matter-of-fact way said "Bro. "so-n-so" committed suicide last night." He then walked away.
The meeting started. People were singing. As the brother on stage was talking about "loyalty" I sat there. Screaming inside. How could we sit there? How could I sit there?
It was never mentioned.
Over the next few months, the widow came and went in and out of the meetings. No one said anything.
I went to her house. She said no one had visited except a few sisters.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE??? Are they walking automatons?
They had disfellowshipped (figuratively) this former ministerial servant after his death!! In turn, they also disfellowshipped (fig.) this brother's family.
They did not hold his funeral talk in the Kingdom Hall. Although he was a ministerial servant in good standing at the time of death. Instead, there was a preachy talk at the grave site.