Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It was for my mother-in-law Marie, a lovely woman with whom I enjoyed 40-plus years of friendship and a shared sense of humour. I have come to appreciate how a wake is an important part of the grieving process. I needn’t have worried – some neighbours were already directing traffic around our house as those paying their respects came to visit. But waking someone close to you – literally staying “awake” to watch over them – seems to set up a soothing of the grief to follow.

Source: The Irish Times April 02, 2018 05:04 UTC