Selena's funeral
Jul. 8th, 2004 04:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
burntcopperWell, started as the train journey of strange slash and comics accounting. Then segued into waiting around at Brighton station for everyone and the long trek up to the chapel. Many, many jokes about Selena having planned to make us work by climbing big hills to get there, plus her enjoying the drama of the storm and winds lashing outside during the service.
Actual service - several speakers, mourners about half her family/work people, half fandom types. Did get a bit annoyed with some of her family, who bunked off as soon as possible and looked frankly bored during the service. I know you're supposed to turn up to these things, but still...
Selena had requested an eco-pod, entirely biodegradable, which was rather fabulously deep blue with silver decoration of stars and flowers. Quite a strange looking thing, but very her. Plus post-service, the pod was opened for viewing. Only a few went up, as understandably a lot of people get freaked out by dead bodies, but some felt we had to say a last goodbye. I'm one of those people who've always had a very scientific detachment and curiosity about bodies, so no big deal. Some floods - Jackie and Taz requiring large amounts of tissues and hugs, but Jackie did joke that she should've gone for full goth makeup to produce some spectacularly smeared make-up.
From there, trek up *another* two hills to the graveside, which was on top of the hill overlooking Brighton proper, and everyone got into joking and grumblingly good-naturedly at Selena for making us do this through very strong winds, with several cries of 'ow!' as we went up to the grave, from getting hit by pinecones and twigs. Graveside itself, there was more jokes, especially from people who'd had to struggle up in heels. Jackie has proclaimed that at her funeral, she wants people to turn up in their most elaborate and impractical costumes - all those with really big wings at the back. Sonia went 'And I'll be unable to sit down, of course, due to the blue paint.' I think I'd end up in the Tinkerbell dress which I'd be constantly tugging up the front so I don't fall out and desperately tugging at the back of. Meg has said she wants me in Liza Minelli Cabaret, singing 'Cabaret'. Eco-pod lowered into grave, and a shovel presented for those who wanted to put earth in, though some chose to do a handful instead. I'd fished around in my bag for the mini bottle of Bailey's I'd had in there for ages, stepped forward, uncapped it, and said 'This is going in in honour of one of her favourite quotes - 'But why is the rum gone?' - and poured it in. (no non-bio-degradable stuff allowed) Got a big laugh. Selena's mum Jenny later said, when she was handing out piccies of Selena for those who wanted them, that it was appreciated for the laugh, as well as so many of her friends turning up from all over the country.
Adjourned to pub and buffet of strange and lovely foods. Mmm, vine leaves... Fandom and so on being very silly at the back. Then onto another pub to get some more drinking in, with a load of slash and comics discussion. It's amazing how many people go 'Hold it, *Sex Pollen*'?
All in all, a fitting tribute to one of the most lively and nuts people I've known. Auf wiedersehen darling, and let's hope you've got lots of swains committing suicide in a fit of spurned love and completely disregarding the mess they make in the streets, inconsiderate fools that they are.
Actual service - several speakers, mourners about half her family/work people, half fandom types. Did get a bit annoyed with some of her family, who bunked off as soon as possible and looked frankly bored during the service. I know you're supposed to turn up to these things, but still...
Selena had requested an eco-pod, entirely biodegradable, which was rather fabulously deep blue with silver decoration of stars and flowers. Quite a strange looking thing, but very her. Plus post-service, the pod was opened for viewing. Only a few went up, as understandably a lot of people get freaked out by dead bodies, but some felt we had to say a last goodbye. I'm one of those people who've always had a very scientific detachment and curiosity about bodies, so no big deal. Some floods - Jackie and Taz requiring large amounts of tissues and hugs, but Jackie did joke that she should've gone for full goth makeup to produce some spectacularly smeared make-up.
From there, trek up *another* two hills to the graveside, which was on top of the hill overlooking Brighton proper, and everyone got into joking and grumblingly good-naturedly at Selena for making us do this through very strong winds, with several cries of 'ow!' as we went up to the grave, from getting hit by pinecones and twigs. Graveside itself, there was more jokes, especially from people who'd had to struggle up in heels. Jackie has proclaimed that at her funeral, she wants people to turn up in their most elaborate and impractical costumes - all those with really big wings at the back. Sonia went 'And I'll be unable to sit down, of course, due to the blue paint.' I think I'd end up in the Tinkerbell dress which I'd be constantly tugging up the front so I don't fall out and desperately tugging at the back of. Meg has said she wants me in Liza Minelli Cabaret, singing 'Cabaret'. Eco-pod lowered into grave, and a shovel presented for those who wanted to put earth in, though some chose to do a handful instead. I'd fished around in my bag for the mini bottle of Bailey's I'd had in there for ages, stepped forward, uncapped it, and said 'This is going in in honour of one of her favourite quotes - 'But why is the rum gone?' - and poured it in. (no non-bio-degradable stuff allowed) Got a big laugh. Selena's mum Jenny later said, when she was handing out piccies of Selena for those who wanted them, that it was appreciated for the laugh, as well as so many of her friends turning up from all over the country.
Adjourned to pub and buffet of strange and lovely foods. Mmm, vine leaves... Fandom and so on being very silly at the back. Then onto another pub to get some more drinking in, with a load of slash and comics discussion. It's amazing how many people go 'Hold it, *Sex Pollen*'?
All in all, a fitting tribute to one of the most lively and nuts people I've known. Auf wiedersehen darling, and let's hope you've got lots of swains committing suicide in a fit of spurned love and completely disregarding the mess they make in the streets, inconsiderate fools that they are.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-08 10:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-17 04:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-12 12:03 pm (UTC)The thing about some of her family looking bored and bunking off sounds like something you might need to tell me about in a bit more detail please. But, possibly not here. Email. Try:
Simon-1 [at] gv3smq-6r [dot] freeserve [dot] co [dot] uk
And fandom types... I don't know, do I count as a fandom type?
- Simon.