The Aldana's: The Funeral

We arrived into the town where Josh's family lived we knew we only had little time to get ready for the funeral. We quickly dropped off our luggage and changed into black clothes for the funeral. Darwin dropped us off at Josh's Grandma's house where there were already many people there.

As we walked into the house with a large black bow over the doorway we quickly noticed that the casket was in the front room. There were several large flower arrangements and a large crucifix at the head of it. Josh hugged his Grandma and quickly became acquainted with his dad's family. There were many that he knew already, and many that we met for the first time. It had been 10 years since Josh and Chris had been to Guatemala and everyone was so amazed to see how grown up these were. It was bitter sweet to see everyone so happy to see each other, and sad at the same time. I think all funerals have a way of doing that. It re-unites families in a strange way.

We quickly ate with the family and soon we started hearing loud sobbing from coming from the front room. It was time to move the casket. Slowly people started gathering out into the street in front of the home. To begin with the men carried the casket. A van led the way playing a sad song about saying goodbye. The casket followed. All of the family and friends walked in the street behind. At the end of the crowd there was a live band playing a song as well. We walked from the house to the church where the mass was held. After we walked from the church to the cemetery. Since there was a long way to walk the family would take turns carrying the casket alleviating the last from the weight and heat of the day.

The most touching part for me was seeing my husband Josh and his brother Chris taking a turn carrying their Grandpa's casket. This was something not planned at all, but the Aunts and Uncles wanted all of the Grandchildren to participate too. I thought it was a very honorable thing for them to do and I couldn't help but get chocked up as I walked behind them. At that moment I wished that their dad was there to share this moment with them.

The cemetery in Guatemala consisted of mausoleums. It reminded much of what I had only seen in the movies in New Orleans. It was very different than the grassy cemetery's we have in the Utah where each headstone is carefully lined up. In Guatemala these mausoleums came in every shape, size, and color.

When we finally arrived to the Aldana mausoleum they carefully put the casket inside the top slot. A prayer was said and then a man began to close up the hole where the casket had entered with cement and cinder block. As I stood there watching this get done I looked around at all of the sad faces. I could hardly believe that Josh's Grandpa had only passed away yesterday. It was surreal to think that all of this happened within 24 hours. Of course I know that the bodies are not preserved in Guatemala the way they are at home, therefore everything is done more quickly. It was hard for me to wrap my mind around the family having to say goodbye only after one day. This was just the first of many differences I learned on this trip between our cultures.