It also just seems like it is too soon to be planning his death -- the family should be planning for his care *right now*.

The six month wait for everyone in the family to fly to the middle of nowhere for a memorial service seems strange to me as well, especially given the context of that family. They are very conservative in other matters, always wanting to do what is most socially appropriate.

Funerals today do seem very different to me. People don't even wear black anymore. I couldn't believe what people were wearing at a memorial service for my neighbor - tank tops and flip flops.