Kentucky Funeral Meal

[RSKY]

For the fourth time in three months I worked a Funeral Meal at our church yesterday. Being retired we volunteer every chance we can to help with the set up and clean up. Most of the funerals are people who attend or their family members. Sometimes it is just a member of the community. Once or twice it has been people with no real connection with the church or community. Somebody in the family worked with somebody at church and the building and meal were offered. This has become the norm in our area instead of taking food to the family's home. The family does not have to worry about storing food and throwing out a lot of uneaten stuff. Yesterday we were told to expect only fifteen people but had twenty. The one before we had been told fifty, set up for sixty, and put another table and chairs out after everybody got there. It always starts out quiet and somber, they have just come back from burying a relative, but by the end everybody is laughing and glad to get the chance to talk to family they may not have seen in years. The building we use is large enough the group can sit and talk for hours if they need to and out of state guests have a chance to interact that they normally wouldn't have in a home.

It is something I am glad to be a part of.

RSKY

 

[QRTRHRS]

I agree! Be it a funeral or some other event, when there is a meal at our church, there is plenty of delicious food and good conversation to be had. Always there are leftovers which are either taken back home by the cook or donated to a place where they will be eaten the same day. It does not end with the meal either. The "family" continues to provide physical and mental assistance as needed.

 

[oldballs]

Our church does the same........i.e. has a funeral luncheon committee and also what we call the "Resurrection Choir". I sing in the choir. Some weeks we have no funerals; and other weeks we may have 2-3. The people that man these functions are the elderly and retired. The families of the deceased really appreciate our services. Things do "lighten up" after the funeral and the burial.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[buckeyefarmer]

We have those meals also, not as often as some of you.

 

[Sigarms]

Cooking is a dying art...

My wife was very lucky to get my moms and aunts ethnic cook books and recipes.

Last couple of events at churches we've helped out at, the food was all catered (and I remember as a child my mother and myself actually working in the churche's kitchen to prepare meals).

What would be interesting is to run the numbers to see if running a event catered would actually be cheaper than having people volunteer their time.

 

[oldballs]

I don't know that our community has ever "run the numbers" or made a "spread sheet" ( whatever that is). But I think the luncheon is catered for the meat and some hot side dishes. The rest is salads, desserts, drinks etc. provided by the members. And, of course, us old shaky voices are free with an occasional guest soloist. The family of the deceased usually makes an offering to cover the cost. ...the art of dying has not been lost.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[QRTRHRS]

About the only item prepped on site at our church is the coffee. Meat, veggies, sides, desserts, etc., etc. all prepped at home and brought in and kept at temp as required either in crock pots or on steam tables. We do set up a big trailer mounted grill in the summer on occasion but the sides are all home prepped.