I just attended my first Facebook funeral. It lasted about 5 days.

I received the news of Tracy’s death via Facebook. And I sent condolences to his partner via Facebook. I swapped stories and photos on-line and like all good funerals I ran into  people I had not heard from in years.  The swirl of postings containing “do you remember…” and expressions of heartfelt appreciation and sorrow was fundamentally the same ritual my great-grandparents performed as they ‘waked’ a friend several nights in a row.  Granted, without the Irish whiskey.

While, it initially felt strange to use Facebook as a funeral home or the front parlor of a home, it allowed people from all over the continent to grieve as a “family” and acknowledge our connections to each other and to Tracy.  I heard from a friend that her group still leaves messages at a deceased friend’s Facebook page. It serves her far-flung pals as a virtual tombstone.

I’m sure none of this is a surprise to the younger generation or long-time Facebookers.  But being new to FB, I was surprised and pleased at the connectedness I felt sitting at the keyboard.  Though I’m sure Tracy, who hated computers, is not at all amused.