background: my friend's father. i had met him twice both times it was very brief. wake was crowded and i was there alone and knew only my friend and, mildly, her husband. i was in and out in less than a half hour. i feel bad but i really didn't know what to do with myself. how long should i have stayed? as you can tell, i'm pretty anti-social. i didn't want to cling to my friend, as she had other things to preoccupy herself with. should i have stayed longer?
2006-08-31 11:46:45 · 5 answers · asked by Poet 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Joseph Stalin, dictator of Russia, had a rule. At his rallies, the first person to stop clapping would be killed. When applied to your situation, think of it this way. Just don't be the first to leave and you are ok.
2006-08-31 11:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by rcrespo@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm sure that your friend was grateful that you were there at all. The amount of time spent was not as important as the fact that you were there. Wakes are not a very easy thing to get through, but it helps to know that a friend is there. Stay as long as you're comfortable being there, just make sure that your friend knows that you'll be there for her in the days to come when things start to settle down and people get back to their routines. That's when she'll need someone there most.
2006-08-31 18:59:56 · answer #2 · answered by Laurie K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wakes are not a social hour. You should stay long enough to pay your respects to the family of the deceased. A half-an-hour is fine as long as you greeted the family and gave them your condolences.
2006-08-31 20:08:37 · answer #3 · answered by Lov'n IT! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You did just fine...I'm sure no one noticed or cared how long you stayed....the important thing is that you were there and paid your respects
2006-09-01 09:29:09 · answer #4 · answered by Penguin Gal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's fine. Don't worry about it. You were there weren't you?
2006-08-31 23:31:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋