noisy neighbors and a funeral?

Question

so my neighbors decided to be extremely loud and rowdy and let little kids scream and yell at midnight less than 10 ft away from my bedroom window and when i go outside to politely ask them if they could keep it down because i need to go to work they tell me they are having a wake (the guy died a week ago from old age). They basicly ignored me and i ended up calling the cops. Since when do people drink and party until 2am (thats when it finally stopped) when a family member dies?? And little kids running around at that hour of the morning being loud? Was i wrong?? Am i wrong?? When i told them it wasnt very neighborly to be loud outside at that hour they told me i wasnt neighborly to ask them to be quiet during a wake (at 12:30am). Whats with people anyway???

should other people have to suffer because you are grieving over someone at an odd our of the morning??

...the house was quiet for years while the old couple was there, now that the old man is dead apparently its party time (this is about the third time).

Answer 1

holy crap.......... they must have been happy he died.......... i thought a wake was supposed to be quiet...............

Answer 2

You acted 100% appropriately. There's no reason to be that loud in the middle of the night. I've heard of viewings or wakes that turn into parties essentially, often because the people there may not have seen each other in years or because some people chose to honor the dead by celebrating their life, rather than mourning it. But if you asked them politely and they reacted rudely AND didn't take steps to quiet down, you had every right to call the police, wake or not.

Answer 3

There are a wide variety of traditions surrounding funerals and wakes. But I am unaware of any that involve rudeness.

I live in the country, so neighbors aren't an issue. But I have a friend who solved the problem in her own way. Noisy neighbors are treated to her stereo, with speakers pointed right at the neighbors, playing the most awful baroque chamber music at the highest volume possible. She simply puts on her ear phones, shuts off the light and goes to sleep.

Answer 4

If this is something they'd never done before, and it really was a wake, then I'd let it slide.
How they choose to mark a loved one's passing is none of your affair.
I think a party is a great way to celebrate someone's memory!
Did it maybe go a bit too late?
Sure, but for a one time deal, I'd let it slide.

If they were previously very good neighbors, or at minimal unobtrusive, I would, by way of apology, go over there with a bottle of wine or a 6-pack, or whatever libation you feel is appropriate, express condolences, and ask to toast the passing.

Answer 5

Some people are very self-centered. It was wrong of them to keep the neighbors up even if it was for a wake. My husbands family always rented a hall for the wakes that way it wouldn't disrupt anybodies neighbors. So with that, no you were not wrong. Wake or not your neighbors should have been more considerate.

Answer 6

Wakes are party-time for many cultures. 10pm is a noise curfew in most areas. Call the police at 10pm, don't hassle with the neighbors the next time one of their clans drops dead.
Carrying this problem on past the time they stopped making noise, is childish and serves no purpose. You don't mention them being bad neighbors otherwise, and now you have bad feelings. I think you should have let it be when they said it was a wake.

Answer 7

Andrew P, when comes to neighbors be nice to them, because you live right next too them, even though you asked them nicely if they would be quiet, just leave at that because they might do things to despite you, just because you hollared at them, don't make enemy's with your neighbor thats not a good idea, you will end up regret that mistake in in the long run. Josh from FL

Answer 8

As I agree it was unthoughtful and rude on their part if it was a wake couldn't you respect the it for one night? Or slept in another rooom? Calling the cops was a bit extreme.

If it happened again I could see calling the cops.

But in my opinion you were no more rude than them.

When I was growing up people pulled over when a funeral was going by now I see people cutting in. There simplly is no respect for anyone anymore. And some people really want a huge party when they die. They very may have been exercising the person who dieds last wishes.

Answer 9

You did the right thing. It's one thing to have a loud wake during normal hours, but past 11pm is rude and inconsiderate to the neighbors.

Answer 10

If they wanted to have a noisy wake, they should have rented a facility to do so. They are the ones who were in the wrong, not you.

By the way, what did the police do or say about all of this?

Answer 11

Apparently they are stupid and thought their loud merry-making would wake up the deceased...