Wakes/Funerals

Stories of lively Irish wakes did not hold true in the Iona of my day but wakes were never dull either, with good humor making the rounds, most often centred on the deceased as a starter. Since visiting hours had no cut off it was normal to have much joviality, especially in the kitchen where tea and talk carried into the late hours of the night and the wee moments of morning. Until the mid 50s almost every death occurred at home and certainly all wakes were held there with the coffin whenever possible being situated in a bedroom off the parlor. That room maintained its own dignified quiet while the parlor and to a greater extent the kitchen were places for easier conversation.

Coffins, almost always simple and covered with steelgray cloth, were picked up at the undertaker’s by a family member or neighbor or brought by the funeral director himself to the house. There the body, usually already washed and dressed, was without much delay placed in the coffin and the wake was underway. Most older men had a “grave suit” earmarked for their wake and older women their special dress in readiness for the trumpet call. Since embalming was not in vogue until the 50s and makeup used sparingly if at all, the corpse had indeed the appearance of death. Flowers were practically unheard of, the only room decorations being the large cloth kneeler and the floor stand holding a broad lighted candle, the latter giving an effective softness to that hallowed space as yet untouched by the ‘ wonder of electricity. ‘

Wakes were held for two nights and much longer should