MENDOTA – By definition, a funeral is a ceremony honoring a dead person. But Thelma Hutchinson of Peru, formerly of Mendota, decided to do something different.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Thelma (Watson) Hutchinson, left, reconnects with Mendota High School Class of 1948 classmates at her living funeral, April 29. Attending the event are Ruth Dunlap (DeKalb High School Class of 1948), John McConville, Stanley Yenerich, Shirley (Munson) Duttlinger, Robert Cotton, Paula (Stenger) Cassiday, Dr. L. Penfield Faber, Mary Catherine (Stremlau) Wujek, and Lola (Edwards) Dewey. Not in attendance was Mary (Durham) Borth. (Photo contributed)
MENDOTA – By definition, a funeral is a ceremony honoring a dead person. But Thelma Hutchinson of Peru, formerly of Mendota, decided to do something different. She wanted to have her funeral while she was still alive. "I wanted to see who would come and what they had to say," she said.
So the planning began. She picked a date, set the location, and sent out invitations. "And then I had to live that long," she joked.
Her concept was not original. A living funeral, or pre-funeral is a time to honor and appreciate the living. It is usually done by someone who knows that he or she does not have much time left to live. Whether the reason is that the person is terminally ill or is at an old age, the person knows death is near and could use it as closure.
Hutchinson, now 87, had a stroke that left her hospitalized. She said this was when she really started thinking about having her funeral while she was still alive.
Although Hutchinson has many friends that she has met in adulthood, she particularly wanted to reconnect with childhood friends and classmates. On the day of her funeral, 75 family and friends attended the event. "I think they all came because they were curious," she said.
Two of her grandsons donned a horse costume to welcome the guests. "I just wanted it to be fun," she reasoned.
Eight friends from her Mendota High School graduating class of 1948 attended, as well.
Hutchinson then called the guests up in groups -- family, childhood neighbors and classmates. Each person shared how they knew her and reminisced from the past. "I was kind of worried what my daughter and grandkids might say – here was their opportunity," she laughed.
But everyone said kind words, she noted.
In the end, Hutchinson gave closure for herself, family and friends. "I told my family now when I die you can just buy a box to put me in. After they throw dirt over it, if you want to stand around and say something, I can't control that," she said.
Thelma Hutchinson chats with longtime friends Tom and Nancy Smith at her "funeral." (Photo contributed)