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dklady44
Guest
Thank you in advance for your help in this very sensitive matter.
I was not sure where to turn with this question until I found this forum as I am not a participating member of the Church at this time.
My 91 yr old mother is dying and I am in the process of preparing her funeral. She is a life-long faithful Catholic and raised me as a Catholic, although I have not been a part of the Church for many years. I am her olnly child so there is no one to help with a decision I must make for her.
Many years ago, she was married in the Church to another Catholic, then divorced, but the marriage was never annulled. She married my father, a non-Catholic, about 5 yrs later. She was not permitted to take communion, but faithfully attended mass and was a member of her congregation until her increasing dementia and physical condition forced me to place her in a care facility about 12 yrs ago.
I’m aware that the Church considers her second marriage invalid and that’s the reason for her being excluded from communion, but is she entitled to a funeral mass in the church? Since she is the last of her family left and I am her only child, there will not be very many people left to attend her funeral. Originally, I had planned for just a graveside burial ceremony presided over by a priest. Is this acceptable as well? Both her 1st husband and my father are now deceased.
Than you again for your help in this difficult matter.
I was not sure where to turn with this question until I found this forum as I am not a participating member of the Church at this time.
My 91 yr old mother is dying and I am in the process of preparing her funeral. She is a life-long faithful Catholic and raised me as a Catholic, although I have not been a part of the Church for many years. I am her olnly child so there is no one to help with a decision I must make for her.
Many years ago, she was married in the Church to another Catholic, then divorced, but the marriage was never annulled. She married my father, a non-Catholic, about 5 yrs later. She was not permitted to take communion, but faithfully attended mass and was a member of her congregation until her increasing dementia and physical condition forced me to place her in a care facility about 12 yrs ago.
I’m aware that the Church considers her second marriage invalid and that’s the reason for her being excluded from communion, but is she entitled to a funeral mass in the church? Since she is the last of her family left and I am her only child, there will not be very many people left to attend her funeral. Originally, I had planned for just a graveside burial ceremony presided over by a priest. Is this acceptable as well? Both her 1st husband and my father are now deceased.
Than you again for your help in this difficult matter.