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WATCH: Loved ones celebrate life through song and dance at a funeral

WATCH: Loved ones celebrate life through song and dance at a funeral

IOL News15-05-2025

Friends and family sing and dance at a funeral.
Image: TikTok screenshot
Saying goodbye to a loved one is never easy.
While funerals are often solemn occasions filled with grief and reflection, they can also be a time to celebrate the life of the person who has passed.
In some cases, guided by the wishes of the deceased or their family, the tone shifts from mourning to joy, honouring their memory in a more uplifting way.
It's not unusual for people to request a cheerful farewell, asking their loved ones to celebrate rather than grieve.
A recent example from the United Kingdom has captured this spirit.
A video showing mourners dancing and singing at a funeral has gone viral on TikTok.
With over six million views, the clip has touched hearts worldwide and highlighted how many people choose to honour life with joy instead of sorrow.
Staunton Funeral Service offered a glimpse into the funeral when they posted the video on their TikTok account.
Captioned, 'This one's for you Lauren. Hope you heard them all singing their hearts out loud and proud. Rest Easy,' you can see that the church is filled.
This is often a sign that the deceased was popular and loved by many.
In the comment section, a family member shared, 'My cousin Lauren, whose funeral this is, died a week before her 40th birthday. I'm so glad she got the celebration she deserved! She was so loved! She had a heart of gold! RIP my cuz! Love you always.'
The video shows a point in the ceremony where most of the people there start to sing and dance to Whitney Houston's hit song 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody.'
While many people joyously sang along in unison to the upbeat tune, one could see some wiping their tears away, and family members at the front of the church embracing and consoling each other.
Over 12,000 people took to the comment section of the post, expressing how the video impacted them.
'Lauren's energy had to be unmatchable because I'm here in Argentina dancing and singing for her. RIP Lauren, please sing it to my grandma Esme if you find her,' responded one person.
Another wrote, 'If there's any possibility that departed souls can be aware of their own funerals, Lauren's loved ones 100% got her attention with this!
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