The wedding was about hope. The funerals were about finding peace. For the Kennedy and Bessette families, death came abruptly from injury, not disease, and it came without warning, and much too soon. For Pete Conrad, it was also too soon, but he had the years to live a full life. For my cousin and family friend who lived well beyond their life expectancy, death was slow, anticipated, but just as final.
All funerals are about grief and understanding loss.
The rituals enable survivors to start accepting what is often unacceptable sorrow. The death of a distant public figure like JFK Jr. becomes an intimate loss for many people because it stands as a symbol of all deaths. The loss of those so young and prominent triggers deep fear and heartache in each of us. In a way, public deaths help us mourn our personal losses. Whether it's the public drama of the Kennedy family or a personal loss, the journey of grief takes you to the same place.