Something instead of flowers for a funeral for a man?

MrsE_2

ooobedoo wrote: »

I don't know if this helps, but when DH's grandad died, we had an anchor(killick) made atthe flower shop, it was very apt.

Thanks.

His daughter rang me today (very kind of her), but I found out Friday. I would have rang her in a few days but I didn't want to intrude when its all so fresh for his family.
Her son - his Grandson is getting him an anchor made.

Janepig

I don't think flowers would be innapropriate, despite him sounding very much a man's man. You've had some good ideas on this thread, but if you go to a florist they should be able to give you some more ideas, and would know about appropriate colours, naval themes, etc......

Jxx

dearbarbie

MrsE wrote: »

The title says it all really.

An elderly man I knew well has died.

Flowers seem a bit pansyish for him, can anyone think of something instead of flowers for a funeral for a man?

He was an old navy man (served in WW2), he liked Guinness, Whiskey neat, Vodka & slimline tonic & Cigars (especially Cigars) - the fatter the better.

Very intelligant man, he did the times crossword, I find it impossible. He taught me lots of meanings behind old sayings.

Hes being cremated, so I can't put some nice cigars in his coffin for him.
I know the charity thing is nice, but I don't want to turn up empty handed.

Flowers are welcome, but just incase anyone can think of anything more suited for an old navy man, (a very special old man).

My grandad just died and sounds very much like you are describing the same person (apart from the navy/cigars bit)...his coffin was covered in medals and flags so we got bouquets instead of wreaths, and threw poppies in at the burial. Maybe a photo or something? I wouldn't say flowers are too girly for anyone at a funeral. May he rest in peace.

MissHobit

Taking flowers to a funeral even for 'a man's man' is a lovely gesture. Recently I was at a funeral of a typical alpha male what I did was take a bouquet of flowers in the same colours as his favourite football team. It felt apropriate and they looked lovely.

MrsE_2

I think its because I'm not a fan of flowers, they remind me of funerals.

Love the laurel wreath idea, especially with the naval ribbon.

Or perhaps a large bunch of short white Tulips (if I had to pick a flower, it would be short stemmed white Tulips.

TASHMA

My friend had a pint of Guinness shaped flower arrangement (wreath) made for her Grandad. Just an idea!!

Savvy_Sue

I know you've had lots of ideas already, but if you go into a florist's or two, they'll probably have some suggestions of what could be good.

kscour

Don't know if this will help but i once went to a funeral and saw the simplest but striking of arrangements - 3 carnations, one red , one white & one dyed (not sure how) blue and tied together. Simple but very heart touching & seemed to have alot more thought behind it than the shaped wreaths etc. that were also there.
Do whatever feels right for you. It's easy to worry about getting it right but whatever you feel the need to take will be the right thing to do.

Oh and the cigars - maybe I shouldn't say this but perhaps if they go in the coffin it'll be a final smoke for him - and I don't mean that in a funny or any other way, it's just that the the smell will be there. I can still recognise the smell of my Grandads baccy anywhere and if he did like the cigars would it be such a waste for a couple to go with him?

He sounds like a very special gentleman and I'm sure if he knew the thought and worry you were putting into this he'd be very touched and perhaps a bit concerned that you were worrying so much.

I hope someone cares about me so much in years to come - I'm sure he appreciated your friendship very much

Savvy_Sue

kscour wrote: »

Don't know if this will help but i once went to a funeral and saw the simplest but striking of arrangements - 3 carnations, one red , one white & one dyed (not sure how) blue and tied together.

I think you can do that by putting a white flower into water coloured blue - don't know if they'd use food colouring or ink or what!

I remember doing this at school ... I'm sure florists know all sorts of tricks like that!

margaretclare

I think the laurel leaves thing goes back to the Roman Empire when they returned victorious e.g. Julius Caesar was crowned with a wreath of laurel.

Interestingly enough, we went to a funeral on Wednesday. He was a D-Day veteran. We were asked if we were going to bring our own flowers - we said 'no' because our preference is always to give to a favourite charity and we thought he'd have one, the Royal British Legion or similar. There were a lot of flowers there, and his daughter said she'd wanted them because when her mother died it had been family flowers only and she thought it looked a bit miserable.

One of the hymns was 'I vow to thee my country'.

Flowers - for the Navy I'm sure white would be fine, as in the White Ensign.

HTH