Bella Montoya shocked relatives by waking up at her own funeral about a week ago having been declared dead following a suspected stroke. An Ecuadorian woman who regained consciousness at her own funeral has now died after spending a week in intensive care, the country's health ministry said over the weekend.
But there are many cases where people have previously been mistakenly diagnosed as being dead. Several recorded instances of people waking at their own funerals have been recorded in recent years prompting fears that premature burial may not have been consigned to the history books by advances in modern medicine.
After 76-year-old Bella Montoya suffered a cardiorespiratory failure in a hospital in Ecuador last week, doctors there declared the retired nurse dead.
Montoya's disqualification at Indianapolis comes after both Williams cars were disqualified last week from the Canadian Grand Prix, when the air ducts on the front brakes were found to be outside the allowed dimensions.
Gilberto Araujo of Brazil was pronounced dead back in 2012, after his body had been identified at the local morgue by his brother. Family members of the 41-year-old were standing alongside his coffin in mourning when Araujo turned up at the door.
Should I attend both the wake and the funeral? It is respectful to attend both, but not compulsory. If you don't feel comfortable attending the wake, or you have a prior commitment you can't avoid, it's polite to let the grieving family know in advance – a phone call or message is usually appropriate.
If you have an adult with you at the funeral home, it is ok to touch a dead body, and you will not get in trouble. You are naturally curious, and sometimes when you see and touch a dead body it helps you answer your questions. Remember to be gentle and have an adult help you.
You are not required to actually view the body at a funeral viewing. Many people are a bit uncomfortable with the idea of attending a viewing, but keep in mind that funeral viewing etiquette does not require you to actually look at or spend time with the deceased if you are not comfortable doing so.
Is It Okay to Smile at a Funeral? It's not only okay to smile at a funeral but it's also encouraged, especially when greeting the bereaved. Seeing someone smile at us can help lift our spirits. It's also a nonverbal way of showing support.
It's Okay to Cry: How to Embrace Crying and Your Feelings. Finally, remind yourself that crying at a funeral is a natural part of the grieving process. You're allowed to show your emotions, even if it feels awkward at first. In fact, some cultures include crying as part of the wake etiquette.
Being late is rude in any situation, but when it comes to a funeral, being late can be both incredibly disrespectful and disruptive. The last thing you want to do while others are grieving is to draw attention away from the service by arriving late. So plan ahead, and be on time. Or better yet, aim to get there early!
Avoid dressing in casual clothing, such as athletic wear, tank tops, or shorts. Skip the flip-flops, tennis shoes, sneakers, or boat shoes. Remove the neon necktie, purse, or accessory. Shy away from wearing jeans, even black ones, because they are considered too casual for a funeral.
At the traditional funeral most Australians are familiar with, it is respectful to wear smart, well-pressed clothes in a dark colour. Black has long been typically worn by mourners at a traditional funeral, but dark shades such as navy or grey are also appropriate. A smart work suit or outfit is usually acceptable.
A 76-year-old woman who was declared dead at a hospital in Ecuador was found to be alive and knocking on her coffin during her own wake in the city of Babahoyo. “I lifted up the coffin, and her heart was pounding, and her left hand was hitting the coffin…
We've all thought about it at some point. What if I'm actually alive when I'm buried or cremated? For some people this is a serious fear, and hearing the random stories of it happening doesn't help. You'll be happy to know that being cremated alive is virtually impossible.
Africa. At least 37 staff of the Guinness World Records have since passed on while on deployment in Uganda to record what the reference book says is the longest funeral ever held. Mr Oh Aganda died in 1986, the records book says. “The funeral has been going on since,” Guinness World Records says.
While shorts are never appropriate, for men or women, and miniskirts are frowned upon; bare legs are acceptable if your skirt or dress falls to your knee.
Wearing dark grey or deep blue is just as appropriate as black, while brown and lighter greys are suitable for the vast majority of funeral services. However, unless specifically requested by the deceased or their family, you should avoid any bright colors such as yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds.
Wearing red to a funeral can be a sign of disrespect. It will give others a completely wrong impression if you wear a bright and bold colour to a funeral, as this goes against the dark, muted colours associated with sadness and mourning.
If during the ceremony there has been a few laughs along the way, I often ask the guests to give the speakers a clap. It is a huge accomplishment for many speaker so thanking them in this way is appropriate. The celebrant has the ability to set the tone for the ceremony.
It is not a selfish act to request not to have a funeral after you pass away. There are many reasons why you may not want to have a funeral and any of them are valid. You deserve to have any send-off that you wish for, so don't be afraid to share your last wishes with your family openly and honestly.
Try jumping jacks, push-ups or jog on the spot, if you have enough space and privacy do so before the funeral. Otherwise, simply pinching yourself could be enough to stop crying. Others bite their cheek, dig their nails into the palm of their hand, or stretch as a means of distraction.
Stealing anything from a deceased person or their family is obviously a no-go. Even “just a flower or two,” is also disrespectful. Alternative: Some families may offer up extra flowers to their guests as well as other gifts as a “thank you.” In this case, it's obviously OK to accept these items.
Professional mourning is brought up many times throughout the Bible.