• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Amish 365
  • About
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • Amish Marketplace
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Amish Recipes
    • Amish Culture
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » The Plain Columns » The Amish Editor

    Updated: Scenes From an Amish Funeral

    Published: Feb 2, 2013 · Updated: Feb 2, 2021 by Kevin Williams | 4 Comments

    By Kevin Williams

    I was in the Berne, Indiana area several weeks ago on a frigid cold day.  While visiting I noticed a procession of buggies coming from the direction of one of the Amish cemeteries.  The occupants in each buggy were clad in their black best and I imagine were chilled to the bone.  Some of the buggies, like the second photo were packed with 5 or 6 adults all completely exposed to the roaring winds across the open fields.  I've been visiting Berne almost my whole adult life and while I can't imagine possibly ever getting used to the cold one must feel while riding on an open buggy during winter, I'm assuming that one builds up a certain amount of tolerance.  I don't ever want to be intrusive or disrespectful, but I think there is documentary and anthropological value in sharing certain scenes with all of you.  So we did a quick u-turn and followed the procession at a distance.   Sure enough the buggies led to a home where many were gathered and milling around outside.  Again, hardier folk than I.  There's always a bit of an internal struggle that goes into such shots especially a funeral setting. The last thing I want to do is contribute to anyone's angst by being a photographer, which is why these photos are not the best quality, they were taken from far away.  I think these photos capture a tasteful tableau of the somber mood of the day without being disrespectful.  Notice in one of the images, the large black object...this is the bench wagon which has come to this place to deliver church benches which were set up for the actual funeral service which was held in the house.  This was close to noon, so by this point the service was completed, then there was a short graveside ceremony and now everyone was coming back to this home for a gathering.  A large meal served and remembrances shared of the deceased.  It's one of the endearing traits of the Amish is their sense of community and togetherness.  It is as if when one dies, a part of the whole communities dies with them. So there is a sense of shared grief that is palatable and sometimes missing from the hyper-fast pace of non-Amish society.

    « One Amish Man's Take On Horses...
    Maple Cream Pie »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angie Yoder

      February 02, 2013 at 9:53 am

      I think it's lovely how the Amish all gather 'round each other in times of grief; well, actually in all things. It seems there is much we can learn from the Amish about the fundamentals of being decent human beings with a strong sense of community.

      Reply
    2. Tami

      February 03, 2013 at 2:14 am

      My family, Polish from the Detroit area do the same thing. This is not just an Amish 'thing' this is a close family 'thing' as well as a neighbor 'thing'. This is one of the values I love about our family.

      Reply
    3. brenda

      February 08, 2017 at 4:38 pm

      I think that in the not that distant past, our families and neighbors were not that different in relation to the Amish. It is really a regrettable thing we have lost. Probably the dividing line would be placed at Post WW11 when we began scattering around the country.

      Reply
      • Kevin

        February 08, 2017 at 4:41 pm

        That is probably a fair assessment on your chronology, I think!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

    More about me →

    Latest Amish Recipes

    • Homemade Chocolate Crunch Easter "Eggs"
      Homemade Coconut Crunch Easter Eggs
    • 5 Amish Copycat Recipes (Fast-Food Favorites: Big Mac Dressing, Pizza Hut, and More!)
    • Amish Wedding Customs and Traditions
    • Amish Wedding Cake
      Amish Wedding Cake Recipe
    dutchcrafters

    Download The "Almost Amish" Ebook

    Footer

    Footer

    About

    • About The Amish Editor
    • Download "Almost Amish" Ebook
    • Amish Communities
    • Amish Marketplace

    Contact

    • Work With Us
    • Contact

    *As a member of various affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2000 - 2020 Amish 365 | Powered by Touch The Road