Woman Gets Tagged As 'Satan' By Religious Family After Honouring Her Atheist Late Brother’s Funeral Wishes

Apparently the dead don't get a say in how they should be buried.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• July 22, 2023

The death of a loved one is one of the hardest things people ever go through. The pain that comes with it is often earth-shattering, and many never stop feeling this pain, even though it may reduce over time.

Unfortunately, everyone will likely experience this at least once in their lives, as the number of deaths per day globally is around 150,000. 

Due to this, funerals happen pretty often. Many people plan these with much precision and effort, as it’s their last goodbye to their loved ones. Some families even have funeral traditions to help ease their pain.

One Redditor, however, had to go against her family’s traditions to follow her brother’s funeral wishes, and this didn’t go too well with her grandmother.

OP shared on the AITA subreddit that her family is deeply religious, but her brother is an atheist, and she was the only one in touch with him before he died.

OP’s brother left a will stating she should be the only one in charge of his funeral. Following this, OP organized a funeral for her brother without a prayer vigil the night before or a mass or priest, despite her family pressuring her to do so.

When OP’s grandparents heard about this, they were very upset, so when her 91-year-old grandmother’s health deteriorated afterward, OP was blamed for this. 

Even though OP’s brother’s girlfriend thanked her for adhering to her brother’s wishes, OP can’t help but feel bad about it due to her family’s reaction. This led her to ask the ultimate AITA question.

Scroll down to see the verdict!

The story in detail

OP organized her atheist late brother's funeral according to his will

Now OP's grandparents are livid and the family sees her as 'satan personified'

Here's how the Reddit community reacted to the story: l

"If the dead makes it clear how they want their funeral then it should he respected"

"NTA. Well done for honouring him"

"Grandmother is NOT prevented from holding a personal prayer vigil for your brother"

"You did what your brother asked for"

"Your brother's girlfriend thanked you, which is what matters more than your grandma"

"It would’ve been disrespectful to give him a catholic funeral."

"Her belief's are her problem, they are not yours."

"You honored your brother’s wishes and he was right in trusting you"

"You did the right thing to honor what he wanted."

The commenters gave OP the enviable title of NTA and assured her she was right to follow her brother’s wishes.

According to them, OP’s brother’s only family members were his child, his girlfriend, and OP since his family had ostracized him for his beliefs.

Do you agree with the commenters? Let us know in the comments below!

Jesse