Samoan Funeral

Mike and I marked off another first on our list today.  We were invited to attend a traditional Samoan funeral...or at least part of one.  The auntie of some ward members had passed away.  Traditional funerals last for several days, with events taking place each day.  We attended the last day, when the service for the community was conducted, as well as the burial. As with each of the preceeding days, food was an important part and we were given two large containers of food when we arrived at 7:30 in the morning.  They contained chicken, sausage, fish, potatoes and bananas.  We put them in our car for later.

Around 9, we gathered in an open area where the women's organization (comprised of women from  the village as well as family members) began a processional to the main fale where the casket was sitting.  They are holding yards and yards of fabric which they carried up the stairs and placed around the casket area.  The first fabric was white, which you can see in the video below.

After the fabric was distributed, more gifts were given.  You can see a fine mat that has been unfolded and shown off, then refolded and given to the family.  This was done in an exchange between the village leaders of the sister who had passed away and the village leaders of her husband.  Mats are an important part of the Samoan culture.  The one shown here would take several ladies several months to make. 

This man was kind of like a master of ceremony.  He had a booming voice and we were sure he had much power and authority.  At times he had everybody laughing.

The men without shirts are village leaders.  They call them matai (not positive on the spelling)  Most of them have tatoos on their bodies.  Traditions (which the LDS church members are gradually breaking with) are for the youth to receive large tatoos when they reach adulthood. 

These are some of the cases of tuna, corned beef and frozen fish and chicken that were brought, to be given to the family.

Did we tell you that Samoans bury their dead in their front yards?  I told Mike that it looks like this dog must miss whoever it is that is burried here!

This is a family member, at the casket of the deceased.  They have put the casket on a mattress, so that people can sit or kneel by it.

For all of the three days of ceremony, these sweet ladies would often sit in the fale and sing songs.  All from memory, with no accompianment and in perfect harmony with one another.  They would sing off and on through out the day and every minute during the night.

This is another view of the fale which held the casket.  I guess you would compare this to a viewing.  Everybody takes off their footware, mostly flip flops out of respect.

This is the choir singing a hymn during the LDS part of the service.   The stake president invited Mike and I to come inside the fale and sit with the choir during the service. I have to admit that I gained a whole new respect for those that can sit cross-legged.  I also have to tell a story on myself, which will  give you a little insight into some of our continuing struggles with the language.  They do have long prayers here, but the one the stake president gave was truly the longest I had ever heard.  After we got home, I commented to Mike that I was pretty sure that he had  included the Plan of Salvation, the Creation, the Restoration and at least four or five General Conference talks in that closing prayer. Mike said, "The stake president didn't give the closing prayer, he gave a talk!"  (He had been worried that I was sick since I had kept my head bowed during the whole talk!)  Seriously, I thought he was praying!  I'm really amazed that I didn't open my eyes and peek, especially since the young man sitting next to me kept pushing up against my legs during the prayer. Instead of being overly friendly, he was probably just checking to see if I was still alive!) 

  Here they are preparing the burial spot.  It is only 10 feet from the main fale (home).  This man is standing in the grave and they are tiling the sides.  They have measured and cut out a piece of foam that she will be laid on.  That intricate design was done first and now they are tiling the sides and preparing the top, which will have a large cement slab placed on it.

This plexiglass covering went on top, after the body was placed inside.  (They took her out of the rented casket and had her wrapped in a cloth)

Sister Toala on the left and Sister Etuele in between us.  It was their brother's wife who passed away. 

When we arrived home, we thought we should take a picture to show you all the food they sent home for us.  Eight individual containers and two platters full!  We were able to share with the guards, the temple presidency, a random taxi driver, the Assistants to the President and still have left-overs.