Life in Costa Rica: I didn’t know

that although I have been to the Basilica many times, my first service there would be a funeral for someone I knew. I took an early bus and sat off to the side, people watching and crocheting until it was time to move to the center area. The family walked in with the coffin. The grief was obvious in all of them. Ziomara and her daughter, María José, and Douglas and his 3 children, Natalie, Rebeccah and Douglas, Isaac’s wife and Ziomara’s sister, Monica. Their brother and his wife and their boys. Although I forget lots of names, it is easy for me to remember Monica’s. That was the name of my daughter that died of crib death. Throughout the funeral there were still visitors looking at the church and people crawling up the aisles on their knees.

At the end of mass, Monica and her brother and María José gave their talks. For María José, Isaac had been a father all of her life so his loss hurt her very much. Ziomara was also very close to her father and had been doing everything she could to help him be strong and fight to stay alive. He was only in his late 60’s.

When the coffin left the church, the ladies in the family followed and were greeted with hugs and kisses and condolences all the way out. Waiting outside was the hearse with the top totally covered with flowers and another truck completely full of flowers that had not been brought into the church. Some people rode in cars and some walked behind the hearse to the cemetery. Ziomara made arrangements for me to ride with a friend of hers and her mother. They have been friends since kindergarten.

At the cemetery the men hoisted the coffin onto their shoulders and carried it to the grave site. The cemetery part was different. There is no priest involved and the coffin is actually buried and the cover is covered with flowers. I did note the coffin is much smaller, not as deep or as wide, as in the US.

I have a few questions for Ziomara when the time is right. Why the Basilica, why that cemetery. They lived miles away and had churches much closer.

I was taken back to the Basilica and then went to lunch at the Mexican restaurant I really like, had my hair cut and went to the Banco Costa Rica to make my deposits. I got there at 4:03 and they close at 4:00. Mañana. There is no craft ladies tomorrow because Aura’s great-nephew died and the funeral is tomorrow. There is the Banco Costa Rica in Paraiso also so I don’t have to go all the way to Cartago.

Otto will be here at 9:00 and I have to take Dally for her shot. Next Tuesday Ligia and Jeanette are coming to help me clean this place. Being a cabin with open areas to outside I end up with lots of cobwebs and dust so I have hired them for a thorough cleaning. I will take all the curtains down and wash them starting Saturday.

I will put another picture first so I don’t publish the funeral pictures.