Sympathy as Mom's Funeral Rearranged Due to Queen's Death: 'I'm Devastated'

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, September 8, many events and services were postponed and canceled in the United Kingdom, as a mark of respect for the late monarch, sporting events, television listings and music events to name a few. While frustrating, most were rearranged or refunded.

For Mumsnet user RubyRhubarb, the disruption caused by the death of the queen has had a more distressing effect.

She writes, "I've had to cancel my mums funeral as it was on the 19th. Now completely in limbo about the new date. The funeral directors (who would have done the funeral on the 19th but the crematorium & wake venue are closing) have been very helpful but many slots for both are booked. I'm waiting to see if we can still get the crematoria, wake venue & vicar of choice (my mum was a regular church goer) in a fairly reasonable timescale, if not, then it's back to the drawing board. I'm devastated & angry. I'm so sad that my lovely mum has to wait even longer to be laid at rest."

Speaking to Newsweek, Terry Tennens, chief executive of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, said, "It is our understanding that most funerals that were booked to go ahead on Monday the 19th will be going ahead, but it is at the discretion of the individual business or local council."

He continued, "We have not heard of too many funerals being postponed but there have been some incidences. We do know that the Kent and Sussex Crematorium is closed, but there have been some situations where people have arranged the date themselves."

She goes on to explain she had everything organized for a week before the queen died, "so it's not as though we were taking a risk with the date... Then I spent the weekend cancelling everything. Now I've got to recontact everyone again once we know the new date. It's emotionally exhausting. I thought by now this would gave all been done & I would just be able to focus on my mourning."

Coop Funeral Care told Newsweek, "The decision to close a crematorium is at the discretion of the local crematorium. If the crematorium/cemetery is closed, we'll contact the family to let them know that the funeral can't take place as planned and arrange an alternative date that is suitable to them. To minimize disruption, we'll try and work with the crematoriums to arrange an alternative date as soon as possible."

Explaining that she knows she isn't the only person experiencing these sorts of difficulties, however she says she has worked in "emergency planning and operational scenario planning", and knows that the impact of these cancellations the addition of a bank holiday would have been taken in to consideration, "and that this could cause distress."

She writes, "Some kind of acknowledgment of this in one of the many speeches would have been nice. That would make it feel so much better. But I guess the little people don't matter enough to given even that small consideration & yes, I am bitter about this."

Many users expressed their sympathy for the situation, with user bellabasset commenting, "I'm sorry for your loss, it's ironic that the Queen's death has caused disruption for other bereaved families."

On the death of the queen, the U.K. entered a 10-day period of mourning, with the funeral taking place on Monday September 19, which will be a bank holiday. The decision to close for business or postpone events lies with the individual organizations and there was a degree of confusion last Thursday about what would and would not be going ahead.

Shops

Shops and businesses are under no obligation to close, and it is up to the individual companies to make those decisions. London stalwarts such as Liberty and Selfridges have closed for the mourning period however, Fortnum & Mason, thought to be one of the queen's favorite stores will remain open, but it has blacked out the windows, and stopped its famous façade clock as a mark of respect. It has also issued customer facing staff with black armbands.

Train Strikes

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) had originally planned another set of strikes between September 15 and 17 in a dispute with the government and rail companies about job cuts, pay and contractual changes. The strikes have now been suspended as a mark of respect to the queen and royal family.

Sports

While all English football matches have been suspended, some other sports did go ahead over the weekend. The Bristol Bears vs. Bath rugby match was canceled on Friday, September 9, only to take place on Saturday, September 10.

Horse riding events were suspended, as were cricketing and golf events.

Many Mumsnet users were indignant on the grieving daughter's behalf.

UWhatNow commented, "I would've thought that if they've cancelled it it's incumbent on them to make the new arrangements. You shouldn't be ringing around."

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas, wrote, "I'm sorry you are going through this. I think the Royals and the media (BBC) reaction is completely out of step with the vast majority of the general public and it's another step towards their downfall (hopefully)."

TempName01 said, "I'm disgusted for you and others in this position, there is no good reason for this upheaval!"

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.