I agree on the respect issue,and I also understand that it depends on the person really on their lifestyle choices, but personally I would not feel right going to a funeral without being dressed "properly", but then I am old school.
I know at my father's funeral and also a few years later at my aunt's funeral , my estranged brother turned up wearing jeans and a vest, and it was awful. the close family were very upset as it is seen as a mark of respect, especially for my parents generation.
My father's brother, who died recently was ex-army and as he had seen this at both funeral's he actually insisted that my brother was not present at his passing. He had even phoned him some months before and told him to stay away if he died. Nobody was aware of his condition, but this shows how much it can affect someone, if this plays on their mind so much.
It is important to respect the person, and we have the right to ask for them to meet our wishes at a time like that, whatever those wishes are, it is not always a question of cost or spending money, I know most older people will have a special set of clothes they reserve for such occassions.
To me it is sad to feel that this will probably change in the future, but then again it is an individual thing.
It depends whose standards we use as a measure I guess.
Jena.
