Mom Wants Her Funeral Song To Be"Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead," Her Kid Worries It Could Offend Religious Family And Friends

"I'm sure you all know my mother had a wicked sense of humor."

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• April 28, 2024

Is "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead," an appropriate funeral song? A Redditor wished to honor their mom's funeral song request but hesitated at the possibility of offending some of their relatives and friends.

OP's mom told them and the palliative care staff at the hospital that she wanted the song celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the East played at her funeral. Somehow OP convinced their mom to play Ella Fitzgerald's version instead of the Lollipop Guild version, which was what she originally wanted.

OP was not surprised by their mom's song choice as it fit her wicked sense of humor. However, OP knew enough about funerals to understand that it was meant for the living as much as they were a celebration of the departed's life.

Some of their more religious family and friends already expressed their disappointment about the non-religious funeral OP's mom wanted. OP was sure they would not appreciate the song's implication that OP's mom was headed where the goblins were.

OP wanted to follow and respect their mom's wishes — it was her funeral after all. But OP, as much as they appreciated their mom's sense of humor, is also aware that some of the guests could take offense to the "jokey" manner of the funeral song.

OP was torn if they should go ahead with the celebratory "The Wizard of Oz" song when it could potentially offend some guests.

They have their mom's favorite song "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac as a backup. They listened to it after she passed.

Should OP honor their mom's wishes and risk offending some of the funeral guests?

OP could include a short explanation of the song choice on the programs they give to guests if they don't want them to think they took their mom's death lightly.

If OP plans to give a eulogy, they could explain why their mom chose the song. Besides, guests who knew their mom well enough would appreciate her sense of humor one last time.

What matters at the end of the day is if OP, their dad, and the core family members find nothing offensive about the song being played at the funeral. They knew OP's mom best. They will carry this memory for life.

The guests who take offense to another person's funeral song can kick a rock and need better hobbies other than policing someone else's choices.

OP posted an update more than three months after their original AITA post to share what happened at their mom's funeral.

OP went ahead with the "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead," as their mom's funeral song. They explained the reason behind it during their eulogy. The guests can credit the song to their mom's wicked sense of humor.

Most guests smiled and giggled at the fitting song. The religious relatives and friends OP was worried about didn't complain. They understood and respected their mom's wishes.

OP did a great job describing the kind of person their mom was. She seemed like a remarkable person who made people smile.

OP said in another comment they planned to hold a separate Celebration of Life for their mom near her birthday when the weather is nicer. The opening speech should begin with, "Once there was a wicked witch in the lovely land of Oz."

Chelsi