A real funeral

Charles 10 Comments
Charles

Requiem Video for David J Catts, Dead Mate from Kim Reddin on Vimeo.

David Catts, a man much given to tomfoolery, embodied all manner of beautiful imperfections. Aged 41, married for just eight months, he fell in July 2009 from a 17th storey balcony in what his father described as “skylarking gone tragically wrong.” He’d had a few drinks. His funeral addressed his beautiful imperfections with rare honesty and love. People said what needed to be said.

This blog is on holiday for the next week, after which it will be moving house. Posts will be sporadic. Happy days, all of you. And thank you for following. I really appreciate it.

10 Comments

  1. Charles

    As for the vid – I wish I’d had such a headmaster, I’ll hope to have such a truthful funeral.

    Truly educational. Thanks Charles, well spotted.

  2. Charles

    Lovely funeral…wonder where he was buried, and when – in relation to the end of the service – and who was there to witness the event????

  3. Charles

    Thanks for posting this Charles it is a great inspiration for those who have not been to many funerals and dare to say the non-sugar coated stuff.
    Hope you have a great vacation and smooth house moving.
    Antler, I wonder this too.

  4. Charles

    I note that Antler and Sonya are curious as to where and when David Catts was buried. I am David’s mother. David was buried at Macquarie Cemetery the following morning and his family and friends were all there to say our final goodbye. I don’t think I know you Charles but I too say thank you for posting David’s funeral.

  5. Charles

    Thank you so much for answering this question. I was very moved by David’s funeral and following such a tragic and untimely death, I am glad that his send off was heartfelt, real and so full of friends and family.
    Having been ‘around’ funerals for 20 years, I have seen many funerals that were just the opposite – adding and compounding the tragedy of the situation.
    I wish you and all David’s family and friends joy in the memory of him.
    Regards
    Antler

  6. Charles

    Thank you Antler. I really appreciate your comments and the email that Charles sent me personally. Thank you. Regards, Laurel Catts

  7. Charles

    Som terrific responses there to the one film, thankyou. It does explain why it keeps getting so many views.
    Of cours it was the one film I wish I was never involved in, As David was one of my best friends ever. But I was glad I could help the family in some small way by producing this with one of my regular top young cameramen Michael Kew. It has also lead me to being asked to produce a tv commercial for another funeral company. Which poses a pretty serious question. How can you advertise for something like this? Small funeral homes are being whipped out by big corporations buying up the homes, land. clients, morticians. How can a small outfit differentiate themselves with a small spend etc..
    I invite you to take a look at this. My contact details are tacked on the end but this is unlisted youtube video.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAYPR8AJ8a0

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