Back in Black

On my shopping trip to Aleppo I bought only black since Gaby's aunt wasn't doing well, and I have very little black clothing. We got back on Saturday night and she passed away on Sunday evening. Aunt Georgette did not get married, but she played a huge role in Gaby and his siblings' upbringing and daily life. We went over to the house where Gaby's mom and the nurse were, I was a bit shocked to find the body there in the living room, with just a sheet over her and a scarf tied around her chin to keep her mouth closed. North Americans really cover up the ugliness and reality of death, I'm not sure if that's better or worse. We stayed for a few hours, while more family members came over and called to pay their respects. Then on Monday morning we went over again to the house and the undertakers (who were smoking and wearing jeans) put the cover on the casket and put her in a car. This means that the body stayed in the house overnight; they kept the doors open and kept spraying something that made me want to gag. We then followed the 'hearse' which played hymns and a siren as we made our way out of the city and to the Yazigee home of Marmarita. The body was placed in the family home, and the women sat and cried in front of the body while the men drank coffee and chatted in the next room. I sat next to my mother in law, and just sat in silence. It was very raw... new relatives would make my mother in law start to cry again, and she had a breakdown when they were ready to put the lid on the coffin and take the body to the church. On Thursday there will be a church service in Lattakia, and hours of receiving people who want to give their condolences. Then the women of the family wear black from 30-40 days, and don't attend parties during this time.