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Post by lesley on Dec 3, 2014 13:29:05 GMT
Some back story: my brother was 13 years older than me and we were very close. 3.5 years ago, my DD told me he had abused her when she was a young child. I cut off contact with him then.
About 18 months ago, my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I had to deal with my brother then (there were only the two of us, our other brother died twenty years ago.) I decided that I wanted to 'put aside' what he had done, so that we could care for our mum. A few months later, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (ALS). He deteriorated quite quickly, but even though my mum died last December, I kept in close touch until July this year. To be truthful, I was really enjoying his company again, and I kind of figured that karma had already got him.
In July my SIL and niece came to see me about my mum's estate, and we ended with a huge argument and DH telling my SIL exactly what my brother had done to DD. It was awful. She asked for proof (!) and said that she didn't believe DD. She blamed her accusations on DD's poor mental health, not considering that her mental health is a result of the abuse.
Anyway. This morning, my friend called me to say he was sorry to hear about the death of my brother. He had heard through another friend, and was surprised I hadn't told him myself. He couldn't believe that I didn't know. It seems that he died last week, and the funeral is tomorrow. I honestly thought my niece would have told me, as we have tried to maintain a relationship separate from all the other shit. I'm really devastated this morning that I had to find out this way.
Peas, I don't know what to do. Do I go to the funeral tomorrow or not? Do I contact my SIL or niece, or my nephew? What do I say? Despite what he did, he was still my brother, and there hasn't been a single day in the last three years that I haven't been in agony over this.
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Post by pierkiss on Dec 3, 2014 13:32:36 GMT
 . I'm so sorry for your loss. I think if you want to go tongue funeral you should. He was your brother. You have a right to say goodbye.
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Post by kristi521 on Dec 3, 2014 13:33:02 GMT
I think you do go to the funeral tomorrow. As far as how to deal with your SIL, niece and nephew - hold your head up high. The funeral is for you to remember your brother, you need that closure.
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gloryjoy
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Jun 26, 2014 12:35:32 GMT
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Post by gloryjoy on Dec 3, 2014 13:35:58 GMT
I would go to his funeral. If you don't go, you can't go back and reverse the decision.
I would also leave or send them a card, and then let them take the lead as to where they want things to go.
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liya
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Jul 3, 2014 17:55:08 GMT
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Post by liya on Dec 3, 2014 13:37:27 GMT
I am sorry for your situation. You need to do what is right for you. I can say (but you don't have to listen) you should contact your SIL and niece/nephew. You were upset about the way you found out; so since you know you can be courteous and let them know. If going to the funeral will give you closure than attend. Hugs to you!
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MorningPerson
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Jul 4, 2014 21:35:44 GMT
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Post by MorningPerson on Dec 3, 2014 13:40:12 GMT
I think the more important question is how does your daughter feel about all of this?
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:58:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2014 13:40:51 GMT
First of all, I'm sorry for your loss. And I'm sorry your brother's family didn't give you the courtesy of letting you know he had passed.
I've been in a situation where a person I was estranged from passed away. I debated going, as I knew it wouldn't be a warm and friendly atmosphere. Still, I went, and I'm glad I did. This is your opportunity for the closure you need and deserve in saying your final farewells. I would extend my regrets to his family at the funeral. Whatever mistakes he made in his life, and however badly they handled the information you gave them, it is the loss of a precious life.
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Post by cannes on Dec 3, 2014 13:52:56 GMT
I'm sorry for your loss.
I think you go to the funeral. You can't change your mind later if you don't go. I think that this has the potential to be one of those things that you wind up regretting forever if you don't.
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Mary Kay Lady
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PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Dec 3, 2014 14:06:22 GMT
I'm sorry for your loss. It's too bad that you had to find out through a friend.
I think that you should go to the funeral. Even though he abused your daughter he is still your brother. My Dad abused me for years. He died almost three years ago. I decided to go to his funeral. I'm glad that I decided to go. It helped me to get closure on our relationship.
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mochi
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Jun 26, 2014 1:45:16 GMT
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Post by mochi on Dec 3, 2014 14:08:56 GMT
Personally, I wouldn't go to the funeral. This is a person who sexually abused your daughter.
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Post by gailoh on Dec 3, 2014 14:10:01 GMT
Me..I would go and if they talk nice then you have an answer that there will be communications in the future ... if bad looks and someone starting up then you have an answer there...but you will still have the closure you need...someone there is already shown how they are by not telling you in the first place...
I am sorry for your loss...
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grinningcat
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Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Dec 3, 2014 14:10:06 GMT
Since abuse is a big time deal breaker for me, I'd have a hard time even acknowledging the man. How does your daughter feel about this recent rapprochement between you and her abuser? Honestly, even though he's your brother, I'm not sure he deserves the respect of attending his funeral because of his behaviour. And your SIL definitely does not deserve any respect. The nephew, debatable, depending on where he falls in all of this. But I'm pretty black and white when it comes to abusers.
ETA: What exactly do you expect to get out of this funeral? What do you think your daughter will get out of you doing this? I'm not your daughter, but I know I would feel as if I couldn't trust you and that you let me down knowing full well what he did to me. I'd think long and hard about this and the long term ramifications this could have on your immediate family.
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Post by utmr on Dec 3, 2014 14:31:27 GMT
Personally, I wouldn't go to the funeral. This is a person who sexually abused your daughter. This. If I were in your situation, I would consider that he died 3.5 years ago (when you learned of the abuse). I would think carefully about how attending the funeral would affect your daughter, rather than showing respect to a pedophile.
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Post by leannec on Dec 3, 2014 14:31:59 GMT
I think the more important question is how does your daughter feel about all of this? I agree ... I'm a survivor and if my Mum went to the funeral of my abuser (father) I would be very angry ... definitely have a conversation with your dd ...
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:58:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2014 14:35:21 GMT
I have to agree with grinningcat. I understand having to deal with him because of your mom, but anything beyond that? No way. What he did to your daughter is inexcusable. I too, wonder what your daughter must feel seeing you keeping in close touch with her abuser. That, to me, is worse than how your SIL accused your DD of lying.
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Dec 3, 2014 14:41:43 GMT
Personally, I wouldn't go to the funeral. This is a person who sexually abused your daughter. This! Imagine how this would make your daughter feel ugh.
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luvnlifelady
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Jun 26, 2014 2:34:35 GMT
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Post by luvnlifelady on Dec 3, 2014 14:41:45 GMT
My brother abused me when I was younger. We've been estranged for 9 years. I had tried to bury things but they boiled over when I turned 40. I miss how things were in a way prior to me coming out with the situation but now I realize how wrong I was not to come forth earlier. If he died, I would morn the brother I knew early on, but not the person he is now.
For you, I would do what you feel is right to you. If you need the closure then go but I fully understand if you choose not to.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Dec 3, 2014 14:42:57 GMT
I would first ask my daughter and if she was okay with me going then I would ask my niece. If it would create too much drama I would do my own thing to bring about closure. You could probably stop by the funeral home to say good bye.
When my BIL passed his brother from whom he was estranged came to the funeral. He tried to create some drama with my sister, but she rose above it. It was very uncomfortable for everyone. I would not want to be the person around whom the controversy was swirling so I would not attend rather then make the event uncomfortable for my niece.
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wellway
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Post by wellway on Dec 3, 2014 14:48:37 GMT
In my books, your DD's feelings are paramount in this. How did she react to the renewed and continued contact?
Your brother went beyond the pale, you dropped a bombshell on your SIL, it's no wonder she reacted as she did. The news effectively made the man she knew and her relationship with him a lie. How she comes to terms with that news is up to her but I can see her thinking that he can't have done anything since you continued contact with him and gave him respect at the end of his days (if you attend the funeral).
If you need to pay your final goodbye, can you not visit his grave quietly on your own another time?
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Post by lesley on Dec 3, 2014 14:48:45 GMT
Thanks Peas, it's good to hear different views. DD and I have talked a lot about this, and she is ok with whatever I choose to do.
I should clarify that I primarily kept in touch with my brother and SIL after my mum died as a support for my SIL. I did miss my brother but I missed her more. I was only 8 when she married my brother (43 years ago) and we have always been very close. My brother wasn't able to talk for the last year, so there was basically no communication anyway. And I can admit here that part of me did take pleasure in seeing him so incapacitated after causing so much damage.
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Post by alibama on Dec 3, 2014 14:52:28 GMT
I am sorry for your loss.
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luckyexwife
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Post by luckyexwife on Dec 3, 2014 14:53:38 GMT
When the abuse came out, your brother kept it a secret from his wife?
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MaryMary
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Post by MaryMary on Dec 3, 2014 15:12:38 GMT
I wouldn't go.
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craftykitten
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Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Dec 3, 2014 15:17:28 GMT
I am glad you have talked to your DD about this.
I think I would have a hard time going to a funeral and listening to a lot of positive things being said about someone, when I knew they done something as terrible as he had.
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Post by Zee on Dec 3, 2014 15:22:40 GMT
I wouldn't feel a need to go. You had closure in that relationship while caring for your mother. SIL was pretty much blindsided by this, I guess, when her husband was too sick to really discuss it? Let them have their peace.
I think he's awfully lucky he didn't die alone in a jail cell for what he did to your daughter.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:58:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2014 15:26:11 GMT
I agree that your daughter's feelings are the most important thing in all of this. I have seen a friend suffer her entire adult life because of her mother's actions regarding her abuse.
I don't even know if I would ask my daughter if she was comfortable with me attending, because I feel like it's putting her in a difficult position.
I would find my own way to grieve him.
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Post by cmpeter on Dec 3, 2014 15:29:35 GMT
I am glad you spoke to your daughter. Please make sure she is truly being honest with you. As a victim of abuse I would had a very hard time forgiving my mom if she had any contact with my abuser after I told her what happened. The same for my aunt if she called me a lier.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Dec 3, 2014 15:30:23 GMT
I wouldn't attend the funeral. I imagine that their desire for you not to be there was exactly why they did not notify you of his death. I can't begin to imagine "putting aside" someone's abuse of my daughter - so your desire to have a relationship with him bothers me. But irregardless, I do know that I would put my niece and nephew's need to bury their father without family drama ahead of my need to attend the funeral.
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Post by beanbuddymom on Dec 3, 2014 15:44:15 GMT
I wouldn't attend the funeral. I imagine that their desire for you not to be there was exactly why they did not notify you of his death. I can't begin to imagine "putting aside" someone's abuse of my daughter - so your desire to have a relationship with him bothers me. But irregardless, I do know that I would put my niece and nephew's need to bury their father without family drama ahead of my need to attend the funeral. Yep, I agree with all of this. I literally just about stopped reading the rest of everything after I read that you "put it aside."
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 3, 2014 15:54:48 GMT
I agree that your daughter's feelings are the most important thing in all of this. I have seen a friend suffer her entire adult life because of her mother's actions regarding her abuse. I don't even know if I would ask my daughter if she was comfortable with me attending, because I feel like it's putting her in a difficult position. I would find my own way to grieve him.  I'm sorry for your loss, but would not attend his funeral.
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