Dear Ann Landers,
'm sure I'm not the only person who's had this problem, and I'd like your opinion on how it should be handled. My brother is dying. He was my fa-vorite and I am very sad. Before he passes on I would like to know if it would be all right if I did my mourn-ing at home and skipped the funeral. I would prefer to remember my brother as he was and not see him laid out in a casket. Funerals have always been depress-ing to me. I do not care for the "so-cial" luncheons that follow. The sob-bing of relatives is out of place since their grief never seems to interfere with their appetites. Sign this NEED-ING TO KNOW

DEAR N.T.K.,
Go to the funeral, since it will be your last act of respect for your dear brother. You can simply avoid the casket. Also-you can skip the luncheon. Your absence from the funeral would be an affront to your brother and to the other members of the fam-ily. FUNERAL FAREWELL WILL PREVENT DENIAL OF DEATH