As the theme of life and death is visited throughout the series, funerals are a frequent occurrence. Though there are other characters that die both on and off-screen, this article deals exclusively with the funerals held in their memory.
| “ | I've been scared most of my time here anyway, except when I'm with you. I miss you, Libby. —Hugo Reyes | ” |
Before the crash
Mr. Ford and Mary Ford
James attending his parents funeral ("The Incident, Part 1")
In 1976, James Ford attends the funeral of his parents, shortly after they were conned by Anthony Cooper. After the ceremony, Jacob walks up to James and gives him a pen, which he uses to write a letter to the real Mr. Sawyer. A letter that would spark a life of pursuing revenge. ("The Incident, Part 1")
Christian Shephard
The death of Christian Shephard and the planning for his funeral is a central plot point for Jack. His reason for being on Flight 815 is to bring his father's body home. He pleads with an airline ticket agent to allow him to bring his father's coffin on board, even telling her that the clothes he is wearing are the same that he will wear to his father's funeral. ("White Rabbit")
A memorial service is held for Christian Shephard ten months after the crash of Flight 815; his body is not present. See below.
Tito Reyes
Tito suffers a heart attack at a press conference announcing Hurley's lottery winnings. At his funeral, the priest is struck by lightning. These events, among others, lead Hurley to believe that his lottery numbers are cursed. ("Numbers")
Adam Rutherford
Adam Rutherford died in a car accident with Sarah Shephard. At his wake, Boone attends and is a source of comfort for Shannon. He offers her a drink, saying that "there's always booze at wakes." ("Abandoned")
Anthony Cooper
Locke and Helen attend a funeral for Anthony Cooper. They are the only two guests in attendance, although they observe two men watching the funeral from a distance. In a deleted scene, Locke tells the priest that he did not know his father very well. At the funeral, Locke says
| “ |
I forgive you. —John Locke |
” |
as he looks at his father's grave. Later, Locke discovers that the funeral was a hoax and that Anthony had feigned his own death to evade a debt he owed as the result of a con. ("Lockdown")
Jae Lee
Jae Lee was Sun's English teacher and later her lover. He committed suicide by jumping out of a window, following a violent attack by Jin. At his funeral, Sun asks her father if he will tell Jin about the affair, and he responds that it is not his place. ("The Glass Ballerina")
On the Island
Group funeral for crash victims
Claire, Boone, and Hurley conduct a funeral.
Claire asks Jack about holding a memorial service, and Jack replies that it isn't really "his thing." Both out of respect and necessity, the bodies of the victims are burned in a dignified manner, with Claire reading as many names and details of their lives as she was able to gather:
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Judith Martha Wexler from Denton, TX, guess she was going to catch a connecting flight. Um, she wore corrective lenses and she was an organ donor, or at least would have been. Steve and Kristen, I don't know their last name, but they were really in love and were going to be married. At least, wherever they are now, they're not alone." Claire's eulogy pays tribute to an unnamed character whose "video store receipt lists her overdue charges for 'Willy Wonka' and 'The Little Princess.' Looks like he hadn't traveled much. . . at least as far as I can tell from his passport. —Claire Littleton |
” |
She also mentions "Wollstein, Harold - Seat 23 C." ("Walkabout")
Donald
Donald was the fourth Tail Section survivor to die after the crash, due to an infection in his leg, that broke in the crash. The other Tailies buried him on the fifth day after the crash in a small graveyard where the previous three dead Tailies and the two Others that Eko killed on the first night were also buried. ("The Other 48 Days")
Scott
Scott Jackson is found dead on the beach, following a threat from Ethan Rom to kill one person a day until Claire is handed over to him. According to Kate, his neck, arms, and fingers were all broken. Scott is buried and a cross placed at his grave. Hurley eulogizes:
| “ |
Scott Jackson worked for an internet company in Santa Cruz. He won a sales prize, a two week Australian vacation, all expenses paid. He was a good guy. Sorry I kept calling you Steve, man. Um, amen, I guess. I don't know how to end these. —Hugo Reyes |
” |
("Homecoming")
Boone
Boone Carlyle is the first major character to die on the island, following injuries sustained in the crash of the drug smugglers' plane. The entire camp attends the funeral. Shannon is asked to speak, but is too emotional to do so. Sayid steps in and delivers a brief eulogy in her place:
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I didn't know Boone very well, and for that I am sorry. On our sixth day here, a woman named Joanna died. She drowned, and Boone was the first one into the water. I didn't know him, but I remember his courage, and I know he will be missed. —Sayid Jarrah |
” |
Locke steps in, after being missing throughout Boone's ordeal, and says the following:
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It was my fault. We found a plane, a Beechcraft, in the jungle. It was lodged in the canopy so -- I would have gone up, but I -- my leg was hurt so he -- there was a radio inside and he thought he could -- look, his weight must have made the plane shift and it fell -- and -- it happened because he was trying to help us. He was a hero. —John Locke |
” |
("The Greater Good")
Shannon
The survivors gather for Shannon's funeral.
Shannon is accidentally shot and killed by Ana Lucia in "The Other 48 Days". Sayid digs her grave, and once again steps in as eulogizer, this time because he is the person closest to Shannon.
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Shannon and I were strangers. We never would have met if -- We wouldn't even have spoken if -- But we did meet and we did speak. At least -- I loved her. —Sayid Jarrah |
” |
He steps away, distraught, and Jack steps to the edge of the grave saying, "May she rest in peace." He picks up a handful of dirt and drops it into the grave, and the rest of the attendees follow suit, paying their respects. ("What Kate Did")
Yemi
The Beechcraft burning
When Eko learned that the very plane that his brother, Yemi left Nigeria had wound up on the island, he and Charlie set out to find it. Once Eko finds the plane and his brother's body, he removes a Virgin Mary statue for Charlie and says "For the one I broke." He also removes Yemi's cross and places it on his own neck. He stacks rocks over the plane's entry hatch, douses it with fuel, and lights it on fire. Eko recites scripture as the plane burns. Eko and Charlie are the only people to attend Yemi's funeral. ("The 23rd Psalm")
Libby and Ana Lucia
Ana Lucia and Libby's funeral
Ana Lucia and Libby are both shot and killed by Michael in the Swan hatch. Michael apparently planned to kill Ana Lucia and frame "Henry Gale" for her death, but he shot Libby only because she took him by surprise as she entered the Hatch. Hurley and Kate dig their graves. At the funeral, Jack speaks first about Ana Lucia, saying:
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Ana Lucia Cortez was—before we crashed she was a police officer. I don't think it was easy for her being here. But I think she did the best she could. She was a woman of few words, and I'm going to follow her example. Rest in peace, Ana. —Jack Shephard |
” |
Hurley speaks next about Libby, saying:
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Libby was—she was—she—Libby was a psychologist, or psychiatrist—one of those. Either way, she probably helped a lot of people. She helped me. She was my friend. It's not fair that this happened to her. It's not. [He turns to Michael] I'm going with you. Goodbye, Libby. —Hugo Reyes |
” |
The funeral takes on a tone of hope as Sun spots a boat in the distance. ("Three Minutes")
Colleen
Colleen's body is sent out to the sea, as the Others watch.
Colleen's funeral is the first time that the Others are depicted grieving a lost loved one. They wear white gowns and play "I Wonder" over a speaker system. Jack is in attendance as the Others' prisoner, also clad in a white gown. Colleen's body is set afire, and cast out to sea on a raft. ("The Cost of Living")
Eko
Eko dies as a result of being attacked by the Monster. Locke observes that the other survivors have had to witness "a few too many funerals lately" and makes the decision to bury Eko at the place where he died rather than return his body to the beach. Locke returns to the camp to get a shovel to dig his grave. A small service is held, with only Locke, Sayid, Nikki, Paulo, and Desmond attending. Locke delivers a eulogy, saying,
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When the hatch exploded, your prayer stick fell out of a tree right on top of me. So, Sayid and I came out to get it, because it didn't seem right to bury you without it. I'd like to think you died for a reason, Mr. Eko. I just hope that it's not too long before we find out what the heck it might be. Rest in peace, Mr. Eko. Thank you for helping me find my-. —John Locke |
” |
As Locke strikes the ground with Eko's stick, the phrase "Lift up your eyes and look north" carved into the stick catches Locke's attention. ("I Do")
Nikki and Paulo
Nikki and Paulo's funeral
Nikki runs out of the jungle and collapses in front of Hurley and Sawyer, seemingly dead. Paulo is soon discovered, also seemingly lifeless. The group moves fairly quickly in digging their graves and arranging a funeral. The funeral is modestly attended, and Hurley delivers the eulogy.
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Nikki and Paulo. I guess we didn't really know you very well. And it appears you killed each other for diamonds. But I know there are good parts to you too. You were always nice to me. And you were a member of the camp. And I really loved 'Exposé.' Okay, then, goodbye. —Hugo Reyes |
” |
Sawyer sprinkles the diamonds over their bodies, and each attendee places on shovelful of dirt into the grave, leaving Sawyer and Hurley to finish the task. As they concentrate on their task, they do not notice Nikki's eyes open, and she and Paulo are buried alive. ("Exposé")
After the rescue of the Oceanic 6
Christian Shephard
Ten months after the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 (i.e., in July 2005) a memorial service for Christian Shephard is held. His son Jack gives the eulogy; he regrets the absence of his father's body, and says that he loved him. Among others, Margo Shephard, Kate Austen, Aaron, Hugo Reyes, Sayid Jarrah and Carole Littleton attend the service. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")
John Locke (as "Jeremy Bentham")
In 2007, Jack learns of the death of "Jeremy Bentham" by reading a newspaper clipping. He attends a viewing at a funeral home, and is the only mourner. He tells the funeral director that he is neither friend nor family to the deceased. He meets with Kate — although Kate does not seem to know of the death, she indicates that she would not be interested in attending the funeral.
The name of the funeral agency is Hoffs/Drawlar. This is an anagram for "flash-forward". ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 1")
After his meeting with Kate, Jack returns to the funeral home and breaks in. He opens "Bentham"'s casket, but is interrupted by Benjamin Linus. Ben tells Jack that the Island wants "all of you" to return, including "Bentham" — who is revealed as John Locke. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 2")
Back to the Island
Juliet Burke
Her body was buried near the Swan by Sawyer and Miles. Sawyer had asked a reading before they left her grave insisting to know what was the last thing she wanted to say. Mile said, "it worked". (6x01-6x02)
John Locke
After being murdered and brought back to the island by Benjamin Linus, John Locke's corpse is carried by Ilana's Group to prove that the MIB took John's shape by claiming him. Before leaving to the temple, Ilana, Frank, Ben and Sun decided to bury John Locke's corpse. On his funeral speech, Ben says he is sorry for murdering him. ("The Substitute")
Locke's funeral. ("The Substitute")