It's really quite odd that a family who had believed in nothing religious all those years would hire a Christian minister to do a traditional service at the funeral. I guess they either just did what seemed like the standard thing or maybe for the first time in their lives they were actually forced to confront the issue of death head on.

My general impression is that the atheist mindframe is based somewhat upon denial of death...just don't think about it...think instead as if you will never die...keep focusing on your work, pleasure, entertainment, what's in front of you (like this computer screen), what's next....DON'T think about death at all!

Of course, a lot of religious folks do that too...

Sorry to hear about your friend, Daylia.