Oliver Pocher: He speaks at his uncle Karl’s funeral service

Oliver Pocher (46) mourns his late uncle Karl. Last week from the “kind-hearted person”. In an episode of his recorded live in front of an audience in Osnabrück, he also talks about the loss.

First of all, he jokes about a wide variety of topics with his ex-wife Alessandra Meyer-Wölden (41), with whom he has the podcast. Even Meyer-Wölden’s herniated disc is still made fun of. When they talk about Karl, he also becomes more serious.

“Then there was a sudden death […]”, says Pocher. That “made you realize how fast and short-lived this life is.” The comedian still remembers how he suggested picking up the children from school together and his uncle said he would do the same next time to want to do “[…] and three weeks later it’s just over. And that already happened to me last week – even if it took a day or two, it was also a shock.” The entire relatives were very surprised by his uncle’s death.

Pocher was asked if he would like to speak at the memorial service. He is now wondering how one should approach such an issue. He is in a dilemma as to what to tell, because I think tragic is also difficult. There are also somehow tragicomic moments. […] I’m also very excited to see what I’ll ultimately do next week.”

Meyer-Wölden is sure that he will “find the right words.” “I also think it’s very nice of you and good of you to speak on behalf of the family.” She had already been confronted with the topic of death as a child, “then perhaps you have become more hardened […]. But I now believe that in moments like this in life you can look back and just appreciate and celebrate that person’s life and not hold on to the sad event, but rather just stay positive and give that person an appreciation.” She believes that Pocher is exactly the right person for this.

He also asked himself whether he should take the children with him to the funeral service. What stuck with him as a child was the way his father cried when Pocher’s grandfather died. On the other hand, the entire family is there. “I don’t think the topic of death should be a taboo topic,” answers Meyer-Wölden. “I think it’s very important to talk to children about losing their fear of it, including their fear of loss.” She advocates being honest with children about such important issues. “And of course we will support you on the day, all of us.”

His three-year-old son also noticed that Pocher wasn’t feeling well when he found out about his uncle’s death. Pocher speaks of an “incredibly difficult” moment, but one that also shows “how empathetic children are and how they somehow sense and feel such situations.” Meyer-Wölden agrees: “Trust in your children too, because you can often get through such reactions […] find a lot of comfort and support in the children. That’s really true. So the children often have more strength than we do.”

“Yesterday my little son asked me after his Christmas performance: ‘Daddy, were you crying?’ Children sense when you’re not feeling well,” Pocher also wrote on Instagram on December 4th. “I heard the news of my uncle’s unexpected death a few minutes earlier. Just three weeks ago he was at our house and said goodbye. Nobody could have guessed at that time that it would be a forever goodbye.”