My five year old came from school sitting on the top of a coffin

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I was 18 before I attended my first funeral and it was a devastating experience. So imagine how I felt when I saw my five year old coming home from school sitting on the back of a coffin. Let me explain. I asked a neighbour to collect my son from school as my husband was in town for the day. He agreed but did say that he had to go to the hospital to bring home Miss Minna. I said that this was o.k. by me. What he did not say was that Miss Minna was dead. He just assumed that I knew Miss Minna and the fact that she was dead. I went outside of the house when I heard all this singing and the sound of m,y neighbour's truck coming up the hill to the house. The coffin was in the back of the truck. Surrounding the coffin were her Church Sisters who were singing and accompanying the body to Miss Minna's home in preparation of the funeral the following day. My heart stopped beating when I saw my son sitting on top of the coffin singing away with the rest of the people. I went into total shock and there was nothing in my numerous books on child Care to advise me what to do. So I had to have the talk: Mother: Jojo, do you know what was in the that big box? Jojo: It is called a coffin and Miss Minna's body was in it. Mother: Were you scared? Jojo: Surprised. No, she's gone to Jesus because she was old and it is only her body that will be buried tomorrow. Mother : Oh Jojo: Can we go to the funeral, please Mummy please! Say yes Mummy, pretty please! My actual experience over the years is that it is healthy for children to see the ceremonies of a funeral and go to the services. They see that death is a reality of life and I taught them that death is entering into life as it is meant to be. so, what are your views i=on this topic? do you think that it is healthy or should children be protected from death?