I don't consider funerals as emergencies. They're dead. Who are you impressing? I didn't go to my parents' funeral, as I was in Alaska, during semester finals, and they were in No Dak, after a train/car crash. As a PAYG college student, I was already in debt. I saw no point...
Better one show respect/caring while they are alive, than beggar oneself for the funeral. Medical situations, etc. are of course different.
YMMV.
