'I didn't think I could be anymore upset at my dad's funeral. Then I saw what my cousin was doing.'

As told to Ann DeGrey.

Losing my dad was the most devastating thing I've ever been through. He'd been battling cancer for three years, and even though we knew it was coming, it still felt like a total shock.

He was the best Dad you could wish for, strong and kind, always there for us. My mum, my brother, and I were all grieving in our own ways, but one thing we agreed on was that we wanted his funeral service and the wake to be something that truly honoured him.

We already had some plans in place because we knew this day was coming sooner rather than later.

Watch: Struggling with loss? This video shares simple ways to cope with grief when someone you love has passed. Post continues below.

We put a lot of work into making the wake an event that Dad would have loved to attend, with his favourite food and music. We chose a peaceful funeral home we knew he liked and a lovely little venue nearby for the wake. We wanted somewhere with soft lighting and space for people to share stories about Dad.

We didn't want anything over the top.

Just a morning where friends and family could gather and remember our precious father.

Most of the family was wonderful. But then there was Matt*; my first cousin on my mum's side. He's always had a big personality.

He used to be a local councillor and still talks like he's running for something. He has a booming voice and is always scanning the room. He left politics a few years ago and started a "consulting business," although no one really knows what he actually consults on.

At the wake, I noticed him moving through the room in his usual Matt way, smiling and trying to insert himself into every conversation. At first, I let it slide. Some people deal with grief by keeping busy, I thought. Maybe this was his way because I knew he loved my Dad too.

But then I realised he was handing out business cards. At first, I thought I must have been mistaken. Who would do that at a wake?

Then I saw it again. He cornered one of Dad's friends, who was in tears just minutes earlier, and started talking about "investment opportunities" and "scalable solutions." I heard phrases like "next quarter growth" and "client onboarding." I couldn't believe it! What kind of person does this at a wake?

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My brother saw the look on my face and told me to just let it go. My mum said, "It's Matt. Don't make a scene. Your dad wouldn't want that." But I couldn't let it slide. I felt it was so disrespectful.

So, I pulled Matt aside into the hallway and told him, as calmly as I could, that what he was doing was not appropriate. I said this wasn't a networking event, it was our father's funeral.

But he told me I was overreacting and said, "I'm just talking to people. It's not like I'm selling anything at the buffet table." Then he laughed like it was all a big joke. I told him to stop handing out business cards.

He shrugged and walked off. Later, I found one left sitting on the table, like he'd given it to someone who had gotten rid of it. So I haven't spoken to him since and while Mum and my brother think I'm being too harsh, others agree with me.

I know my Dad deserved better; that space wasn't about Matt, or his business, or whatever career he's trying to build now. It was about a man who lived humbly and died with dignity. Dad was a man who loved helping others and worked hard, never making a fuss. In many ways, he was the absolute opposite of my cousin.

And there we were, trying to celebrate that life, while Matt turned it into some crazy form of self-promotion. It's not even about the business cards anymore. It's about basic decency. And also about reading the room. He clearly had no idea about when he needed to put his ego aside for someone else's sake.

If Matt had even once said, "I'm really sorry if I crossed a line," we'd be fine. But he didn't ever apologise and he probably never will.

I used to enjoy catching up with the extended family. Before this, we saw each other at birthdays, holidays, big get-togethers. Now, if I hear Matt's going to be somewhere, I usually stay clear. I don't want the tension or being made to feel that I'm the difficult one for standing up for what felt right.

I still don't regret saying something. If I hadn't, I would've carried that frustration with me for years. I needed to speak up; not just for me, but for my dad.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

Feature: Canva.