I don’t get open casket funerals. Am I the only one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The embalming/overly made up part of open caskets can make it feel distressing. Assuming a natural, non-traumatic cause of death, a more immediate open casket funeral can be healing for many people. Grief/loss is always hard, but it can be disembodied (ha) when the person just "disappears." There can be a sense of finality/future acceptance when seeing the body. Of course, that doesn't mean one doesn't grieve or miss the person any less.

I fully support the person who dies deciding how they wish to be remembered. If you haven't, make sure your will etc is in order so your loved ones know what you would prefer and don't do something you may find distasteful (open casket in this case).

I agree with this.

I can see how it’s kinda creepy. But I view it more as something that is common practice in certain communities; if it’s what you’ve grown up with, it seems more normal to you. I do think it helps the bereaved to have the death sink in. Of course we know that, but seeing a body really drives home the finality of death.

[Anonymous]

My family is 1/2 Polish 1/2 Irish (both Catholic) and open casket is how we do our wakes. My parents started taking me at a very young age (I think my great uncle passed when I was maybe about 5) so it’s all I know. I don’t remember it ever bothering me.

[Anonymous]

I still shudder thinking of when I was made to look at my great grandmother in her casket as a child.

[Anonymous]

Weird responses. I have only been to open casket wakes, with two exceptions. My first husband's wake was closed casket because he died in a fire after a car crash, and a neighbor's wake was closed casket because he was injured in an accident on the job that marred his face. Other than that every wake I've ever been to has been open casket. I thought open casket was the norm actually.

[Anonymous]

If you look at the ‘worst thing I ever saw’ thread, quite a few open casket funerals listed. Would hate to be responsible for the worst thing someone saw

[Anonymous]

I hate them. I don’t get it. At least people no longer take pictures with dead bodies. At least I hope not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish and I don't get a lot of things Christians do with dead bodies. Embalming them, dressing them, viewing them, keeping them above ground for days. I might be hanging out in a hut with a giant ass lemon, but y'all are weird.

Meh.

Every faith has weirdos if you dig deep enough.

And atheists definitely include plenty of weirdos.

[Anonymous]

I was very distressed as a young child when my grandmother's casket was open and no one warned me. My dad then asked it to be closed. We're Catholic. My parents will not have an open casket.

[Anonymous]

Barbaric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish and I don't get a lot of things Christians do with dead bodies. Embalming them, dressing them, viewing them, keeping them above ground for days. I might be hanging out in a hut with a giant ass lemon, but y'all are weird.

Meh.

Every faith has weirdos if you dig deep enough.

And atheists definitely include plenty of weirdos.

The Jewish religion is definitely no exception to religions having “weird” practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish and I don't get a lot of things Christians do with dead bodies. Embalming them, dressing them, viewing them, keeping them above ground for days. I might be hanging out in a hut with a giant ass lemon, but y'all are weird.

Meh.

Every faith has weirdos if you dig deep enough.

And atheists definitely include plenty of weirdos.

Meh. I'm the PP and I'm an atheist. Yes, there are weirdos of all kinds.
I still think Christian death rituals are very strange. As is sitting in a hut and waving a lemon around. I doubt the latter has traumatized any children though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feels so unnecessarily distressing

No one is required to look at the dead person. People who are weak and have high anxiety should spare themselves.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard of the new eco-trend where the body is dissolved in liquids?

It’s supposed to be better for the environment. Only allowed in some states though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind them, I like to get one last chance to see the deceased and say goodbye.

I say goodbye to their spirit, the part of them I knew and loved, not an empty shell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard of the new eco-trend where the body is dissolved in liquids?

It’s supposed to be better for the environment. Only allowed in some states though.

Why is it only allowed in some states? Huh…