"Happy Heavenly Birthday!"

[Anonymous]

It makes me cringe too, OP.

I think your cousin is well intentioned, so I’d try to see it as such, but I’d really hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only see these posted on deceased people’s social media, not their living relatives. I don’t have a problem with it.

You continue following deceased people after they've died? For what?

[Anonymous]

I wish my dad’s widow wrote HHB to my dad or acknowledged the anniversary of his passing. She would have done it for attention, but at least she would be putting on a show for him, which I think he deserved. Instead, she’s cut us all off and is sitting pretty in his house. Clearly it was all acting.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who celebrates all the "Death Days" like a birthday. Whatever makes them feel good about it, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Yep, it’s annoying. Someone who is dead has stopped having birthdays.

[Anonymous]

If people want to do it for their own relatives, that's not my jam but everyone grieves in their own way. If a cousin were texting me about my immediate family and I didn't like it, I would tell her something like "I know you mean well but I find the happy heavenly birthday texts jarring and I would appreciate if you didn't send them anymore." I would assume she'd stop at that point--if not, I would take her response as a cue to how/if I wanted to coontinue the relationship.

[Anonymous]

It's weird for people to send any birthday wishes on Facebook for close relatives. Like why do you need the validation of social media to tell your wife, whom you live with, Happy Birthday?

Even dumber to say it about dead people who won't see it at all.

[Anonymous]

They irk me and then I feel guilty for being irked, because what’s the harm? It makes someone feel better. Then the next time I see one I feel irked again, and then guilty again….

[Anonymous]

I think that this is attention seeking behavior (wanting everyone to chime in with comforting words etc, or make sure the person has not been forgotten)

I sort of agree with you, but posts like that aren’t hurting anyone, obviously. And seem to make the person feel better in some way.

Just ignore it or click the like button.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only see these posted on deceased people’s social media, not their living relatives. I don’t have a problem with it.

You continue following deceased people after they've died? For what?

People leave nice comments, photos and remembrances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's weird for people to send any birthday wishes on Facebook for close relatives. Like why do you need the validation of social media to tell your wife, whom you live with, Happy Birthday?

Even dumber to say it about dead people who won't see it at all.

Why have funerals or obituaries?

[Anonymous]

It feels like people being afraid of so called negative emotions. “Thinking of grandma on her birthday” or “missing my grandpa today” sounds sad while “happy birthday” is positive.

It irks me too but I would take it in the spirit of what they intended which is acknowledging the person and their loved ones instead or forgetting or ignoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, it’s annoying. Someone who is dead has stopped having birthdays.

+1

[Anonymous]

This doesn't bother me, but lately I've noticed people refer to deaths as "transitioning" and I was very confused for a bit when I kept seeing Facebook posts about parents and siblings transitioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only see these posted on deceased people’s social media, not their living relatives. I don’t have a problem with it.

You continue following deceased people after they've died? For what?

To honor and celebrate the love and happiness they brought to the world.