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.