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My great uncle Charlie did photography as a part time career. In those days people from 'the old country' still used to want mortuary portraits taken of their departed loved ones. They'd be all dressed up, with flowers, etc, and then Charlie would prop the coffin almost upright in order to take good photo using those old tripod cameras where the photographer gets under the 'tent' to take the picture. Just before Charlie would click the shutter, he would say cheerfully "Hold IT!" :D

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

My great uncle Charlie did photography as a part time career. In those days people from 'the old country' still used to want mortuary portraits taken of their departed loved ones. They'd be all dressed up, with flowers, etc, and then Charlie would prop the coffin almost upright in order to take good photo using those old tripod cameras where the photographer gets under the 'tent' to take the picture. Just before Charlie would click the shutter, he would say cheerfully "Hold IT!" :D

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a sense of humor is a good thing.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

My colleague was standing there, holding the deceased's hand and saying, "Doesn't she look good?"

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Well, I've seen her look better ;)

The importance that some cultures place on the appearance of the body , the coffin and all that hoopla seem odd to me.The body is just a container.
if there's anyone left when I go I hope they have a great party.
I should start saving for that:rolleyes:

I'll never forget. I was 11 years old. My grandmother leaned down and kissed her dead mother on the mouth at the funeral. I was creeped out and profoundly touched all at the same time.

In 2006 I stood by my grandmother's bed as she took her last breath at age 100. Her sister and daughter (my aunt) and both held her hand and touched her for a long time, while waited for my cousin the hospice nurse arrive to handle the body. I wasn't creeped out anymore.

Karen

re: the body "looking so good"...my husband's bookkeeper died after a long battle with cancer. She DID look better in the coffin than she had in the last year of her life. People just don't know what to say in times like those.

Karen

When I pass on, i'm donating my body to science. Let some medical school dissect me & play with my bowels or something. It would be cool!

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

I'll never forget. I was 11 years old. My grandmother leaned down and kissed her dead mother on the mouth at the funeral. I was creeped out and profoundly touched all at the same time.

In 2006 I stood by my grandmother's bed as she took her last breath at age 100. Her sister and daughter (my aunt) and both held her hand and touched her for a long time, while waited for my cousin the hospice nurse arrive to handle the body. I wasn't creeped out anymore.
Karen

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That is so touching, thank you for sharing that. I can so relate.

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

When I pass on, i'm donating my body to science. Let some medical school dissect me & play with my bowels or something. It would be cool!

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Hey, ME TOO! That sounds so much better than just being burnt to ashes or worse, left to moulder in a casket where even the worms can't reach you!

That's what both of my parents did. The folks at the program let you know when they are finished and give you the remaining ashes. In 1997 my mom, my sister, Chris and I met at Bryce Canyon, my dad's favorite place, and spread those ashes. This past Thanksgiving, I picked up my mom's ashes from the Albany Medical Center Anatomical Gift folks, and sometime in the next year, we will put her ashes at Bryce as well. Chris and I have put the same proviso in our wills.

I think open caskets are pagan. But that's just my opinion. Some people find it comforting to view the body, so each to his/her own.

I would rather remember the person alive.

Pagan. How do you mean pagan?

Karen

.... and on the front page of the "metro" section was a picture of one of my colleagues, or should I say, mug-shot, and the corresponding article describing his arrest for attempted murder. :eek: I had been out in the field most of the day, dropped stuff at my desk and left, so was completely oblivious of what had been in the morning's paper. He apparently was in the process of beating a woman and trying to drown her in the bathroom of his home, when the police arrested him. Thank goodness the neighbors dialed 911. Apparently, allegedly, he had a dark side that we didn't know about.

A new twist in our office joke of "As the Corps turns" Stay tuned for the next episode....

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

Pagan. How do you mean pagan?

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good question

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

.... and on the front page of the "metro" section was a picture of one of my colleagues, or should I say, mug-shot, and the corresponding article describing his arrest for attempted murder. :eek: I had been out in the field most of the day, dropped stuff at my desk and left, so was completely oblivious of what had been in the morning's paper. He apparently was in the process of beating a woman and trying to drown her in the bathroom of his home, when the police arrested him. Thank goodness the neighbors dialed 911. Apparently, allegedly, he had a dark side that we didn't know about.

A new twist in our office joke of "As the Corps turns" Stay tuned for the next episode....

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Wow, that's nuts. What happens if he gets out on bail, will he be allowed to return to the job?

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

Pagan. How do you mean pagan?

Karen

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Hmmm... I guess I can see that if you look up the defnition of pagan but that seems a bit broad. There are very different customs and traditions amongst religions/ethnic backgrounds for open caskets and body presentation after death. As I said in my particular type of Lutheran upbringing you close the casket PRIOR to commencing services, it is not left open for the service/sermon.

I find cemetaries a complete waste of space. We have one ride I call "The Dead People Ride". My mom asked why and I said "Well there are about 8-10 cemetaries between Andice-Mamomet-Liberty Hill, I think there are more dead people on the back half of the ride than living." I never see zombies though. :p