Funeral Pictures

[ladydancer]

This question was prompted by the person who had just lost her grandmother. It made me think of the funerals we have for our family members.

My family takes pictures for every funeral. I must admit, later I'm glad I have the picture.

Although when we have gone to funerals outside my family I've never seen anyone take pictures.

I would like to know if other families take pictures of there loved ones in the casket?

 

[Lisa L from MI]

When my grandparents died on my dads side in the 70's they took alot of pictures.....I guess it was to send them to relatives in Poland......

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

I have never seen nor hear of anyone doing this. I think, however, that anything that will help the family and friends through their loss is okay.

 

[DemonLlama]

It used to be very common for phtographs to be taken at funerals. My family has pictures of loved ones in their casket through the early seventies, when the practice apparently fell out of favor.

I think it is totally up to the family as to what will help them the most through the grieving process.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I have never seen anyone take pictures at any of the funerals I have attended, but I don't see anything wrong with it. We take photos of everything else in life, why not one last photo for histories sake?

Like other posters have said, the pictures could be used for family members not able to attend or they could be placed in a photo album to show the closure of one persons "physical" life.

 

[Kimickey]

When I was 15 and my best friend died. They took pictures of Angie in her casket. The photos helped her mother get through the tough time.

 

[KathyTX]

Originally posted by DemonLlama
I think it is totally up to the family as to what will help them the most through the grieving process.

 

[bratray]

whatever will help with the grieving process

i personally want to remember family and friends when they are alive so i don't want to see those types of photos- although people in my family do take them at funerals

 

[BostonTigger]

I've never heard of anyone taking pictures at a funeral before, but I can see why.

 

[Dcat2u]

When I was in the AF and did Honor Guard it was not uncommon to see family members taking pictures and video.

Darlene
Proud Wife of a 4ID Soldier!
WE GOT HIM!!!

 

[JayBee]

I've seen casket pics from long ago, like the early 1900's. I didn't know it was still done. But I really don't think the body in the casket ever really looks like the person, so I wouldn't do it.

 

[NC Belle]

My folks and relative take pictures. However, I don't recall my Dad taking photos of his mom's. It was extra hard for him---she died after a month in the hospital. My folks have albums for my Mom's parents and my Dad's dad. My Dad had too much on his plate to take pictures of Grandma. We take mostly family photos since we are spread out on the East coast and Texas (and some other states too) and the only time that most get together is for a wedding or a funeral.

 

[Jeanny]

I've personally never heard of taking pictures of a funeral/casket. Seems a little morbid and creepy to me. But if it helps a person grieving, then go ahead.

 

[mommytotwo]

Our family does not take pictures at a wake or funeral, and I have never heard of pictures ever being taken until I meet my husband and saw pictures of his best friend's grandfathers funeral, and it had shocked me.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I was young when my father died and I didn't want any pictures taken or even an open casket at his funeral. But, my family did take pictures and I later saw them which I wish I hadn't.
My mother died when I was 22 and I was very much against having any pictures taken or even having an open casket. I just don't see the point. Why do you want to sit there and stare at a dead body? Growing up, my grandmother had an entire photo album full of people in their caskets. I've just never understood the whole concept behind that.
But, some families do like to do that, it must help them cope or something.

 

[CamColt]

Ive never actually seen anyone do this, however I agree that whatever the family needs to do, they should.

On a stranger note, my MIL was terminaly ill for a couple years. She planned her whole funeral down to having a picture of her dressed up as a clown etched into her headstone(think Leave A Legacy tiles in Epcot). She didnt want it placed at her gravesite until after she was gone because she wanted to surprise her kids, but it inadvertantly got put in and a friend happened to see it while at another funeral. So, MIL and the friend went down there one day and MIL had the friend take pictures of her infront of her headstone. Supposedly these disposable cameras were left in MIL's apartment for DH(her DS) to find when he emptied it out. She figured he would get the pictures develeped to find her alive and standing infront of her headstone. Her plan backfired though as we never found the cameras. Thank God, because I know I wouldnt want to find pictures like that. It seems kind of creepy to me.

 

[RadioNate]

My damily doesn't do this but my best friends does. Her mother has albums full of casket photos. She says it's their "last photo" I once asked her about it and she said people take pictures of babies births and even before they are born (meaning ultrasound photos) so why not do a final photo when the pass on.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by momof3disneyholics
I was young when my father died and I didn't want any pictures taken or even an open casket at his funeral. But, my family did take pictures and I later saw them which I wish I hadn't.
My mother died when I was 22 and I was very much against having any pictures taken or even having an open casket. I just don't see the point. Why do you want to sit there and stare at a dead body? Growing up, my grandmother had an entire photo album full of people in their caskets. I've just never understood the whole concept behind that.
But, some families do like to do that, it must help them cope or something.

I also lost my dad when I was young so I think that had a big impact on how I handle funerals today. I do not like open caskets and cannot go up to one if I'm at a viewing. I will pay my respects to the family but then I find a seat at the back of the room. If this helps families grieve than that's fine. I've never seen anyone do this though.

 

[mrsgus06]

My husband and I had been married for 6 months when the mother of his 2 daughters died after having her third child. My stepdaughters were 2 and 4 at the time. We decided to take pictures at her funeral because the girls were so young. We did not take any of the open casket, but we wanted to see that their mother was very much loved and many people sent flowers and attended the funeral. We tried to make this as easy as possible for the girls. They were really too young to remember their mother so one day, when they get older, I will give them the choice of viewing the pictures. On a happier note, the girls are now 5 and 7 years old and I have adopted them. The biological father of the third child walked away after learning he was going to be a father so hubby and I brought her home to raise with her sisters and the adoption was final for all 3 as of last month!! There will be a lot of questions to answer as they get older about their mothers death (medical neglect) so we have kept everything to show them later. They think my husband is the biological father of the baby (Logan) and will have not corrected them on that thought, what a mess!

 

[Pooh67_68]

My cousin has a few of her baby daughter.