Can Someone Explain It to Me?

This week we went to my grandmother-in-law’s funeral.  It was beautiful and moving, and I have so much I want to say about it….but I just have to know something first.

Why do people take pictures of bodies in caskets?

My family doesn’t do this, but the Computer Guy’s family does.  It’s a bit disconcerting to be looking through family photo albums and reminisce about Christmas, birthday parties, weddings, and then flip the page to see Uncle George laid out in his coffin. 

I’ll admit to thinking this was one of those weird things which was unique to my husband’s family….until Wednesday.  Wednesday we were having the pre-funeral meal in the church hall (they’re Protestant…they eat before the funeral….weird).  I was looking at pictures of the congregation on the walls and saw not one but THREE corpses immortalized in photographs.  Am I alone in finding this icky?

Can anyone explain this to me?  Would you want someone to take pictures of you in your casket?  If so, can you tell me why?   Oh, and y’all are my witnesses….I want a closed casket….it’s the only way I can be sure to keep the cameras away.