Wedding Woes

Pictures at a funeral?

I have never heard of this and it is kinda creepy IMO. Especially considering the degree of separation.

Apparently some off the wall family member of GMIL took a camera and was taking pictures of the funeral. To include GMIL in the casket as well as various family members around the casket (including MIL and her siblings as they were mourning at the viewing). Dh's aunt said she heard a constant clicking at the grave site but when she turned around could never see anything.

MIL eventually found out that this person has a whole photo album of dead relatives funerals. MIL warned her that if she ever saw a photo of her dead mom she would come after her and she wanted the photos destroyed or erased. MIL was some kind of upset. This woman isn't even a close family member, she is the niece of GMIL's BIL.

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." ~C.S. Lewis

Re: Pictures at a funeral?

  • This is .... weird. 

    Especially since:
    1. she's not a close relative.
    2. she took several pictures.
    3. she took pictures of people mourning.
    4. etc. etc. etc.

    Now, at my gma's visitation, we did take some cousin pictures because all of us had not been together for several years.  However, gma nor her casket, were in the picture.  And it was a posed picture, not just random shots around the room.
    image

  • I had a very close friend pass away and someone took pictures and then posted the on FACEBOOK- there are numerous pictures of me crying hysterically- not cool- very insenstive.
    image
  • One of my cousins did this at my grandparents' funerals years ago. . Then his mother sent sets of them around to everyone. He's a serious weirdo though, so go figure. i'm sorry about this.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Yeah, I just thought the whole thing was a bit creepy and disrespectful. I had just never heard of someone wanting to take pictures of an event like that. I understand the family shots of people who aren't seen much but not of the actual open casket.
    "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." ~C.S. Lewis
  • I always had to prepare myself when looking through my gma's photo albums. There was at least one dead person in each album.
    image
  • In my friend's program for her dearly departed husband, she publicly thanked the professional photographer who donated her services to the service. Everyone raised an eyebrow at that!
  • Back in the early to mid 1900's, it was not uncommon for my European relatives to send pictures of recently deceased family members. They would also send photos of the gravesite. You must understand, however, that burial plots there were treated like miniature gardens. There were multiple permanent plantings, and the area was meticulously maintained year round. It was a very common custom. It was done respectfully, and quietly. Granted, we were never eager to receive such mailings, but we did understand the mindset in which it was done.
  • There have been people in my family who have taken photos at funerals. My grandmother passed away 6 years ago and my grandfather passed away last April-photos were taken at both wakes, and one relative even posted a couple photos of my grandfather in his casket, on facebook. I think that this is creepy, disrespectful and hurtful towards anyone who may have been close to the deceased. I'll never understand why people have photos taken of their deceased relatives...I'm completely against it.
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers Daisypath Anniversary tickers PitaPata Cat tickers
  • I think it's creepy too, but it has been done in my family. Not in quite the same way as you're describing - some of my aunts and uncles couldn't get home for my grandmother's funeral, but wanted to see her one last time, so they had another family member take a picture. It was done when there was no one in the room, and was sent just to the missing relatives. Possibly as tasteful as something like that can be done, I guess.

    But as PP said, there are photos in some of my family albums of caskets too. I think the whole thing is strange, IMHO.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Funerals are already creepy enough. I'd never been to a funeral until my fiance's grandmother died earlier this year because my family cremates then has a memorial service. Seeing his grandma in the coffin and having his family talking about how beautiful she looked was kind of terrifying to me. I can't imagine taking pictures. That's just morbid.


  • Memento mori. 

    I don't find it strange that someone would take pictures; I find it strange that it's a distant relative and she didn't check with the immediate family of the deceased to make sure it was all right with them. So, in this case, yes, disrespectful. 
    image
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards