HUNGARY-L Archives

Archiver > HUNGARY > 1998-11 > 0911143723


From: "Chris" <>
Subject: Re: [HUNGARY-L] Photographing the deceased
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 10:28:43 -0500


Hi ALL!

In ref. to picts of family members in coffins.

My uncle died under 10 yrs old (approx. 80 yrs.) ago
in West Virginia. My grandparents took his picture as
well, in the coffin. And my grandmother had a pict of
her father lying in state. I guess that's what it's
about... "lying in state". Didn't countries do this
as well with the fallen leaders?

I personally wouldn't do this, if for the mere fact
that I want to remember my loved one alive, not lying
dead. But, when children are concerned, I can see
where it would be totally different.

Chrystie Krabal
Baltimore, Maryland, USA


----------
> From: Norb and Jean Schmidt <>
> To:
> Subject: Re: [HUNGARY-L] Photographing the deceased
> Date: Saturday, November 14, 1998 10:13 PM
>
> I have photos of my twin daughters who died just
days after birth in
> 1958. We took them because we would never look on
their faces again.
> Nothing morbid about it. We just wanted to
remember them. Also, in our
> family, there are pictures of our dead in their
coffins. Again,
> remembrance. I would not do it today, I don't
think, because I no
> longer believe in open coffins, but that is just my
opinion.
>
> jean
>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > I am intrigued by this trivia about families
photographing deceased family.
> > My grandfather was photographed in his coffin as
was his young daughter, Norma
> > Jean.
> >
> > Norma Jean died at the age of 10 as the result of
an accident sometime in the
> > late 1940's. I grew up seeing photographs of her
in her coffin in various
> > relatives (her surviving siblings) photo albums.
My grandfather died in 1967
> > and the same thing was done. My grandfather is
not Hungarian or even European
> > (at least not in any recent generations) but my
grandmother is Hungarian. I
> > think after having read these postings I will ask
if there was any controversy
> > created in the family by requesting these
photographs be taken.
> >
> > As I got older I began to realize this is not a
common practice. At least
> > here in the United States. I would be interested
in knowing if there is any
> > lore associated with why this tradition got
started or if it is merely as was
> > suggested earlier. An attempt to have one final
photo of the deceased as a
> > keepsake.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Lisa Rider Shindlebower
> > (SZASZ, BOKA, KOZAK, SCHNEIDER, ROSNOWSKI,
NAPIEROLSKI, RIDER)
>
> --
> jean schmidt
>
> Searching for: Kenderes, Gulyas, Lendak, Halasz,
Kontra, Sovari,
> Lengyel, Dubaj, Sankey, Pauli, Pascho, Kasimir,
from Subcarpathian
> Ukraine, Eastern Slovakia, Hungary

This thread: