What do you think of casts of dead people for children?

[Puddles]

I do not jest.

I am the littlest cousin on my Fathers side by a good number of years, they are all nearer my Mums age than mine.

Anyhoo, my cousin lost her life to Cancer recently, I didn't really know her with the age gap and all, mostly meeting at the family Hatch, Match & Despatch duties...

Anyhoo, Mum phoned me tonight to let me know when the funeral was and as we are prone to do we wiffled about stuff

The conversation went like this

Mum: So she is laid in the chapel of rest I have said we won't be going, I said you won't be going, hope that is ok, I know you don't do the peering at dead bodies thing

Me: Yes thats fine, could not get there anyway and no don't do peering at dead bodies

Mum They have had a cast made of her left hand

Me: Really - uh huh umm why?

Mum: Well XXX (Daughter of deceased cousin) wanted it

Me: Okaaaay, eerrr why?

Mum: Well she said ZZZ (3 y/o grandson of deceased cousin) always used to sit & hold her hand

Me: No, no, do not tell me they had a cast of her hand made to give to him

Mum: Well yes

Me: Dear lord no eww oh thats vile, oh how creepy sheesh that poor child he have bloody nightmares

Mum: (Evil woman) I don't know how they did it, I mean you go stiff when you die but then you go floppy again, how did they have the cast done I mean did they pin it or something so it is in a holding pattern?

Me: What like aircraft

Mum: What?

Me: Holding pattern, aircraft ignore me Mum, I do not know how they did it & I do not really want to either, seriously they are giving that child a cast of his dead grandmothers hand for him to hold?

Mum: Yes

So it is just me that finds this odd, creepy and strange?

 

[slowmotion]

So it is just me that finds this odd, creepy and strange?

No. You are not alone.
It used to be quite common for death masks of faces to be made, but that was a while ago. Bits of dead people are not pretty.

 

[Puddles]

No. You are not alone.
It used to be quite common for death masks of faces to be made, but that was a while ago. Bits of dead people are not pretty.

I said that to Mum that if it was a death mask I could kind of sort of ish sort of get it because well people used to do that and err well maybe some people would still these days if it were more "normal" and there was a TV thing I saw on it but even if it were a death mask not to give to a 3 year odl

 

[slowmotion]

I think it would be much better to show some good photos of your cousin to kids who never met her. I'm sorry about her death.

 

[colly]

Sounds spooky but it could be much, much worse.

The poor kid might have had the cast of Eastenders to live with.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I don't think its something I'd do, but If that's what they want, then who are we to judge?
Sorry, but not everyone is the same, in fact in some cultures they celebrate death and things like that must happen.

I do wonder what the 3 year old will think about it in the future, but obviously they think it will help the kid somehow - maybe help them come to terms with the death or the concept of death, and they will have a physical reminder of their Gran in the years to come.
In fact, if anything, it seems like a healthy and robust approach to it, and I bet the kid will get over it quickly anyway. The more I think about it, someone suddenly disappearing must be just as bad, if not worse for a young kid, I mean how confusing must THAT be??

So, no, nothing creepy about it all, just a down to earth no nonesense robust approach without all the fannying about and wrapping up in cotton wool that people seem to think needs to be used. So no, its you who's weird, being so removed from the reality of death and the facts of life (or death more like), not them

 

[rich p]

I don't think its something I'd do, but If that's what they want, then who are we to judge?

Sorry, but not everyone is the same, in fact in some cultures they celebrate death and things like that must happen.

Bugger off Dougie!!!!
That is seriously weird. Weirder than you, (almost)
That is Hammer Horror weird.
I wonder if there'll be finger food at the wake?

 

[Cubist]

Am I showing my age?

 

[rich p]

Am I showing my age?

Yes but hey ho!
I had been thinking of Donovan's Brain

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Bugger off Dougie!!!!

Charming! For what do I owe that pleasure?

That is seriously weird. Weirder than you, (almost)

Read my edited and extended message.

That is Hammer Horror weird

Actually I had images of 'Thing' (I think was) in The Adams Family!

I wonder if there'll be finger food at the wake?

The irony would be fantastic, wouldn't it?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Besides, although the connection probably isn't personal, is it really any worse than kids going to a museum somewhere and seeing stuffed animals or *human* skeletons?? At least those are REAL, the cast isn't!
Also, its not as if they are going to cut the woman's hand off and give it to the kid, are they?

My God! Civilisation as we know would have collapsed by now due to all the traumatised adults because of all the nightmares they had had as kids when seeing things in museums, or on the telly, etc etc!! We'd all be vegetarian (possibly not a bad thing), I mean, perish the thought that anyone should be subjected to the sight of a frozen chicken or similar!

 

[Cubist]

Yes but hey ho!
I had been thinking of Donovan's Brain

Ooh yes, I remember that one. What about the Fiend Without a Face? We lived near an airport, and of course every time a jet went overhead I remember expecting to hear that sithering crunching sound they made as they approached......

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M-MtZkZOzw

 

[hobbitonabike]

This is the second time in a week I am agreeing with Doug. lol. Our society has a terrible attitude to death. I am stipulating that my funeral is after the wake so I can go to my wake where there will be dancing (not by me obviously!), bouncy castles (again I will probably sit that one out!) and the usual booze and food. The just chuck me in a hole/burn me or my preference but not able to do...be shoved off into the sea in a small boat with a sword across my chest and set alight. I have even toyed with making a video so I can host my own funeral!!!

 

[gavintc]

I don't think its something I'd do, but If that's what they want, then who are we to judge?
Sorry, but not everyone is the same, in fact in some cultures they celebrate death and things like that must happen.

I do wonder what the 3 year old will think about it in the future, but obviously they think it will help the kid somehow - maybe help them come to terms with the death or the concept of death, and they will have a physical reminder of their Gran in the years to come.
In fact, if anything, it seems like a healthy and robust approach to it, and I bet the kid will get over it quickly anyway. The more I think about it, someone suddenly disappearing must be just as bad, if not worse for a young kid, I mean how confusing must THAT be??

So, no, nothing creepy about it all, just a down to earth no nonesense robust approach without all the fannying about and wrapping up in cotton wool that people seem to think needs to be used. So no, its you who's weird, being so removed from the reality of death and the facts of life (or death more like), not them

I agree. There are some very judgemental postings on this thread.

 

[Leodis]

I thought my family were weird, yours take the hand.