[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

Christians believe, or should believe, that death is merely the transition from earthly life into immortal life. It is not something to be feared, rather it is something to be celebrated. This is the reason we hold wakes and believe in giving the deceased "a good send off"

There can be nothing embarrasing or unpalatable in explaining a basic fact of life to our children. If anything the sooner they get used to the idea the better. What is strange and odd however, is to want to cosset them and conceal the truth of their condition from them. How does this prepare them for life?

The preservation of tokens or relics of the dead is an activity that is as old as humanity, photography is merely an extension of this.

This is exactly where I'm coming from A-b.

We had a great celebratory funeral for my late husband and children were welcome to attend. Most of the people he and I knew felt the same way and it wasn't odd for them to bring their children along. The service wasn't morbid at all it was full of joy at having known him with people sharing anecdotes most of them humorous. My older daughter's best friend who practically lived at our house at the time (came here after school, often had her tea here etc when she went to Spring Hill CP) asked if she could come (even though her mother didn't because she didn't know him as well.) It was that kind of funeral.

We had some songs that he'd loved sung by our choir and as I'm a member I joined in too.

I actually asked a friend who helped prepare his body for burial if he would get me a lock of hair to keep. It seemed crazy that I had thrown away so much hair when I'd previously cut my husband's hair for him and then to have a liittle curl was so important to me. So I suppose that was my version of a relic.

As far as the girls were and are concerned their Dad had no more use for his earthly body and had moved on to some exciting adventure that they'll be able to share in one day and look forward to. Death isn't something I fear and most of my friends are the same which is why I didn't understand that some people are even afraid of the sight of a deceased person. Another good reason for being able to discuss these things on here so that we widen our horizons and see things from a different perspective.