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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dd Chapel of rest

306 replies

Namechangenumber2000 · 01/05/2021 18:59

Dd is 11, 12 in November. has adhd and possible autism. She's a young 11. Shes in mainstream school and is year head. My dad died and she's been asking to go see him before they bury him. She was very close to him. She heard the paramedics trying cpr. I asked why and she said just to see him. She really wants to. I cant decide. Could it bring her some closure of makes things worse?

Aibu to say no?

OP posts:
TableFlowerss · 02/05/2021 00:31

@GreyhoundG1rl

It’s not about losing a loved one in general- that comes filled with sadness of course!

Seeing a dead body can be traumatic for an adult....never mind a child!! That’s the point you seem to be missing....!

I'm not sure what point you're actually making. You seem to be saying viewing the body is traumatic because "we're not used to it in this country, that's not how it's done", and other cultures manage it because they're used to it? The logic escapes me.
My point is that it doesn't make any difference to your first experience whether it's the "done" thing or not, you won't actually have any personal experience. Until you do.

Right we’ll you’re entitled to your views and in entitled to mine.

Whether you agree or not, in Britain, it’s not the norm to let children view deceased relatives. Why do you think that is then?? It because they can’t if they aren’t allowed buy it’s not particularly encouraged, let’s just say that!

GreyhoundG1rl · 02/05/2021 00:32

I haven't a clue what you're on about Smile

TableFlowerss · 02/05/2021 00:33

it’s not because they can’t or aren’t allowed I mean..... it’s just not encouraged

TableFlowerss · 02/05/2021 00:33

@GreyhoundG1rl

I haven't a clue what you're on about Smile
I’ve written it again.....
Mittens030869 · 02/05/2021 00:39

First of all, I’m really sorry for your loss, OP. Flowers

I haven’t been through anything like this myself, but my DM has spoken to me about her experience of losing both her parents at 10. She wasn’t allowed to go to either of their funerals. It’s something that she’s always felt hurt by, that she had no choice. (She had seen her mum after she’d died of a heart attack, though she hadn’t understood that she was dead.)

It was the lack of choice in the matter that has stayed with her. I think that in the case of your DD, whatever you decide about whether she sees her Grandad, she needs to feel that her feelings have been taken into account and that she’s been listened to. Flowers

dreaming174 · 02/05/2021 00:56

I saw my nan and grandad at the Chapel of rest at that age. I found it really beneficial to see them one last time and say goodbye properly. I'd let her go.

Teenagehorrorbag · 02/05/2021 01:11

Yes, apologies, should also have said, sorry for your loss....Flowers.

Per my earlier post, as I said my ASD and ADHD DS feels he would want to see his grandma, and be upset if he couldn't. I thought that might be of relevance. What I didn't go on to say was whether we would allow it....

I've been thinking (DH has gone to bed so I can't ask his view) but I actually really don't know the answer. DS was comforted to see his cat in his 'coffin' and put flowers there and cuddle him whereas his sister didn't like it at all. Not the same I know - but ASD children do sometimes perceive the world in different ways. Might be worth talking to the National Autistic Society? (I know your DD is not diagnosed but there are many crossovers and shared traits with ADHD).

My gut feel is that most people would not benefit from having their last memory of a loved one, being tainted by seeing their dead body. I certainly would not allow a child unless they were adamant and even then I would try and talk them out of it. But ASD kids are different - maybe it would help them deal with processing the reality of it? Or maybe it would give them horrible nightmares! I expect time is short but I really would contact the NAS or look at their website if you have time.

Sending condolences, and hope you can both work things out.

LunaMuffinTop · 02/05/2021 01:26

Take her to see him it should help to bring her some closure I lost my uncle and my granddad in January I never got to see my uncle I wasn’t told I could but my mum said he was starting to turn black in places so probably best I didn’t see him but I went to see my granddad twice all I will say is properly prepare your DD for what’s it’s going to be like I’m 31 and I got a fright when I saw my granddad it didn’t look like him at all and I don’t think I will ever forget how he looked or how he felt. So sorry for your loss Flowers

HoppingPavlova · 02/05/2021 01:38

Whether you agree or not, in Britain, it’s not the norm to let children view deceased relatives. Why do you think that is then?? It because they can’t if they aren’t allowed buy it’s not particularly encouraged, let’s just say that!

Where do you get that from? I’ve had countless discussions about viewing of bodies over the years, generally very soon after death and while it’s on a case by case basis depending on cause of death/immediate appearance, generally I would recommend viewing for kids the age OP is referring to whenever asked. Sometimes the other adults would insist on seeing them immediately and I would recommend waiting to the following day for both themselves and younger members to see them if they weren’t in the best shape at death as they can be cleaned up nicely if needed and the body tends to ‘relax’ into it after a day.

mrstt89 · 02/05/2021 02:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SunIsComing · 02/05/2021 07:41

Sorry but I’d say no. She’s a kid, has no idea of the reality of what she could see. It could do way more harm than good. Definitely not.

Namechangenumber2000 · 02/05/2021 07:48

Thank you for all your replies. Lots to think about. I've explained to dd that he won't look like himself. That his spirt/soul/ the part that made him him isn't there anymore. Dd says she still wants to go. I'm going to see what directors say and my mum. Dd is handling it quite well atm. Almost as if nothing as happened. I don't know if it's because of the sn or if its just not real to her yet. She was sleeping at granny and grandads when it happened. She went to bed and woke up to the sound of cpr.

OP posts:
knittingaddict · 02/05/2021 07:50

@KingdomScrolls

I saw my gran after she died, I was about 30, I would never see someone after they've died again. I found it hard to get that image out of my mind for a long time.
My husband was 18 when he saw his dad after he died. He also says that he would never do it again. He didn't see his mum when she died, so he really meant it. The problem is that you can't unsee that image. Very difficult decision to make.
TableFlowerss · 02/05/2021 10:50

@HoppingPavlova

Whether you agree or not, in Britain, it’s not the norm to let children view deceased relatives. Why do you think that is then?? It because they can’t if they aren’t allowed buy it’s not particularly encouraged, let’s just say that!

Where do you get that from? I’ve had countless discussions about viewing of bodies over the years, generally very soon after death and while it’s on a case by case basis depending on cause of death/immediate appearance, generally I would recommend viewing for kids the age OP is referring to whenever asked. Sometimes the other adults would insist on seeing them immediately and I would recommend waiting to the following day for both themselves and younger members to see them if they weren’t in the best shape at death as they can be cleaned up nicely if needed and the body tends to ‘relax’ into it after a day.

We don’t have open coffins these days though do we, as a society? Haven’t done for years so you have to go to the chapel of rest to view your loved one. Thy aren’t just there for all to see including children in a way they would have been back in the day.

Obviously if a child wants to go then it’s up to the parent.

TableFlowerss · 02/05/2021 10:55

I saw my gran after she died, I was about 30, I would never see someone after they've died again. I found it hard to get that image out of my mind for a long time.
My husband was 18 when he saw his dad after he died. He also says that he would never do it again. He didn't see his mum when she died, so he really meant it. The problem is that you can't unsee that image. Very difficult decision to make

I didn’t see my mam when she died either. I chose not to and I’m pleased I didn’t, as you say, you can’t unsee something. Absolutely no regrets at all.

Hard decision OP good luck

CervixHaver · 02/05/2021 11:10

Absolutely not! Please don't traumatise her like that. I've seen a body in a chapel of rest and it's not nice. Like a PP says, if there was a Post Mortem then it will be even worse. His body may have begun the very early stages of the decomposition process during the post mortem prior to embalming. Also the smell will not be nice at all.

CervixHaver · 02/05/2021 11:11

@GreyhoundG1rl

Let her go. It's important to properly take your leave of someone you loved.
Rubbish. I chose not to go and see my Dad as I'd rather remember him as he was and I've never regretted my decision. I've managed to grieve perfectly fine! It's not 'important' at all
DeadGood · 02/05/2021 11:14

@Namechangenumber2000

Thank you for all your replies. Lots to think about. I've explained to dd that he won't look like himself. That his spirt/soul/ the part that made him him isn't there anymore. Dd says she still wants to go. I'm going to see what directors say and my mum. Dd is handling it quite well atm. Almost as if nothing as happened. I don't know if it's because of the sn or if its just not real to her yet. She was sleeping at granny and grandads when it happened. She went to bed and woke up to the sound of cpr.
OP, I’m really sorry for your loss.

I’m going to be very honest here, so please don’t read on if you have already decided not to view.

Your father probably won’t just look like he’s asleep, and he will look different. You know this already. But it’s more than a little paleness, or just the “spark of life” being gone.

My mother was 62 when she died, and like your father, had undergone a post-mortem, which may have affected her appearance. When I saw her a week after death, the muscles and skin around her mouth had slackened, pulling it downwards into a grotesque sagging expression not seen on living people. Her mouth was closed - the work of the mortician - but the muscles entirely slack. She did not look like her at all from the nose down, it was upsetting and it felt like an invasion to see her previously lovely face in that way.

I took one glimpse and then closed my eyes and turned away. Prepare yourself to do the same. I hope it goes well, whatever you decide. And I hope my comment is not too upsetting, I just want to prepare you. Because these things are so hidden from us usually, it can be hard to understand what people really mean when they say “he won’t look like him anymore”.

GreyhoundG1rl · 02/05/2021 11:34

Let her go. It's important to properly take your leave of someone you loved.

Rubbish. I chose not to go and see my Dad as I'd rather remember him as he was and I've never regretted my decision. I've managed to grieve perfectly fine! It's not 'important' at all

Well, I retract everything I've said on the subject, and bow to your superior intellect 😂
How bloody arrogant.

Namechangenumber2000 · 02/05/2021 11:41

Thank you @deadgood hopefully that worked.

OP posts:
Candleabra · 02/05/2021 11:51

I regret seeing my husband. It was almost two weeks later and looked awful. The body had started to decompose and his face just looked weird, especially round the mouth. I also wasn't prepared for how stiff and grey he was. I can't get the image out of my head. The children wanted to see their dad but I said no after I'd seen him.
Only you know how your child will react. My children still throw at me that they wished they'd seen their dad, but I had to make the call at the time.
I haven't viewed a loved one in the funeral home since.

LolaButt · 02/05/2021 12:37

It’s a really tricky one.

My young children saw their Dad. It definitely added to the horror and trauma of the the whole event.

They both say now that it helped them to confront the reality of the situation and they’re glad they got to say goodbye. But they both also make it clear that the images absolutely haunt them, and the memory is fairly key to PTSD intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.

For my kids, if I had to make that decision now, knowing what I know I would be incredibly reluctant to allow them that experience.

murbblurb · 02/05/2021 12:40

I saw my first dead body recently - this person was undergoing CPR after a cardiac arrest and I was the second arrival so had to stay around to assist. I am very glad I didn't know the person in life as they resembled a wax model. Your choice, but I am now certain I would never want to see anyone I know after their death.

RosesAndHellebores · 02/05/2021 13:06

I am genuinely shocked at the number of people who have attended open casket funerals or who have visited the Chapel of rest to view the body.

Honestly in my 61 years I have never known it to happen. It seems macabre to me and I would never allow an 11 year old to do this. But then there would never have been a vicarious expectation for this to happen on my family. South East.

TableFlowerss · 02/05/2021 13:14

@RosesAndHellebores

I am genuinely shocked at the number of people who have attended open casket funerals or who have visited the Chapel of rest to view the body.

Honestly in my 61 years I have never known it to happen. It seems macabre to me and I would never allow an 11 year old to do this. But then there would never have been a vicarious expectation for this to happen on my family. South East.

Exactly this
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