HW#48 - Family Perspectives on the Care of the Dead

1.)When you die, how would you like to happen to your body? Why?
2.)What was your first experience with death? How did you feel?
3.)Have you ever attended a funeral/awake? If so, how many?
4.)Do you believe in after life?
5.)How do you feel about the dominant social practices of the care of the dead in society today?

My Mom
1.) I want to be cremated because i don't like the thought of being so many feet under. I just rather be cremated where my family can see me everyday.

2.)Wow that a tough one, i would have to say my grandmother's you know Mita. I felt really sad. She was really sick but i didn't want her to die.

3.)Yes i've been to alot. At least 4 or 5

4.)I do but then again i don't.

5.)I think that everybody has their perpective of treating the dead. I think that all of the techniques are good and well-thoughtout. It's whatever satifies you.

My Aunt
1.)Im on the fence. I don't know if i want to be buried or cremated. I kind of don't want to think about it. Clark can make that decision for me when the time comes.

2.)Ive experienced a lot but the most memorable one was your grandfather's. He was very close to me. I felt kind of trapped by the fact that he was gone. I couldn't believe he died.

3.)Yea a couple i dont remeber exactly.

4.)Yes i very much do.

5.)I think that they are ok.

Talking to my mom about her views on death compared to my aunt were slightly different. Being that my aunt was older than her by at least 20 years, i thought maybe she would know how she was like her body to be like unlike my moms. It seems like she hasn't put much thought in her death as you thought someone would. While interviewing my mom she became very emotional, talking about this lead to my grandfather's death (her father) to how our whole family just split apart instead of becoming closer and stronger as one. They both didn't have much disagreement on the views of caring the dead by the fact they grew up the same way in a catholic religionist background. We grew up learning only one type way and not anything else so it's hard to switch our views to something else. For all typical hispanic backgrounds religion is a big part and most of the ceremonies are in spanish because that is our culture. My mom mentioned that she doesn't want anybody to cry but be happy and laughed. I feel like its a tough situation how can you have all smiles when the one you love is deceased? Would that be considered disrespectful? I feel like that is a hard place to say.