Funeral directors would have us believe that viewing a loved one’s body after death is necessary for closure. In Closure, I explain why funeral directors want us to believe this idea for marketing reasons. Funeral home directors encourage a family to have a public viewing of the formally presented and embalmed body complete with cosmetics. In most cases, embalming is not legally required. There are many reasons why you may not want to be embalmed. However, most funeral homes require embalming in order to have a public viewing. But today I want to talk about the cosmetics—from the perspective of the one who is in the casket.
People often put a lot of time in thinking about how to make a good first impression. Now, it seems, some are encouraging us to spend more time and money to make a good last impression. A British cosmetics company, Illamasqua, is introducing a service that allows you to determine how your make-up will look after you die. They call the service “the final act of self expression.” Illamasqua’s website states, “This unique service encourages people for whom making-up is an intimate part of their identity to plan their final transformation—one that pays tribute to who they were in life and how they want to enter the afterlife.” Price: $700. Being at the edge of death fashion?: Priceless.
There may be others who are interested in this service. As for me, if a funeral director tried to sell me this package I’d say, “Over my dead body.” Well, maybe that isn’t the best expression in this case.
I do not want to look better after I am dead than I do while I am living. I don’t wear make up now, why start later.
Outrageous! Toast me, then toast me, and move on! (I’d personally like to be creamated, then let everyone pull out my best wine and snacks, play my CDs and look at the photo albums. But since I will not be there, I don’t really have a need to control this…) Spend the $700 on someone who is living right now!!!!!!
I have read some of your entries Nancy..and find them interesting..In your book..do you touch on when and how one knows that perhaps they have reached closure ?..Thinking about purchasing it. Thanks ..Lisa
P.S>* like the entry on “Going out in Style”.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your note. In my book I share a range of perspectives on closure. Some people talk about finding closure. However, others do not believe closure exists and are angry about the notion. The concept of closure has many different interpretations so it is always tricky to know what people mean when using the word. I give examples of these different meanings throughout the book. One of my biggest concerns is the exploitation of people’s grief when salespeople and politicians try to market products and politics through the idea that you “need closure.” There are many ways to talk about grief and healing. Closure is one way some people talk about grief, but it is by no means the only way. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, too. Take care. nancy