Yet More Questions About Death and Dying (This Time It's Personal)

1. Have you ever seen someone's body--before it was embalmed-- that looked so unlike the living person you once knew that you gained appreciation for the role of morticians who make dead people look alive, for lack of a better term, in their caskets during funerals?

Yes

Unsure (perhaps because I blocked it from my memory)

No

Not Applicable

2. Have you ever carried someone's coffin/been a pallbearer in a funeral/memorial/celebration of life ceremony?

Yes

Not to my recollection

No

Not Applicable

3. All things being equal (you decide what those things are), provided a person's remains aren't cremated or otherwise treated before a funeral/memorial/life celebration, do you prefer closed or open casket ceremonies?

Closed

No preference

Open

I've yet to attend any such ceremony.

Not Applicable

4. How effective do you find funerals/memorial/life celebrations as a means of--I'm hesitant to use the word but can't think of a better substitute-closure for dealing with the end of life of someone dear to you?

Very

Somewhat/ It depends on my relationship with the deceased.

Not very or not at all

Not Applicable