Several times.
I was married to a Catholic. She insisted on taking me to funerals.

Viewing a dead body just before burial is one of the most barbaric and horrid customs I know of. I far prefer to remember people alive than remember their corpse.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 28 Feb 2008, 16:11, 2 replies)

Wakes
You know, I lost a Sister to breast cancer and the Wake was actually a relief because, her remains looked nothing like her. I mean, I saw her the moment her last breath was taken and it was her. When we arrived at the funeral home, it was nothing like her. It was actually a relief. And truthfully, I dont have a single visual memory of her laying there. All I have in my visual recall is her smile. Despite having been to the wake.

But then, I have seen dead bodies in alot worse shape but they were generally people I didnt know very well.
( Citadel Because the world needs less morons, Thu 28 Feb 2008, 17:58, closed)

gee...you would have loved my grandmother's funeral then
.......traditional spainish funeral in Santa Fe. 3 days of siting in the funeral parlor facing her open casket while mariachis played. On the 4th day, a huge Catholic funeral then internment in an old cemetary (actually, you would have liked the cemetary part). Is it any wonder all the grandkids took over a margarita bar the evening of the burial?
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Sat 1 Mar 2008, 3:55, closed)