Comments about ‘Traditions of mourning: Different cultures and religions find ways to deal with death’

Like so many articles you report, this one reeks of stereotypes and generalities that are not an accurate reflection of the individual differences in the ways specific people and familes deal with death.

Although I am LDS, it is not accurate to say that I mourn in some "Mormon Way". When loved ones have passed on, I have mourned in my own unique way; unique to what my family has experienced at the time. unique to how our loved one died. unique to what my spouse and children are going through and the relationship we had with the deceased. I'm confident those of other cultures and faiths vary greatly in the ways each individual and family mourn those who have died, too. Articles such as these emphasize "the traditions", but the truth is nobody's individual experience is accurately described by such "traditions".

When in college I did a presentation for my socialogy class on the customs of Jewish and LDS funerals and how they are different. I learned a lot from doing the assignment and even learned a little more today on how others in our community deal with death.

I have told my husband that I do not want flowers at my funeral as I won't truly be able to enjoy them. I will leave instructions to donate the money to a special organization that is dear to members of my family.

FYI, this illustration has the Hebrew lettering upside down. Just something to check more carefully.