"Is It Reasonable for a Father-in-Law to Put a Child's Photo in the Mother-in-Law's Coffin?"

"She Loved Her Only Great-Grandchild" vs
"A Living Person's Photo on a Dead Person's Coffin Feels Unsettling"

A daughter-in-law’s complaint has been shared, expressing her wish to stop her father-in-law from putting a photo of their child in the coffin of her late great-grandmother.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay

On the 5th, an online community Nate Pann posted a thread titled "Father-in-law wants to put baby photo in great-grandmother’s coffin." The author, A, began by saying, "My great-grandmother passed away yesterday." She continued, "I know she really cherished and loved her only great-grandchild. But she wants to put our child’s photo in the coffin on the day of the funeral, and I really don’t want that."

A explained further, "Why should my child’s photo be put in with the deceased? Didn’t we say our final goodbyes and close the coffin? I don’t have that kind of attachment to want to see the fully exposed body, and I’m scared she might secretly put the photo in, so I’m wondering if I should be there at the funeral." The great-grandmother is planned to be cremated and buried next to the great-grandfather in the family burial ground, and the father-in-law’s idea is to put a photo of A and her husband’s child in the coffin during cremation.

Post by Mr. A. Nate Pann

A’s husband also shouted at his parents, "No way, even if you die. If my wife says no and I say no, why put a living person’s photo in the coffin of the deceased? It’s unsettling." However, the father-in-law shamelessly responded, "I just want my mother not to be lonely on her way, looking at her grandchild’s photo. Why are you making such a fuss?" A’s parents also came to the funeral to pay respects and confronted the in-laws, raising their voices and saying, "What is this nonsense?" A’s parents said, "We thought about how much pain losing a mother causes, so we just let it go despite the nonsense, but now we’re watching closely and will not allow the photo to be put in," expressing their anger.

Netizens who read this story reacted with disbelief at the father-in-law’s behavior. They commented, "Tell the father-in-law to put his own photo in. Surely, from the great-grandmother’s perspective, a child’s photo is less appropriate than a child’s photo," "I’ve never heard such a bizarre and absurd thing," "I don’t understand the meaning of putting personal belongings or keepsakes with the deceased," "There’s a limit to crazy behavior, geez," "They should put photos of the great-grandmother’s children," "Watch the cremation and coffin closing carefully. They might say they won’t put it in but do it secretly. Keep your distance after the funeral," "That’s basically telling the child to follow the grandmother. Where do they get such ideas?" "Try calling the funeral service and ask them to stop it," and other heated responses.