I was horrified to go on a funeral homes's website to read the online obituary for a very elderly, dignified family member and find that the funeral home has "upgraded" the obituary to a "memorial website" for 13 days, and , complete with a diagram of a heart for charting the donations, is asking for donations to make the "memorial website" permanent. Up until now, the funeral home's services seemed dignified and conventional, with nothing to find fault with. The family immediately posted a comment that we ask only for thoughts and prayers, and that it is the funeral home that is soliciting donations for this "memorial website", which seems to be set up like a Facebook page, with links to all the social media, and places for comments, photos, anecdotes, whatever. It is excruciatingly embarrassing, as friends and relatives across the country, as well as Canada and England, will be seeing this--if they have not seen it already. Is this something new? It is tasteless beyond belief. And how could the funeral home put this up without checking with the family?
There are no condolence messages or virtual candles lit--probably because people are offended. I know I am. Or is there something I'm not getting?