My mother's death mask
 

When my mother died we were all with her to help her on her way and bid her farewell. Afterwards we used one of the white hospital bed sheets and made a shroud for her. I had seen my grandfather taken away when I was a child in a black bag on a stretcher and I wanted something differnet for her. I tore up a pillow case into strips to tie the shroud that we had wrapped around her. We cut flowers from an arrangement that someone had sent the day before and placed them all around her head. We waited for my brother who was enroute from Asia and arrived later that day.

I took her last picture.

I believe the body is nothing more then the ship we make the journey in. When we get to our final destination we leave the ship and it is no different then one that lays broken on the beach.

Beautiful. I have forgotten about that term "death mask".

Excellent picture, Chris. But that is not a death mask. A death mask is an actual mask made from the dead person's face. See more here.

Yes you ar right, we used to a have a copy of a famous bust of Beethoven that was made from his death mask. The only reason I used that term is it sort of sounded better then "A picture of my recently deceased mother" or something like that!

Isn't it odd how you can't mistake a photo of someone dead with them sleeping?

Beautiful picture, Chris. And I hope a comfort to you.
I have your same view on bodies, but as it is all we have to see a photograph is a fitting remindre.