Leave it to New Yorkers to honk at a departing hearse.
Saturday morning, a mahogany casket bearing the body of actress Natasha Richardson left the New York Townhouse where her wake had been held. Funeral arrangements have yet to be made, but they’re probably taking her to the funeral home. Having recently experienced a death in the family– where the viewing and funeral were both held in a church– I find it a bit weird to have a wake/viewing in someone’s townhouse. I’ve been to viewings in funeral homes and churches before, but never in someone’s house. I’m riddled with questions.
Does someone actually live in that town house? Or did they just rent it out for the wake? None of the news services say anything about whose home it is. I just can’t imagine having a dead body laid out in the living room right between the end tables and piles of old issues of Better Homes and Gardens.
I think thats a LITTLE CREEPY. to have a funeral at a house…
It’s pretty standard in many parts of the world. Most grieving families would be more comfortable in their own home anyway.
Creepy? To keep your loved one with you at home?
My Grandmother was waked at home for 4 days. We sat around the bed, cried, laughed, prayed, sang to her, reminisced and had over 700 people come to the house to say goodbye and pay their respects. That was August 2005 in Tipperary, Ireland.
That’s a good way to go.
I think it used to be pretty common practice to have them at the house. It’s one last hurrah with the family in the place the person knows best.
wow…that is so sad. :(
I cannot imagine what her family is going through. Just terrible.
Probably the easiest way to get privacy from all the media attention.
Also, liam is atheist so I’m assuming Natasha is too. Why would they have held it at a church?
She’s catholic.
I like him even more now I know that.
Maybe the boys are being raised catholic.. But Liam is definitely atheist.
It’s an Irish thing to have a wake in your home. They offer refreshments and tell stories to honour the passing of the person. I’m also pretty sure that the ‘townhouse’ was the American Irish Society’s club house…
According to Perez, that was the site of the American Irish Historical Society.
Liam is a practicing Catholic, and they are raising their 2 boys Catholic. I don’t know if Natasha “practiced” as well. It’s unlikey she was born a Catholic, being a Brit and the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave. She will have a mass of Catholic burial tomorrow, and you can only have that if you’ve been baptizsed, had your holy communion, and been confirmed a Catholic….so she must’ve converted for Liam.
It used to be common place to wake someone in their home (for the Irish, and many other nationalities), but it isn’t anymore. Seems like that place is more a public venue, than private townhouse, in any event.
Unlikely for a Brit to be catholic???
Since when?
The Brits broke away from the Catholic church, forming their own religion, The Church of England.
The pilgrims brought it with them to America, and is now called the Episcopal faith or “Catholic lite” in the US.
LOL, most pithy incomplete history of the reformation ever!
There are plenty of Catholics in Britain, but they are not a big percentage of the practising Christian population. Anglicanism is still the most common form of Christianity in the UK, but don’t forget, Lynn, that Anglicanism also gave rise to Methodism, among other non-conformist denominations, and Methodism is widespread in America as well as the UK.
The Catholic Church does not permit funeral Massas to be said on Sunday, the Sabbath. If the funeral Mass did not take place on Saturday, then Monday is the earliest available time for the service.
Hi guys…traditional irish wake is a viewing in the home of family, or close family friend. You should assume that it is a traditional Irish wake where the viewing is a celebration of life and is considered good for the soul and those that leave it. This is coming from me, 50% Irish and the other side, 50% italian. where, in the city, the funeral homes had the wakes, but the family who owned the home lived above the parlor.
that is the whole idea calling it a “funeral parlor” the Parlor is the living room. very traditional and comforting for the family (ie liam) to have it in a home.
I can’t believe how ignorant people are honking at a departing hearse. Show some respect!
Normally people honk out of respect… I dont think New Yorkers meant any disrespect…
Hi,
I’m Irish, as in born and bred and living in Ireland as we speak. A traditional Irish wake is held in the home as a mark of respect and celebration. Even when held in a funeral home it is common practice for the cortege to pass the decedent’s home en route to the grave site as a mark of respect etc. Liam did mention that he was planning a “traditional Irish wake” after the “dimming of the lights” on Broadway. That said, I believe this townhouse is actually the “home” of the Irish American Historical Society. Sincere condolences to the family.
” Death is not extinguishing the light, it’s putting out the lamp because the dawn has come”
Um, anyone noticed the ad to the right of this story – about what a great time it is to go skiing?……hmmmmmm.
oh my god, shut up, really???? that’s awful. now it’s some Texas ad.
I see that too. Class-ee. Must be an Australasia thing, being an ad for Air New Zealand.
its an Irish thing
It was standard practice to lay out the deceased in their own home really till about 40 years ago. When the professional funeral home business really took over.
But I also suspect they did it this way for privacy and to keep the National Enquirer from trying to get a picture for next weeks paper.
As a family researcher/genealogist I have seen numerous pictures of long gone family members laid out in the casket sitting in the front room/parlor of their homes.
The best part… I ask my grandmother about this practice… and she enlighten me to the fact that not only did they lay the deceased out in the front room… is that someone had to sit up with the body the night before. I won’t go into details why someone had to sit up with the body… as explained by her. But I am very thankful for our modern day funeral home.
This location is the American Irish Historical Society; it’s not like it was somebody’s home, though those used to be traditional places for wakes.
It was done tastefully, respectfully — there’s nothing “creepy” at all about how her family and friends are going about mourning her loss and celebrating her life.
It’s all been well done, and I’m sure the burial will be in the same tradition.
Her life was too short, but she did it well. This goodbye, though tragically sad. is a wonderful reflection of that life.
“Horsemen, pass on by…”
Jenni’s right, it is The American Irish Historical Society. It was mentioned in many news reports and it is on the beginning of video posted above. It is not currently a residence it is similar to a museum as it hosts lectures and exhibits.
http://www.aihs.org/
I find your post soooo disrespectful. Just because you are unfamilar with this family’s religous practices, it’s verrrrry uncool for you to be passing judgement about where they chose to hold the wake.
Natasha Richardson’s passing was a HUGE tragedy and your post justs makes it worse.
Also, your phrase, “but they’re probably taking her to the funeral home” is unnecessary and makes you look stupid. It’s unimportant where they are taking her body.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
It was held at the American Irish Historical Society not just any townhouse.
It is not someone’s home. It is the Irish American Organization Headquarters. It is a townhouse – but – no one lives there. It is like an office.
I cannot believe people are fighting over a funeral. They probably had the wake in the townhouse to avoid having to deal with some low life taking a picture of her body and selling it to TMZ. Paparazzi can really be scum sometimes.
First, the honking was done by the hearse….not other cars. I know this for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I often am riding in those hearses. They honk. And why I am riding shot-gun is another story…..
Second, as everyone has commented, having a wake anywhere is fine. Dead bodies are not to be feared at all. And it isn’t gross or creepy in any way.
Third, this is a tragedy for so many reasons; not the least of which is that it points up how fragile all human life is. We are all sort of feeling this on some odd personal level because it could be any one of us or someone we love. So. A bit of soft kindness would be in order here, Kelly.
Well said. TY
I agree!
Tasteless. Why would you post this?!
Hey Cunt,
It’s actually a pretty common practice for Irish Catholics.
I feel kind of weird saying this, but it’s kind of badass how they balance the coffin on their shoulders and walk with it like that.
Is anyone else developing an irrational fear of head injury?
YES!!!!!!!!!!
When a person dies, it is the family who either makes the decision about the wake, funeral, etc., or follows the wishes made known by the decedent prior to his/her death. Where these rituals/ceremonies
are held is entirely up to the people who mourn. Why anyone outside of the family would feel empowered to pass judgement on where services are held is beyond my comprehension. A woman of substance has died. She was a wife and a mother and a daughter and a friend. She left behind a legion of grieving people who loved and respected her, and what some of you have to say is “Creepy” in reference to the location of the wake? Please show some respect.
I can respect the need for a viewing and a wake, but I feel that the body is a represenation of the person that lives on in your memory and I don’t think I’d want a loved one displayed that way. As I said- its a personal thing and some families and cultures need to spend some time with the body before saying goodbye. Particularly with someone taken so young.
It still seems so surreal to me.
And yes – I also now have an irrational fear of head injuries.
I was in an Irish bar in mid-town Manhattan during the 1990’s and discovered they were having an “Irish wake” in a rear private room with the deceased sitting up in a simple wood casket with a mug of beer placed on the casket in front of him. He was being toasted and his friends told some outrageous and moving stories about him. After an hour or two, they carried him out to a hearse to take him back to a house for the rest of the wake.
I’ve always thought that was a great way to go out.
I wen to my Belgium last summer for my uncle’s funeral. His open casket/mini-shrine was in the front part of the house for viewing for over a week. Although I thought it was a form of torture (my aunt was a mess the whole time becuase she could sneak downstairs and talk to her husband when we were all sleeping) it apparently helps with moving on.
“None of the news services say anything about whose home it is.”
Hon, did you even watch the video you posted? It says right at the beginning American Irish Historical Society.
I think that it’s so sad during this time that extreme measures have to be taken if you are in the public eye, to keep photographer’s away. How much this family must be suffering and in shock and yet the need to protect Natasha even in death is necessary. For some reason this makes me feel even sadder for the family, especially her mother – because there is no pain greater than having your child predecease you. Most celebs are handled by Campbell’s in NYC, but I do wonder if she is going to be flown back to England to be interred.
I wish her family and sons well, they are so very young to lose their mother this suddenly.
It is not uncommon in Europe (where Natasha’s entire family is from) to hold a wake in the deceased families home….kinda weird, I agree – but let’s be respectful here people!
i just cant believe that happened she was so young. Her kids are probabaly in alot of hell right now. I bet that they are crying. But all i know is shes in a better place and with god in heaven. And Wendie is acting really rude. WENDY GET YOUR PROBLEM STRAIT SOME OF US CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!