Why do people say "He looks so natural. It's like he is just sleeping" at a funeral?

Answer 1

Because there isn't much to talk about standing around a casket. The latest episode of Desperate Housewives just doesn't fit, does it?

Answer 2

I think it's because they don't know what else to say about the person at the time. Some people are nervous or uncomfortable at funerals and they often spit out the first "relatively nice" thing they can think of that comes to their minds.

Answer 3

I used to be a funeral director.....Not all of them look natural, or sleeping, some look downright nasty. A lot of people focus on the Mouth, Hands, and Eyes. Closed mouth, and eyes (sleeping)

Answer 4

Just comforting words to the family. Something that has always been said. Funeral Homes are such awkward places to talk and that's about one of the only comforting phrases people have gotten used to using.

Answer 5

It's a way for people to come to acceptance that they are viewing a dead body. By saying (or thinking) that they are just sleeping it puts their mind to rest that the person is at peace.

Answer 6

Everyone has different ways of dealing with death. A lot of times, people say that because they're wishing the friend/family member would wake up.

Answer 7

People get a little awkward and dont know what to say. They probably say things like that to make themselves feel better, like he's peaceful cause he's in a better place now and not suffering.

Answer 8

You are supposed to be respectful at someone's funeral. You could always say " nice tie" but it isn't what normal people do.
Just be respectful.

Answer 9

I guess this is what they would like to believe, that they really were just sleeping, peaceful. Plus, when they have died recently - they do look like they are sleeping?

Answer 10

Well you get pale when you sleep and when you die. And the way you're posed makes it look like you're asleep.