New Orleans, La. teen Renard Matthews was robbed, shot and killed just two weeks ago while walking his dog. Instead of his family hosting a funeral with Matthews in a casket, he was instead “extremely embalmed” and sitting up, reports local station WGNO.
The family went to Charbonnet Labat Glapion Funeral Home in Treme to fulfill their request. At his wake, the 18-year-old wore a basketball jersey and socks of his favorite player, Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving. The teen also had a game video controller in his with a side table of snacks nearby. It was only recently the young man began taking his dog out for walks. Matthews’ mother Temeka told WGNO that her son was usually a homebody but began to journey outside after she bought him the dog.
Some may see this as an odd request but at Charbonnet Labat Glapion Funeral Home it is nothing new to them. They specialize in unique requests from families of the deceased. “One time, we stood a deceased drummer from a grassroots band at a drum set,” the funeral home told Yahoo.
In 2016, the funeral home worked with the body of 26-year-old Jesús Díaz Beato. His family requested that he be seated in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, wearing a black cap, glasses, khaki pants, and sneakers. Díaz Beato’s sister said, “Some people say that it doesn’t look good.” She continued, “They prefer something more traditional. But if that’s something that the family wants, why wouldn’t you do it?”
The body of Fernando de Jesús Díaz Beato was prepared in a way that reflected his personal style. (Photo: REUTERS/Alvin Baez)
