Body of Steelers Fan Viewed in Recliner

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » July 6, 2005 2:22 pm

Body of Steelers Fan Viewed in Recliner
July 06, 2005 12:25 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH - James Henry Smith was a zealous Pittsburgh Steelers fan in life, and even death could not keep him from his favorite spot: in a recliner, in front of a TV showing his beloved team in action.

Smith, 55, of Pittsburgh, died of prostate cancer Thursday. Because his death wasn't unexpected, his family was able to plan for an unusual viewing Tuesday night.

The Samuel E. Coston Funeral Home erected a small stage in a viewing room, and arranged furniture on it much as it was in Smith's home on game day Sundays.

Smith's body was on the recliner, his feet crossed and a remote in his hand. He wore black and gold silk pajamas, slippers and a robe. A pack of cigarettes and a beer were at his side, while a high-definition TV played a continuous loop of Steelers highlights.

"I couldn't stop crying after looking at the Steeler blanket in his lap," said his sister, MaryAnn Nails, 58. "He loved football and nobody did (anything) until the game went off. It was just like he was at home."

Longtime friend Mary Jones called the viewing "a celebration."

"I saw it and I couldn't even cry," she said. "People will see him the way he was."

Smith's burial plans were more traditional - he'll be laid to rest in a casket.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » July 6, 2005 2:24 pm

No pictures?

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » July 6, 2005 2:25 pm

I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » July 6, 2005 2:30 pm

buffettbride wrote:No pictures?

Not with this article, sorry.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » July 6, 2005 2:31 pm

Ilph wrote:
buffettbride wrote:No pictures?
Not with this article, sorry.

Perhaps that wouldn't make me giggle.

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » July 6, 2005 2:34 pm

buffettbride wrote:
Ilph wrote:
buffettbride wrote:No pictures?
Not with this article, sorry.
Perhaps that wouldn't make me giggle.

It might be a bit morbid.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » July 6, 2005 2:36 pm

Ilph wrote:
buffettbride wrote:
Ilph wrote:
buffettbride wrote:No pictures?
Not with this article, sorry.
Perhaps that wouldn't make me giggle.
It might be a bit morbid.

Yeah. In theory it sounds like a nifty photo op, but when I really think about it, not so much.

YooperPH · Post by **YooperPH** » July 6, 2005 2:48 pm

But you have to admit, his family will remember him, not the body in the casket. One of the last memories I have of my grandpa is a man in a suit in a coffin. That wasn't him. He would have been wearing a flannel (yes even in the summer) sitting in his favorite chair with a beer in his Farrah Fawcett mug watching the Packers on TV or listening to the Tigers on the radio. It's a kinda wierd idea, but yet, I can see it helping the family through this hard time.

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » July 6, 2005 4:28 pm

rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.

Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » July 6, 2005 4:31 pm

PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.
Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.

I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » July 6, 2005 4:32 pm

Nobody's gonna look at ME, if I can't look BACK.

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » July 6, 2005 4:37 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.
Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.
I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.

Is that possible? Maybe you will look better as a stiff.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » July 6, 2005 4:38 pm

PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.
Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.
I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.
Is that possible? Maybe you will look better as a stiff.

With a little rouge and some lipstick, anything is possible.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » July 6, 2005 4:39 pm

PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.
Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.
I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.
Is that possible? Maybe you will look better as a stiff.

Hmmm...good point. Oh well, it's all academic as I'm gonna live forever anyway.

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » July 6, 2005 4:43 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.
Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.
I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.
Is that possible? Maybe you will look better as a stiff.
Hmmm...good point. Oh well, it's all academic as I'm gonna live forever anyway.

[note to self]
Cancel plans to run off with Frank's wife when he dies
[/note]

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » July 6, 2005 4:49 pm

PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:I HATE open casket viewings with a passion. I've made my wishes very clear to Christine - if she has an open casket viewing for me, I'll come back and haunt her relentlessly.
Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.
I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.
Is that possible? Maybe you will look better as a stiff.
Hmmm...good point. Oh well, it's all academic as I'm gonna live forever anyway.
[note to self]
Cancel plans to run off with Frank's wife when he dies
[/note]

[note to self]
Tell Christine how nice Idaho is this time of year, then fake death.
[/note]

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » July 6, 2005 6:05 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
PHBeerman wrote: Amen brother Frank. I have told my wife that I want to be burned and I don't care where the ashes go.
I don't really care about how I'm disposed of (I'll be dead), I just don't wanna be remembered as some make-up slathered stiff in a box. If you need to have a viewing, close the casket and put a picture of me from better times on top.
Is that possible? Maybe you will look better as a stiff.
Hmmm...good point. Oh well, it's all academic as I'm gonna live forever anyway.
[note to self]
Cancel plans to run off with Frank's wife when he dies
[/note]
[note to self]
Tell Christine how nice Idaho is this time of year, then fake death.
[/note]