I think, for the most part, wakes and funerals are changing from what they used to be. I remember the norm being at least two days of wake prior to the day of the funeral and they were invariably open caskets. It seems now the norm is one day of wake and a funeral day with closed caskets being more common. Also, more people are opting for cremation and donation to science with only a memorial service that can be anytime, with or without a body.
I know some people who live for funerals and can get downright morbid. We had a closed casket for my mother and one aunt
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was upset because it was the first time she could kiss the deceased. My sister-in-law will drop everything for a good funeral and be at the wake and funeral for every minute. I understand the benefit of being with friends and family during such times (the living ones, of course), but I don't like sitting around staring at someone who's dead and saying how "good they look." I'm sorry, but they look pretty dead to me!