[blazee]

I think for some it is for closure. They get to see their relative "resting" peacefully. My family normally has open casket funerals (most of which I don't attend). When the funeral home allows many like to stay the night at the funeral home with the corpse. (Sitting up with the dead) My mother insisted on an open casket funeral for my father. Although, I still don't really see the point, I must admit, he did look better than when I found him.