Teen's unconventional wake featured his body playing video games, surrounded by Doritos and soda
The family of a murdered teenager honored his memory by displaying his body as he lived: playing video games and surrounded by snacks.
Renard Matthews was tragically shot two weeks ago in New Orleans. His mother, Temeka Matthews, told WGNO that Matthews was a bit of a "homebody," and that he only recently started venturing out for walks after she got him a dog.
The 18-year-old was an avid gamer, so his mother decided to memorialize him in an unconventional way during his wake on Sunday. Instead of placing his body in a traditional casket surrounded by flowers, his family chose to reflect Matthews' quiet hobbies.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
During the wake at Charbonnet Labat Glapion Funeral Home, Matthews' body reclined on a leather computer chair. A Playstation controller was placed in his hands, and a bag of Doritos and a bottle of root beer graced the side table next to him. The television in front his body ran NBA 2K.
Matthews, who a neighbor called "a nice young man," was a fan of Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving. His body was decked out in a Celtics jersey and matching Celtics socks.
In a video by WGNO, Matthews looks like he's hanging out in his living room on any normal Sunday afternoon.
Carbonnet Labat Glapion Funeral Home has hosted unconventional wakes before. Previous "extreme embalmings" include posing a beloved mother with beer and a cigarette, and placing the body of a taxi driver in his cab, hands on the steering wheel. The sister of an "extreme embalming" recipient told WGNO, "It's like she's not dead. It's not like a funeral home. It's like she's just in the room with us."
In 2016, the body of a man in Puerto Rico was propped up on a chair for his wake. The funeral home called the service muerto parado, or "standing dead," positioning his body with one leg crossed over the other. His family told BuzzFeed that they wanted to remember him as the "happy, active" that he was.
Renard Matthews will be laid to rest on Tuesday. Police have not released a motive for the shooting.
