Corpse kept upright for 3-day wake in Puerto Rico

Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:44 AM EDT
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SAN JUAN — A Puerto Rican man has been granted his wish to remain standing — even in death. A funeral home used a special embalming treatment to keep the corpse of 24-year-old Angel Pantoja Medina standing upright for his three-day wake.

Dressed in a Yankees baseball cap and sunglasses, Pantoja was mourned by relatives while propped upright in his mother's living room.

His brother Carlos told the El Nuevo Dia newspaper the victim had long said he wanted to be upright for his own wake: "He wanted to be happy, standing."

The owner of the Marin Funeral Home, Damaris Marin, told The Associated Press the mother asked him to fulfill her dead son's last wish.

Pantoja was found dead Friday underneath a bridge in San Juan and buried Monday. Police are investigating.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":2499226,"authorDomain":"darkalleyprod"}
MADMike1

I would like to be sitting on my couch, with an IRON CITY beer, and watching a Steelers game. Oh and I almost forgot I need my TERRIBLE TOWEL. People are weird and that dude looks creepy standing there. But, hey you gotta grant a man his last wish. Right?

{"commentId":2499226,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"darkalleyprod"}
    Reply#1 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:34 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2502088,"authorDomain":"nemethba"}
    Barb-281677

    Ya creepy. But yes a last wish must be granted. I think a lot of people would freak out at that, but I guess not.

    Reminds me of the irish wakes of yesteryear.... where they held them in peoples homes, propped them up in the casket and partied in their midst for days on end...

    {"commentId":2502088,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"nemethba"}
      #1.1 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:18 AM EDT
      Reply
      {"commentId":2500083,"authorDomain":"ulicnyp001"}
      George-369262

      It reminds me of the story about John Carridine, the actor. After his death a group of his buddies stole his corpse from the funeral home, and had an alcoholic, Irish-style wake, with Carridine as the guest of honor.

      {"commentId":2500083,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"ulicnyp001"}
        Reply#2 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:12 AM EDT
        {"commentId":2503954,"authorDomain":"xoxoseven"}
        Aurora-297318

        It's kinda like the movie "Weekend with Bernie."

        {"commentId":2503954,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"xoxoseven"}
          Reply#3 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:17 PM EDT
          {"commentId":2504124,"authorDomain":"nemethba"}
          Barb-281677

          :-) right on..

          {"commentId":2504124,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"nemethba"}
            #3.1 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:30 PM EDT
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            {"commentId":2507065,"authorDomain":"judoka61"}
            Pietro Sommavilla
            A Puerto Rican man has been granted his wish to remain standing — even in death.

            Um, it wasn't an original idea tough... (click)

            {"commentId":2507065,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"judoka61"}
              Reply#4 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:12 PM EDT
              {"commentId":2507070,"authorDomain":"babygurl32"}
              abreach1975

              Whatever floats peoples boats..I personally would like the traditional style..weird how this man of such a young age, knew what he wanted after death...WOW....

              {"commentId":2507070,"threadId":"334620","contentId":"1760953","authorDomain":"babygurl32"}
                Reply#5 - Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:13 PM EDT
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