A New Orleans family chose to remember their son in a rather unique way. The body of Renard Matthews was prepared for his wake on Sunday dressed in his Boston Celtics merchandise, with a PS4 controller in hand and surrounded by his favorite gaming snacks.
Renard Matthews was killed two weeks ago at the age of 18, a very young age for someone to die that his family is still in shock over. At his wake at the Charbonnet Labat Glapion funeral home in Treme, a very unconventional service was held. In a certainly unique but loving way, Matthews’ family had his body prepared not in an open casket, but on a swivel chair, posed as if he were playing a video game.
Matthews’ body was sat lounged back in a padded swivel chair, and he was dressed in his Boston Celtics vest. He also donned socks brandishing the likeness of Kyrie Irving, the Celtics player that wears the number 11 shirt, the same that Matthews wore. In his hands was a PS4 controller, and a phone on his lap plugged into what appears to be a portable charger. On a side table next to him were his favorite snacks: Doritos, a box of Chocolate Chip Crunch, and a bottle of soda. On the television beside him is what appears to be NBA 2k18, though we can’t confirm this.
It definitely tops the charts of originality when it comes to wakes, but that doesn’t detract from its sentimental nature. All of these things clearly meant a lot to Matthews, and it’s a gesture that while strange, is the send-off that his family felt would be the best representation of how they’d like to remember him; enjoying himself.
We’ve not attached an image for sensitivity’s sake, but if you’d like to see more there’s coverage on WGNO and Fox 8. (Content warning for obvious reasons.)
