So that their faces are turned towards heaven and the divine domain, not the earthly realm, and definitely not the depths of hell. __Source: my arse.__
As a side note: when transporting a body on a plane, they are supposed to have the coffin with the head facing forward. I don’t know why. Maybe out of respect.
Here’s a lengthy discussion of this subject started by @augustlan, our Auggie, sometime community manager of Fluther and friend to all. She’s still mentioned often in various threads.
For those who don’t know, Auggie passed away in early January of 2019. I still miss her, as I’m sure do many others.
How poignant to see that she wrote this post only about a month before she passed.
I think some are on their sides so as to look like they are sleeping. I haven’t actually seen it, just heard people talking. I don’t look at dead bodies.