We all remember our lost loved ones in different ways. Families often have traditions to honor those who have passed on, and it’s only right that such traditions are respected by others.
Sadly that’s not always the case, as the family of the late Mark Rosenthal know all too well. As per reports, Mark passed away 13 years ago, but his family still visit his gravesite to celebrate his life.
For Mark’s family, though losing him was a tragedy that will never truly heal, they’ve found that by feeling that they’re closer to him, they can help to lessen the pain of his absence. Even so, they faced abuse online for the way they marked a special day in the calendar…
Robin Rosenthal lost her husband Mark back in 2010, thereafter raising the couple’s children, Sam and Emma, by herself in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
For Robin, it was important to keep Mark’s memory alive in any way she could, and of course Sam and Emma were more than ready and willing to do the same. Which is why the family began posting online videos of themselves spending time at Mark’s grave.
One particular video, filmed in June 2022, saw them share a throwback Father’s Day lunch that they had spent camping by the grass.
The short clip – intended to be a humorous offering – saw Emma and Robin eating sandwiches. “Father’s Day lunch with Dad!” Sam can be heard saying in the footage, before then asking his mother where Mark is.
“Down there, in the ground,” Robin replies.
As they continued to eat, Robin offered her husband a fry by way of tossing it towards his grave.
Yet while the Rosenthal family were celebrating Mark’s life in their own way, not everyone who watched their videos online was equally as enthused.
“Creepy that mom,” one person commented.
“I’m speechless, it’s so disrespectful,” another claimed.
“Lack of respect,” said a third.
A fourth added: “This is weird and they have sauce or whatever all over their mouths and the dancing while sitting – it’s all so very uncomfortable to watch.”
Nevertheless, the Rosenthals posted another Father’s Day celebration video this year for their 600,000 TikTok followers to enjoy.
Much the same as last year, it was met with mixed reactions. Some people were of the mind that the family has the right to remember Mark precisely how they want to, while others were more critical of the type of content Robin and her children film.
A post shared by Robin Rosenthal (@itstherosenthals)