By Mike Pulfer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A woman from Mason wants to know about newspaper pictures and people who look younger than they were.

Question: "Why do families have a lovely write-up of their loved ones in the death notices and then include 40-year-old photographs? Who would recognize them? Their cronies are probably all dead, too."

Answers: There are many reasons, according to the funeral directors who help collect information and pictures for publication.

"Every family is different," says Mike Sexton of Rebold, Rosenacker & Sexton Funeral Home, Cheviot. "They choose a photo they feel is most appropriate."

"Sometimes it is the only photo available, but, more often, it is a favorite and a photo which has deep meaning to the family," says Robert L. Weigel of Weigel Funeral Home, Hamilton.

It could be from a graduation, a wedding or military induction, he says.

It could be from a police officer's first day on the job, suggests Mr. Sexton. Or a fun-loving dad with messy hair and crooked glasses.

"Maybe they (survivors) want to remember Mom, Day, Uncle Joe in a certain time, place," he says.

Because spouses and siblings like to clip and keep obituaries (news stories) and death notices (paid announcements), they frequently choose pictures they prefer personally, often those that evoke particular memories, Mr. Sexton said.

Or, simply, "The family might not have much to select from. ... Maybe Mom, Dad ... never liked to have their picture taken."

And there are technical explanations.

Some pictures won't reproduce well in the newspaper.

Some pictures are not available locally and can't be scanned or mailed electronically.

"We can't pass judgment on the photo the family selects," Mr. Sexton says. "We can only hint and make suggestions. ... Some funeral homes are better than others at doing this sort of thing."

If you have a stupid question, send it to Ask a Stupid Question, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202; fax: 768-8330; e-mail mpulfer@enquirer.com.