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Lying in repose is the tradition in which the body of a deceased person, often of high social stature, is made available for publicviewing. Lying in repose differs from the more formal honor oflying in state, which is generally held at the principal government building of the deceased person's country and often accompanied by aguard of honour.[1]
In theUnited States of America, "lying in state" is generally considered to be when one's body is placed in therotunda of the United States Capitol.[citation needed] When the deceased person is placed in another location, like the Great Hall of theSupreme Court, they lie in repose, as was the case following the deaths of JusticesAntonin Scalia in February 2016,[2]Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September 2020,[3] andSandra Day O'Connor in December 2023.[4]
The remains ofpresidents who die in office generally lie in repose in theEast Room of theWhite House while those of a deceased former president generally lie in repose in his homestate. However, as an example to the contrary, when the body ofJohn F. Kennedy lay in repose, the term meant "private" as opposed to a public lying in state.
The body ofBabe Ruth lay in repose in Yankee Stadium.
Not everyone eligible to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda does so. For instance, the body of former PresidentRichard Nixon lay in repose at theRichard Nixon Presidential Library inYorba Linda, California, SenatorEdward Kennedy's body lay in repose at theJohn F. Kennedy Library inBoston, Massachusetts, and SenatorRobert Byrd's body lay in repose in the Senate chamber at the Capitol.[5]
InCanada, when deceasedgovernors general andprime ministers lie anywhere outside of theCentre Block ofParliament Hill, they lie in repose.[citation needed] In the Hall of Honour, the Senate, or the foyer of the House of Commons, theylie in state.
At the provincial, territorial or local levels, current and former politicians may lie in state or repose in government buildings.[citation needed]
InIreland the treatment of the dead has long been one of great respect.Catholic tradition has meant that virtually all deceased persons are afforded a state of repose, regardless of whether the funeral is conducted as a Catholic or secular service. The reposal of the body can either occur within afuneral home or at the deceased's residence (or the residence of close family). If conducted in a funeral home, this usually occurs for a few hours on the evening before the funeral service and burial/cremation. If conducted in a house, this can be extended from several hours to even days, depending on the tradition of the individual locality. Reposals are usually open to the general public and no invite is required. Reposals in Ireland are usually conducted with the corpse displayed in an open coffin, so that the body itself is on display. Exceptions to this can occur; such as in the case of the death of a child or young person, or if the body sustained significant physical damage upon death (in the case of a fatal accident, for example). It is typical, particularly in rural areas, for neighbours, extended family and friends to attend the reposal as an opportunity to pay their respects to the deceased, as well as to sympathise with the deceased's immediate family (sometimes referred to as "mourners"). In the funeral home setting, the mourners are generally standing or sitting around the open casket or coffin to shake hands and accept offers of sympathy from the public.
Correction: February 17, 2016 A headline with an earlier version of this article incorrectly described how Justice Antonin Scalia's body will be displayed for public viewing in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court. He will lie in repose; he will not lie in state.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid their respects on Thursday as Ginsburg had lain in repose for two days at the Supreme Court, and thousands of people waited outside.
