For men and women emigrating from Ireland to the United States in the early part of the 20th century, their overwhelming sadness—knowing there was a scarce likelihood of soon, or maybe ever returning to their family and homeland—led them to sometimes host private, impromptu funerals for themselves.

Because this kind of goodbye really was a kind of death.

While an Irish wake is traditionally seen as a celebratory affair, this was its opposite: a solemn marking for what would be, in all likelihood, a one-way journey.