Father’s Day is a cherished occasion for families to celebrate fathers, but for the Rosenthal family of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the day carries an especially profound meaning. After the loss of their beloved patriarch, Mark Rosenthal, in 2010, his wife Robin and their children, Sam and Emma, created a unique way of honoring his memory. Since then, Father’s Day has become a time not only for remembrance but also for continuing traditions that keep his spirit alive.

One of the most notable traditions the Rosenthals began is gathering for a Father’s Day lunch at Mark’s gravesite. In 2022, Robin and Emma were filmed enjoying sandwiches by the grave, while Robin humorously tossed a French fry onto it, saying she was “sharing” with Mark. Sam, who was filming, asked his mother where his dad was, to which she matter-of-factly replied, “Down there, in the ground.”

The family decided to share this tradition with their online community, posting videos on Instagram and TikTok in both 2022 and 2023. Their content quickly gained attention, sparking strong reactions. While some viewers appreciated the candid way the Rosenthals embraced grief, many others criticized the videos as disrespectful, particularly because of the family’s use of dark humor.

Despite the criticism, the Rosenthals continued to post about their Father’s Day tradition. In the 2023 video, Robin appeared at the gravesite once again, this time with Sam and Emma’s voices heard in the background as they shared their meal. As before, the comments reflected a divide: some people defended the family’s choice to cope through humor, while others condemned it as inappropriate.

Ultimately, the Rosenthal family’s tradition highlights how grief and remembrance take different forms for different people. By openly sharing their unconventional approach, they have sparked conversations about mourning, humor, and respect. For Robin, Sam, and Emma, what matters most is preserving Mark’s memory in a way that feels authentic to them—even if it challenges others’ expectations of how Father’s Day should be observed.