“... if this tradition was ever brought over here...”
I remember stories my parents told me of “sin” eaters when they were kids. They would have been in their mid 70’s if alive today. They grew up in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania and the town had their own “sin” eaters. They were usually very poor and paid decently for the viewing. The concept was that they would eat prepared food and they would consume the sins of the deceased. From what I remember, NO ONE became the sin eater when the original one passed away. Just a thought.
Fascinating!!