Auschwitz jokes were making the rounds of the under-10 crowd in the 1950s. PM me if you want to read one. Black humor helps people deal with reality. We just had this very same discussion about three weeks ago - Helen Keller was the subject.

Humor is a personal thing. If you don't get it, there is no explaining it. And often what one person finds funny (or at least sees humor in) another will be offended by.

Just recently my cousin died. She was a very special lady and I still tear up at the loss. BUT the family could not get in touch with me because I had changed my phone number. They were forced to contact my brother's ex - a screwy woman who channels demons and has been chosen to sit with Jesus and 8 others to judge us all at the end of the world - I kid you not.
As a relative tried to carry on a conversation and get my number, her helpful husband suggested that she ask L- (the crazy) what kind of flowers A- (the deceased) wanted at her funeral. A- would have appreciated the humor as did her grieving husband and family.

But it had the potential to offend.