The present invention is an ornamental light assembly for a casket. The casket has a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls. The light assembly comprises a back plate adapted to be mounted to at least one of the walls of the casket shell. A base member having a top and bottom wall and at least one side wall connecting the top and bottom wall is coupled to the back plate. The top wall of the base member includes a light source, such as a light bulb, and a translucent ornament overlying the light source such that the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the translucent ornament. The base member can include at least one battery for powering the light source and an electrical switch for energizing the light source.