Gizmodo: graves

Burying Loved Ones With Cellphones Becoming Commonplace

Sean Fallon — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:20:00 EST

We have seen evidence of this in the past, but it seems that burying loved ones with cellphones and other gadgets is more common than you might think.

“It seems that everyone under 40 who dies takes their cell phone with them,” says Noelle Potvin, family service counselor for Hollywood Forever, a funeral home and cemetery in Hollywood, Calif. “It’s a trend with BlackBerrys, too. We even had one guy who was buried with his Game Boy.”

While there is no hard data to back up this claim, more and more people in the funeral biz agree that it has become a common occurrence over the last five years. In fact, actually calling the deceased is not uncommon either. MSNBC points to a story involving a woman named Marion Seltzer who continues to pay her husband's phone bill even though he died in 2005. His phone was buried with him, and having the ability to call him and leave a message on his voicemail offers her a degree of comfort. She even had his number carved on the headstone so other people could leave messages.

Yeah, I agree—this seems bizarre. But it actually makes some sense when you think about it (it's even touching in a creepy sort of way). Besides, there is a long tradition throughout history involving burials with treasured objects—and given the fact that we obsess over our cellphones and iPods, I can see why this is becoming a trend. Plus, if you should ever be buried alive, having your cellphone with you could be a lifesaver. [MSNBC via Fark]

Punch-Through Tombstone is an Explosive Memorial to the Dead

Adam Frucci — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

While yes, this breakable tombstone is meant for haunted houses and the like, as nothing is scarier than a fist breaking through a tombstone in your direction, I don't see why the fun needs to end with Halloween. Why not use this as your regular tombstone? Sure, you'll need to have one of your living relatives build a new one every time it gets punched through, but think of how many people you can convince you're a ghost! And yes, I have thought this through, thank you very much. [Instructables]

Automated Japanese Mausoleum Delivers Loved Ones While You Wait

Jack Loftus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EDT

The aging Japanese population presents a troubling problem when it comes burying loved ones. There's simply not enough room, and the room that is available costs about $20,000, according to Trends in Japan. So leave it to the Japanese to figure out a way to address the problem with a technological twist. Like a data tape-retrieving robot, Nichiryoku's interactive family plot system retrieves cremated remains from an underground vault and displays them to you in a private prayer area, courtesy of an RFID key. And yes, there's a series of promotional videos, complete with voices beyond the grave. Only in Japan, but unsurprising given the fact that QC codes adorn traditional grave stones already.

[Trends in Japan]