Stack the Deck

A Labor Member of Parliament from Scotland proposed in 1996 that London opt for double-decker graves to accommodate its problem of overcrowded cemeteries.

The plan to deal with over-crowded cemeteries with double decker graves was finally approved in 2008.

Scuba Cemetery

Eternal Reefs and other companies like Great Burial Reef  and Living Reef Memorial offer underwater memorials for the deceased.  Reef balls or other concrete structures hold remains of family members or a community. The cremated remains mixed with concrete to create a reef ball weigh more than 50 pounds and sit underwater in a hive shape structure that can weight up to 4,000 pounds.  It's not going to get lost at sea.

Burial Reef
Photo: treehugger.com

Busted Funeral Business on Auction Block :: Caddy Hearse for Sale

Buy a slightly used hearse or a plain brown box.  A Lancaster, Pennsylvania funeral business is auctioning equipment and assets to cover debts of "crooked" funeral business owner.

Eva Peron :: RIP July 27

The New York Times obituary notes that Eva Peron died on July 27, 1952.

For years, I held on to the uncorrected proofs of the book Life and Death of Eva Peron which was published in 1979.  (see photograph below). The book came to me at one of the many book sales in this area where bibliophiles comb through piles of oddities from reviewers, publishers and disappointed readers. 

Recently I donated the book to the friends of the local library, so they can offer it for sale.  And so the book change hands, possibly circuit around other used book stores and sales, much like Eva's corpse has traveled.

Does anyone  born after 1995 know who Evita was?  The broadway musical Evita! might help her live on, similar to the way Jesus Christ Superstar helps Jesus.

Mournful fictional video depicting Eva's end.

Funeral Tourism

Join a funeral procession at Pere LaChaise Cemetery in Paris. Step into past-present-future in this vast park of glorious stone art and emotional expression.

In BonjourParis, writer Karen Henrich reports on funeral tourism, subtle and free method of experiencing local life.

Reference:

* http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/pere-lachaise-plot-funeral-cimetiere-pere-lachaise/

Digg the Grave

The open grave examines death.  We're all going to get there,  the ultimate travel experience.  It's not gloomy to plan ahead, but this isn't going to be a website about wills, legacy planning or cremation.  Nooooooo, this log will muse about the many connections we have to death, how death fans and foes examine the topic and whatever I find as I peruse my paper collection about dear old death.  Death art, death music, death dress.  Grave digging, monuments and lore. Cemeteries, ceremonies, cultural taboos.  

First of all, I want to get to Houston to see this very interesting exhibition about Papal regalia associated with death.  

If you've experienced the exhibition, let me know if it is worth the journey.  I'm about 4 hours and $400 by air away from Houston, so maybe I can find a video cam tour to experience the exhibition.