Chow Yun-Fat, the actor best known for his roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Pirates of the Caribbean, plans to leave his $700 million dollar fortune to charity. He has said in multiple interviews that “you can’t take money with you to the grave.”
Chow’s belief is rooted in generosity and goodwill, but it’s not necessarily true. You can, in fact, take money with you to the grave, along with whatever else will fit in your casket. And if you have any other special or unusual requests, those can more than likely come to fruition as well.
Funeral directors and cemeterians pride themselves on giving exceptional service and are usually willing to do things that are a bit off-kilter and require a little extra time. For instance, I work with a funeral director who arranged for a horse drawn carriage to transport a young lady to the cemetery. I also had a cemeterian tell me once that he was asked by a family to pour an adult beverage on top of their loved one’s grave.
These examples are certainly unique, but they don’t begin to compare to some of the elaborate burials of the rich and famous. I’ve found many of their stories to be quite interesting and thought others might enjoy reading about them.
Ready to begin?
Sandra West
Sandra West loved being in the spotlight and was no stranger to the finer things in life. Her marriage to the wealthy cattlemen turned oil tycoon Ike West afforded her a lavish lifestyle.
The Beverly Hills socialite was only 37 years old when she passed away in the spring of 1977. In a handwritten note that was included with her will Sandra wrote that she wanted to be buried seated in her 1964 Ferrari 250GT with the seat comfortably slanted.
Extreme measures were taken to fulfill Mrs. West’s final wishes. With nearly 300 spectators in attendance, the supercar containing her remains had to be placed in a custom-built crate and lowered into the ground using a commercial crane. Since a traditional burial vault could not be used, the entire unit needed to be covered with cement in order to deter vandals.
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy served as the 35th president of the United States. We are all familiar with the tragic story of his assassination in Dallas, Texas.
Having served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, JFK was passionate about sailing as well as anything pertaining to the sea. He had a prized nautical antique collection and would give dignitaries and diplomats who visited the White House tours of the oval office and proudly tell them the history of the artifacts he had on display.
The first lady, Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy Onassis, lovingly gave her husband a 9 1/2-inch-long whale tooth engraved with the presidential seal for Christmas in 1962. Sadly, it was laid to rest with President Kennedy a mere 11 months later. JFK was also interred with letters from Jackie and their two iconic children.
Bela Lugosi
Bela Lugosi, the actor who played Count Dracula in film and on Broadway, passed away from a heart attack in 1956. Through his effortless performances in film and in theatre he became known as “Dracula Himself”. Ironically, in real life Mr. Lugosi was terrified of death.
We have Bela to thank for setting the standard as to how vampires should look and behave. He took his role very seriously, so serious that he was buried wearing a Dracula costume, complete with a cape and full make-up.
More than 90 years after his first onstage appearance, Bela Lugosi’s name remains synonymous with Dracula. Offstage, his family remembers him as a man “who loved everything life had to offer” and who “put a personal stamp on everything he did.”
George Burns
George Burns was a much-loved entertainer whose dry sense of humor filled the lives of many with laughter. His diverse career spanned radio, television, cinema, and the live stage.
For nearly 70 years, George smoked between 10 and 15 cigars a day. He was very open about his trademarked habit and once jokingly said, “If I had taken my doctor’s advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn’t have lived to go to his funeral.”
The legendary comedian, actor, and author who claimed smoking contributed to his longevity passed away from heart failure shortly after celebrating his 100th birthday. His family saw to it that he was laid to rest with 3 of his favorite cigars in the breast pocket of his tailor-made designer suit.
David Kime
David Kime Jr. wasn’t rich and to say he was famous would be a stretch. However, after passing away in 2013, Mr. Kime became a celebrity in his own right when his one-of-a-kind final send off made national headlines
David was a fast food connoisseur and his family wanted to honor him in a lighthearted, yet personal way. They decided to have the entire funeral procession go through a Burger King drive-thru so that everyone could be given a sandwich. At the conclusion of the graveside service, David’s favorite burger, a Whopper Jr, was placed on top of his casket.
Those close to David Kime say that he was not only a loyal fast food customer, but also as a person who lived life by his own rules, loved his family, and selflessly served his country in World War II.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s dynamic, soulful voice filled arenas, concert halls, and stadiums around the world throughout the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.
The music Whitney released achieved gold, platinum and diamond certifications. Perhaps the $500,000 worth of jewelry she was reportedly buried in symbolized her unparalleled musical achievements.
Ms. Houston’s mirrored casket with its chrome finish was the ideal choice for the elegantly glamorous singer. Whitney’s teardrop shaped grave marker that is inscribed with the title to her hit single, “I Will Always Love You” is also perfectly fitting. Hundreds of fans visit her grave each year to pay their respects to one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents of all times among historians and scholars. Lincoln passed away on April 15th, 1865 after suffering a gunshot wound to the head inflicted by John Wilkes Booth.
There wasn’t anything unusual buried with the president. Likewise, President Lincoln’s graveside service fell in line with what one would expect for a chief of state. His journey to the cemetery, nonetheless, was far from conventional.
Over a period 12 days a nine-car funeral train carrying Abraham Lincoln’s remains passed through 7 states and 181 cities before arriving at his final resting place in Springfield IL.
Thousands of mourning Americans attended the 13 public visitations which were held along the journey that retraced Lincoln’s inaugural campaign trail.
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis didn’t travel lightly into the afterworld. The actor who appeared in more than 100 films was buried with an assortment of personal belongings he used in everyday life in addition to several of his most treasured mementos.
Family was very important to Tony and he was known to be sentimental, making the bag his wife packed for him quite meaningful. Dressed in a pair of crisp white shorts, an Armani scarf, and holding a Stetson hat, Tony went out in style.
Some of the items that were in Tony’s casket included:
- Driving gloves, sunglasses, and two of his favorite watches
- A pair of his grandson’s baby shoes
- Some cash, his iPhone, and seven packets of Splenda
- An assortment of photos and letters
- Medals he was awarded in the Navy and his dog Jack’s cremated remains
If There’s a Will, There’s a Way
While the stories that have been shared with you are all quite different, I think they jointly teach a couple of important lessons.
First and foremost, everyone is unique and leads a life unlike anyone else, at any time, anywhere. The manner in which we are laid to rest and any keepsakes we choose to take with us can be just as unique as the life we lived.
Secondly, it’s okay to get creative and push boundaries when it comes to our end of life arrangements. One doesn’t necessarily have to be of the mindset that things can only be done the way they’ve always been done. The sky is truly the limit.
And finally, we must not forget that when a life comes to an end, the world is forever changed in some way, shape, or form. Fortunately, in this day and age, you don’t need to be a celebrity or well-to-do to have the red carpet rolled out for your final farewell.
Sources
Lugosi, Bela Jr. “Biography.” 2017- 2021 LUGOSI LLC.
Vampire over London. “The Death of Bela Lugosi.” The Bela Lugosi Blog, August16, 2011.
Marx, Arthur. “The Ultimate Cigar Aficionado.” cigar aficionado, Winter 1994/1995.
“Lincoln’s Springfield Funeral and Burial.” American Lincoln Online.Org, 1995 – 2021
