15 “Fun” Facts about Funerals
Okay, so maybe “fun” is a bit of an overstatement. But since life is short, we think it’s important to seize the day while you’re here. One way to do that is by reading up on interesting facts. So, sit back and relax and enjoy the funeral and death-related trivia we’ve collected. You’re welcome!
- The Romans introduced gravestones. As an imported practice, the first gravestones in Britain were concentrated close to Roman military forts and more urbanized Romano-British settlements. Back then, gravestones were more frequently dedicated to women and children than Roman soldiers. This was most likely because Roman soldiers were not legally allowed to marry. So, monuments to their deceased family members legitimized their relationships in death in a way they couldn’t be done in life.
Anglo Saxons preferred urns. During the early Anglo-Saxon period, cremated remains were often kept within the community for some time before burial. We know this because groups of urns were sometimes buried together. Urns were also included in burials of the deceased – who were likely their relatives.
- The first president to die without a will was Abraham Lincoln.
- William Henry Harrison holds the record for shortest term served, holding the office of presidency for 31 days before dying. Harrison was the first president to die while in office when he caught pneumonia and died on April 4, 1841. On July 9, 1850, Zachary Taylor died from acute gastroenteritis.
- The person who wrote the famous song, Keep the Home Fires Burning burnt to death when their home caught fire.
- A few months before he got killed in a car accident, James Dean made a driver’s safety TV ad in which he said, “Drive safely; the life you save may be mine.”
- At least 20,000 people attended Benjamin Franklin’s funeral.
- Henry the VIII executed some 72,000 subjects. His favorite method was boiling people to death.
- Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry was the first person to have their ashes put aboard a rocket and buried in space.
- Despite the myth, hair and nails do not grow after death. The reason people mistakenly believe this is because skin shrinks, giving the illusion of growth.
- If you plan on cryogenics, the ideal time to start the freezing procedure is within 10 minutes of death.
- Singer Steve Goodman had his ashes buried under the home plate in Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
- When Thomas Edison died in 1931, his pal Henry Ford trapped the inventor’s last dying breath in a bottle.
- Actor Bela Lugosi was buried in his favorite Dracula cape.
- The most common animal people on their death beds or in death hallucinations/visions report seeing is a gray or black dog.
About Foothill Funeral & Cremation
We know that losing someone is no laughing matter. We hope you will let us help you process the loss and take care of the details so you can move forward with your life. Give us a call (626) 335-0615 or drop by our Glendora showroom. In Covina, our relationship with Sacred Heart Chapel is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorial services in a grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.
