Funerals to Die For

True stories that put the, er, "e;fun"e; back into funerals!The hereafter may still be part of the great unknown, but with Funerals to Die For you can unearth the rich--and often, dark--history of funeral rites. From getting a portrait painted with a loved one's ashes to purchasing a safety coffin complete with bells and breathing tubes, this book takes you on a whirlwind tour of funeral customs and trivia from all over the globe. Inside, you'll find more than 100 unbelievable traditions, practices, and facts, such as:The remains of a loved one can be launched into deep space for only $1,000.In Taiwan, strippers are hired to entertain funeral guests throughout the ceremony.Undertakers for the Tongan royal family weren't allowed to use their hands for 100 days after preparing a king's body.In the late 1800s, New Englanders would gulp down a cocktail of water and their family member's ashes in order to keep them from returning as vampires.Whether you fear being buried alive or just have a morbid curiosity of the other side, Funerals to Die For examines what may happen when another person dies.