Taking it with you

According to a recent survey, one in four people would like to be buried or cremated with a picture of their loved one. Apparently there are others who would prefer to be laid to rest with a mobile phone. I think taking a mobile is a little unnecessary. If you find yourself in heaven I’m sure it’ll be a mobile phone free zone. If you find yourself downstairs I reckon the place will already be full of mobile phones all ringing with the crazy frog ringtone.

Jewellery, sporting memorabilia and a memento of a pet dog were also popular choices when people were asked what they would like to accompany them to the grave. Just two per cent of people said they would want to take money with them, while a small number of men said they would like to take their golf clubs. I reckon they shouldn’t wait unti they’re dead. Burn or bury the golf clubs now.

What about you? If you had the choice what would you take with you? I can’t think of anything because I know it’s not going to be of much use to me.

As for those taking money to the grave I’m more than happy to help. If they give me the money for safe keeping I’ll give them a cheque for the full amount and if they end up anywhere that they need some money they can cash the cheque against my account.

UPDATE: A couple of minutes after mentioning this survey on-air during my radio programme, a lady called. She said she was thinking about what I had said and wanted to add her own humour.

She said did you hear about the blind man who wanted to be buried with his white cane? Or the disabled man who wanted to be buried with his wheelchair? Or ….. wait for it ….. the deaf man who wanted to be buried with his interpreter?

The caller told me that she is actually a sign language interpreter herself.

Posted by Rodney Olsen



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About the author

Rodney Olsen

Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.

He has worked in radio at Perth's media ministry Sonshine for over 25 years and has previously worked at ministries such as Compassion Australia and Bible Society.

The views he expresses here are his own.

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5 Comments

  • i don’t really think people need to be buried with anything, because once your dead it isn’t important anymore.
    but i can understand that people who have a fear of waking up in a coffin would want a mobile with them. tough luck if they get no reception.

  • Don’t even want to be buried. Donate what organs I can, then cremated and ashes scattered by somebody on a bicycle in some incredibly scenic part of the countryside, probably in Tasmania somewhere, where I grew up.

  • You have a recurring theme going here…

    The first book I ever read through was Evelyn Waugh’s “The Loved One” – about a funeral parlour embalmer and a pet cemetery guy. Great story! But there’s a line about “taking their leave” (how you ‘dress-up’ the deceased for a viewing). Some people had a viewing with the deceased holding a telephone – ‘because that’s they way we remember her…’

    Pretty strange…!?!

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