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Cell Phones Taken to the Grave

And call me later

By Victoria Floethe,  Newser User

Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:15 PM CST

(Newser) – Rest in peace? Some would rather have eternity interrupted by their ringtone—by taking their cell phones with them to the grave, a trend that many in the funeral industry say is on the rise. A UK survey ranked being buried with a cell phone the No. 2 funeral rite request (after a plea to be cremated with a pet’s ashes), MSNBC reports.

People want to surround themselves with the things they hold dear (in the manner of King Tut), but the notion of staying connected is also driving the trend— and phone calls to the dead aren’t uncommon.  “I’ve seen people leave cell phones on and tell me they’re going to call their loved one later,” said one funeral home director. “Not that anyone will answer, but they want to have that connection."

As for those who want to stay wired in the afterlife but are worried about high-tech toxic waste? Sony Ericsson, Nokia and LG Electronics have all come out with cell phones that are somewhat green.
As for those who want to stay wired in the afterlife but are worried about high-tech toxic waste? Sony Ericsson, Nokia and LG Electronics have all come out with cell phones that are somewhat green.   (PRNewsFoto/Verizon Wireless)
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Some people will call the deceased just as they’re lowering the coffin into the ground. It’ll be prearranged and you’ll hear a faint ring. It’s like the new version of ‘Taps’ for people who are identified as being on the phone all the time. - American Funeral Director Magazine.

My BlackBerry is like a third arm. Why wouldn’t I be buried with it? - Penny Sansevieri, publicist

We had a young man die this past summer and they put his cell phone in the casket for the viewing and it rang constantly. It was turned to silent, but you could see the phone light up... They knew he was dead, but they were still calling. - Frank Perman, Funeral Director

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Zebraone
Dec 21, 2008 10:20 PM CST
As far as I'm concerned, they could bury all the damn cell phones.@@@@@@They are the worst anti-social thing since books!
dolcevita
Dec 18, 2008 6:59 AM CST
Truly weird. And what will archeologists of the future make of it when they dig up these graves, iIwonder?
 

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