- Harry Houdini, an escape artist and magic entertainer died of a ruptured appendix. He had a massive collection of magic books and equipment to donate which was keft to his brother and to various libraries. He also left his magic rabbits to local children. But the strangest thing he left was for his wife … a special code of ten words which he said he would use to contact her after his death. Despite many years of trying his wife never had contact from Harry beyond the grave !!
- Drumming Beyond the Grave: An American Hatmaker left his body to science. His will stipulated that two drums should be made out of his skin and given to a friend, who every June 17 at dawn had to pound out the tune “Yankee Doodle” at Bunker Hill, the anniversary of the famous Revolutionary War battle.
- Doggone It! : A wealthy Eleanor E. Ritchey, of the Quaker State Refining Corporation, left her $4.5 million fortune to her 150 dogs when she died in Florida in 1968. But it was heavily contested by friends and family. By the time the estate was finally settled, its value had jumped to $14 million but only 73 of the dogs were still alive. Lucky dogs!
- Janis Joplin Party Time: The famous rock singer of Texas, died of an overdose on October 4, 1970. Janis made changes to her will just two days before her death. She set aside $2,500 to pay for a posthumous all-night party for 200 guests at her favorite pub in San Anselmo, California, “so my friends can get blasted after I’m gone.”
December 13, 2011
Unusual Funerals!!
Funeral Fun-Box: Every so often I come across a few strange facts or anecdotes about or related to funerals… here’s a few more:
