Cell phones in Heaven

Cell phones have become such a vital part of our daily lives that we cannot live without them. They have also become just as important in death, according to a recent MSNBC report. In addition to photographs and other valuables, people are taking their cell phones to their graves. If you find this odd, we are not the first society to bury loved ones with cherished possessions. The Egyptians are one of the earliest societies to bury their dead with their most prized possessions. 

In today's society, cell phones qualify as a prized possession for many of us—myself included. 

Cell phones have become our lifeline to everything we say and do. It keeps us in the loop with our friends, relatives, and bosses. If we need to contact someone, it only takes seconds to make a phone call or send a text message. Funeral professionals don't have statistics about burials involving cell phones, but they have reported it as a common occurrence. So why do people get buried with their cell phones? 

The MSNBC report listed a few reasons: Like the Egyptians, some people want to be buried with their most cherished possessions. 

These items may include fishing poles, jewelry, and now their cell phones. Cell phones can also bring comfort to the living. In 2005, after the passing of Manhattan attorney John Jacobs, his wife buried him with his cell phone and a fully charged battery. She even continues paying his cell phone bill and calls him on occasion. Although the battery eventually died, the calls still go to voicemail. She also added his cell phone number to his headstone so others can call him. This may seem irrational but it’s not. Everyone grieves for deceased loved ones in their own way. 

Calling a cell phone to listen to someone’s voice isn’t much different from those who keep a deceased relative's voice on their answering machine. It may seem strange hearing dad or grandpa's voice telling you to leave a message at the beep, but it's not unusual. When our loved ones die, we keep them in our memories with photographs and other mementos. The cell phone is just another memento.