Death imparts an irreversible finality that human beings have developed many ways of addressing. Rituals surrounding the end of life have been an inseparable part of human civilization, with traditions spanning centuries around the world. From the embalming practices of the ancient Egyptians, to the modern day interment of the deceased, people have devised many methods of preserving bodies and memories of loved ones and honored fallen. Indeed, memories are typically all that are left behind, while the empty human shell decays over time. But in some instances even that does not happen…(more…)