5 Fun & Creative Funeral Ideas

If you're sick of the traditional weepy-eyed, solemn funerals of old, here are some fun and creative ideas to spice up the event!

5. The "Pants Off" Funeral

Nothing lightens the mood like people without pants on. Picture cousin Jake up there reminiscing about Grandpa and trying to make everybody cry. Nice try, Jake, but everyone's too busy laughing at your Sponge-Bob Squarepants boxers! Don't worry, ladies, you're exempt...but you'll have to wear a funny hat or something.

4. A Weekend at Bernie's Style Party

Forget the funeral and throw a party...Weekend at Bernies style! That's right dress your loved one up in a Hawaiian shirt, slap some sunglasses on him and prop him up on the couch and it's like he never died.

3. The Freaky Rave Funeral

After the eulogies are read and the service is coming to a close...the lights go out. After several moments of darkness, your loved one's body is lowered down on strings. Techno music blares and a strobe light goes off to illuminate both the hanging body and the looks of horror and/or excitement on everyone's faces. Let the dancing begin! (this idea was inspired by comedian Nick Swardson)

2. Have your loved one stuffed!

I'm not sure if this is legal or not, but who cares? The bereaved have a right to throw caution to the wind! Who needs an open-casket funeral when you've got the mourned on full display? Imagine the joy and laughter you could bring by posing that loved one in one of his or her characteristic gestures or perhaps giving the gun and a wink. Pose them in a menacing "zombie" pose for a good practical joke and to scare away funeral attendees that didn't really love Uncle Pete!

1. The Flaming Circus Clown Send Off!

This one is my own personal dying wish. Imagine this: A crowd of people gathered on a majestic ocean cliff, a slight breeze rustles the grass as the eulogy is read by, none other than, Sixth Sense star, Haley Joel Osment! He ends with a joke somehow tying in the whole "I see dead people" quote and everyone has a hearty chuckle. The laughter dies out as he walks over and lights a circus cannon. The faint hiss of the fuse is heard among the quiet sobbing and remaining giggles from Haley's joke. POW!! The cannon erupts! The limp clown-costume-clad corpse flies out over the ocean, on fire! The flames fight to stay alive as the velocity of its descent increases. GULNK! ...the flaming body plops into the ocean. The impressed crowd responds, "OOooooo. Ahhhh!"