---
title: "Funerals in a G-Wagon and Thousands of Dollars in a Coffin: Mortuary Worker Reveals Odd Requests"
description: "Anya Kopilkovska, a mortuary worker, discussed unusual funeral traditions, ranging from thousands of dollars and cigarettes in coffins to burials inside Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons."
date: 2026-10-22T12:52:48.239Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/funerals-in-g-wagon-and-thousands-of-dollars
tags: [funeral, traditions, society, ukraine, unusual-stories]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Funerals in a G-Wagon and Thousands of Dollars in a Coffin: Mortuary Worker Reveals Odd Requests

![Woman in a business suit filling out a condolence book at a funeral ceremony](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/22/pohorony-v-gelike-i-tysyachi-dollarov-v-grobu/pohorony-v-gelike-i-tysyachi-dollarov-v-grobu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Relatives leave between $5,000 and $15,000 in cash inside coffins.
- Regular matches are recommended instead of lighters during cremation for safety reasons.
- Instances of burying individuals along with Mercedes-Benz G-Class cars have been recorded.
- Some monuments portray the deceased in full height wearing festive clothing.

Anya Kopilkovska, an employee of a major funeral bureau, shared some of the most unusual and shocking requests from the relatives of the deceased in an interview with blogger Dmytro Tyutyun. According to her, farewell rituals sometimes go far beyond standard practices, including large sums of money, personal items, and even premium vehicles.

### Large Amounts of Cash and Personal Belongings in the Coffin

According to the 26-year-old mortuary worker, some families ask to place significant amounts of cash inside the coffin, reaching five, ten, or even fifteen thousand dollars. The specialist admits that such expenses surprise her, since these funds could be used to cover additional costs or purchase another cemetery plot. Besides money, loved ones often want to leave the deceased's favorite everyday items, such as cigarettes, coffee, or glasses.

However, when choosing items for burial, bureau staff must make adjustments for safety regulations. Specifically, when preparing for cremation, specialists strictly forbid leaving lighters inside the coffin, warning relatives of potential pyrotechnic effects. In such situations, they suggest placing regular matches instead, ensuring the habit is symbolically respected without endangering the crematorium furnace.

### Burials with Cars and Monument Specifics

One of the most striking stories in the practice of funeral agents involved cases of burying people along with their vehicles. Anya Kopilkovska confirmed that there were episodes in her practice when a person was buried directly inside their favorite Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, known as the G-Wagon. To implement such a large-scale idea, organizers had to arrange for a non-standard, oversized grave to be dug.

In addition, funeral bureau employees pay special attention to the design of graves and monuments in cemeteries. Specialists take particular note of monuments depicting the deceased in full height wearing festive, expensive attire. Such trends are prominently featured in some Romani burials, where tombstones display not only large portraits in formal wear but also photographs featuring celebration attributes like cakes.

### Significance and Memory in Funeral Traditions

The described ritual features reflect the desire of loved ones to preserve the memory of the deceased and emphasize their individuality, status, or lifetime habits. Despite the apparent extravagance of such requests, they demonstrate a deeply personal approach to the farewell process in modern realities. Such insights into the backside of the funeral business show how diverse expressions of grief and respect can be across different social groups.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Похороны в "Гелике" и тысячи долларов в гробу: работница ритуального бюро о странных просьбах родственников умерших](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/people/pohoron-geliku-ta-tisyachi-dolariv-truni-1792671357.html) - The original source article on Styler (RBC-Ukraine) features an interview with funeral bureau employee Anya Kopilkovska detailing unusual requests from clients.

## FAQ

### What unusual items do relatives ask to put in the coffin?

Loved ones often ask to place large amounts of cash, cigarettes, coffee, glasses, and even a Mercedes-Benz G-Class car in the coffin.

### Why are lighters not allowed in the coffin during cremation?

Funeral workers explain this by the risk of explosion or fire, suggesting that lighters be replaced with ordinary matches.