Walt Disney
Walt Disney was the first of his kind; he helped produce some of the most recognizable cartoon characters in history. Disney was a pioneer in the animation industry, opened the most famous theme park globally, and still holds the record for the most Academy Awards won by a single person.
In 1966, the legend passed away due to complications arising from lung cancer. Despite his loving and charismatic persona, he was a very private man. His funeral was open to just family and friends.
Winston Churchill
Before his burial, Churchill's coffin was taken up the river Thames, where the dockyard operators had arranged that the cranes dip in salute before reaching Waterloo station.
Although Waterloo was out of the way, Churchill had asked that his coffin passes through there if the President of France outlived him as a jab towards his former ally. Before his death, Churchill is described as saying, “I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
Oscar Wilde
There is a deep irony when it comes to the playwright and author Oscar Wilde's tombstone. The writer challenged the moral awareness of the time and was later convicted for charges relating to homosexuality, which was illegal in the United Kingdom.
His incarceration for following his heart was acknowledged on his headstone, which reads, “A kiss may ruin a human life.” This is where the irony comes in. Supporters of the author have since decorated his grave with kisses, causing the stone to decay. As a result, a barrier was put up, and a fine of 9,000 euros is given to anyone caught kissing the stone.
Emily Dickinson
While there's no quote from Dickinson on her minimalist headstone, it still states that she was “Called back” and then states the date of her death. Situated in Amherst West Cemetery in Amherst, Massachusetts, there isn't much else to see for this early-American literary great.
A black iron fence surrounds her family's plot, and fans still leave bundles of flowers and honor a woman who forged a path for female poets and authors long before she could even vote. Her often spiritual work is still a boon to those suffering, and the beauty of her words and phrases can still be found if you have the chance to read them today.
Elizabeth Taylor
While Elizabeth Taylor is buried among fellow greats like Walt Disney, Michael Jackson, and Nat King Cole, this member of Hollywood's Golden Age has her own opulence to greet visitors. This famous gravesite features Taylor buried beneath an open-armed angel, with the simple words “In Memoria” etched above the angel in Gothic script.
While the angel is certainly eye-catching – much like Taylor herself – the gravesite as a whole is a bit simpler than you might imagine. While Taylor wasn't simple, she was always classy, and her final resting place evinces that. Beauty, but without being overbearing. Classy and calm.