Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home

03/19/2026

One emperor had a chance to build a magnificent tomb for his father (profile a few days ago) and also a wife. The one for his wife is one of the most family tombs the world over - the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal, meaning "Crown of the Palace" is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centerpiece of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which today would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (U.S. $827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year.

03/19/2026

Today in history -March 19, 2005 - notable deaths:

John DeLorean - American engineer, inventor, and executive in the U.S. automobile industry, most widely known for his work at General Motors and as founder of the DeLorean Motor Company.

DeLorean began his career in the automotive industry by studying at the Chrysler Institute, earing a Master’s Degree in Automobile engineering in 1952 His time at Chrysler was short lived as he moved to the Packard Motor Car Company in 1953. Due to financial difficulties at Packard, he accepted an offer to work at General Motors, choosing the Pontiac Division.

DeLorean managed development of a number of vehicles throughout his career, including the Pontiac GTO muscle car, the Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevrolet Cosworth Vega, and the DMC DeLorean sports car, which was featured in the 1985 film Back to the Future.

He was the youngest division head in General Motors history, then broke away to start the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) in 1973. However, production delays meant that DMC's first car did not reach the consumer market until 1981, where a depressed buying market was compounded by lukewarm reviews from critics and the public. After a year, the DeLorean had failed to recoup its $175 million in investment costs, unsold cars were accumulating, and the company was in dire financial straits.

In October 1982, DeLorean was charged with co***ne trafficking after FBI informant James Hoffman solicited him as financier in a scheme to sell 220 lb (100 kg) of co***ne worth approximately $24 million. DMC was insolvent at the time and in debt for $17 million. Hoffman had approached DeLorean, a man whom he barely knew with no prior criminal record, and DeLorean was able to successfully defend himself at trial under the procedural defense of police entrapment. The trial ended in a not guilty verdict in August 1984, by which time DMC had declared bankruptcy and shut down.

Despite the shameful end to his career, DeLorean is still remembered as one of the engineering and designs titans of the automobile in the mid 20th century.

DeLorean died at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, from a stroke, on March 19, 2005 at the age of 80. He was interred at the White Chapel Cemetery, in Troy, Michigan. His tombstone shows a depiction of his DeLorean sports car with the gull-wing doors open.

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03/18/2026

We are honored to have been entrusted with the final care of Charles Herrick Johnson, age 90, of Binghamton.

A long time accountant in Binghamton, he was still practicing at the time of his unexpected death.

Celebrate the life of Charles Johnson and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/18/2026

Today in history- March 18, 1845: Death of John Chapman, better known to Americans as "Johnny Appleseed".

Johnny Appleseed was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to various regions in the United States and Canada, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ontario.

The popular image is of Johnny Appleseed spreading apple seeds randomly everywhere he went. In fact, he planted nurseries rather than orchards, built fences around them to protect them from livestock and wildlife, left the nurseries in the care of a neighbor who sold trees on shares, and returned every year or two to tend the nursery. He planted his first nursery on the bank of Brokenstraw Creek, south of Warren, Pennsylvania.

He gained legendary status during his lifetime for his generous and conservation efforts. He was also a missionary and inspired the creation of museums and historical sites dedicated to his legacy, such as the Johnny Appleseed Museum in Urbana, Ohio.

His actual burial site has been lost to history and time, but he has a memorial located in the Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park in Fort Wayne, India.

03/18/2026

Today we take you to Vienna, Austria and the Habsburg Imperial Crypt.

The Imperial Crypt also called the Capuchin Crypt, is a burial chamber beneath the Capuchin Church and monastery in Vienna, Austria. It was founded in 1618 and dedicated in 1632, and located on the Neuer Markt square of the Innere Stadt, near the Hofburg Palace. Since 1633, the Imperial Crypt serves as the principal place of entombment for the members of the House of Habsburg.

The Imperial Crypt under the Capuchin Church is dedicated to members of the former Austrian Habsburg dynasty and tells their story.

150 Habsburgs, including 12 emperors as well as 19 empresses and queens, have their final resting place here.

The vaults consist of an interconnected series of ten subterranean vaulted rooms, built at various times as more space was needed.

The visible 107 metal sarcophagi and five heart urns range in style from puritan plain to exuberant rococo.

The bodies of 145 nobles, plus urns containing the hearts or cremated remains of four others, are deposited here. There is only one space left. They include 12 Emperors and 18 Empresses.

Various additions and restorations have been made to the facility over the years. It reached it maximum size in a 1960's restoration and expansion which helped stabilize environmental conditions to prevent deterioration of the tomb. Further renovations in 2003 provided air conditioning and handicapped accessablity.

Funerals were still being held in the Imperial Crypt until 2023: Zita, the last Austrian empress, was buried here in 1989. On July 16, 2011, her eldest son, the former crown prince and European politician Otto Habsburg, was laid to rest here together with his wife Regina. The last interment took place in the fall of 2023: Yolande de Ligne, wife of the Emperor’s son Carl Ludwig, who died in 2007, was the last representative of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to be buried in the Imperial Crypt. There is no more space available.

03/17/2026

We honored to be entrusted with the final care of Constance Nabinger, 85, of Binghamton.

She was a dedicated volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded a life membership and the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of her outstanding service to the BSA.

Celebrate the life of Constance Nabinger and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/17/2026

To our Irish friends - Happy St. Patrick's Day.

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick's Day - interestingly many do not know this day is celebrated on the date of his death, not his birth (which is the case with many other Saints).

Saint Patrick died circa 461 A.D. in Saul, Ireland, and is said to have been buried in the nearby town of Downpatrick, County Down. Saint Patrick is recognized as the patron saint of Ireland, and his writings, noted for their humble voice, include the autobiographical Confession and Letter to Coroticus.

Many legends also have been associated with his life including that he drove away all the snakes from Ireland and he introduced the Holy Trinity through the three-leaved shamrock.

Saint Patrick is annually honored with the celebration of Saint Patrick's Day on March 17 (which some cite as the date of his death), which falls during the Christian season of Lent. For more than 1,000 years, the Irish have observed Saint Patrick's Day as a religious holiday.

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03/16/2026

We continue our tour of interesting historic tombs the world over.

Today we visit Lahore Pakistan for the tomb of Emperor Jahangir.

Nur ud-din Muhammad Salim (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his royal name Emperor Jahangir reigning from 1605 until his death in 1627.

His tomb is a magnificent testament to the Mughal era's grandeur and artistic finesse. Commissioned by Jahangir's son, Emperor Shah Jahan, this mausoleum stands as a poetic tribute to the fourth Mughal emperor, showcasing a harmonious blend of Persian, Central Asian, and indigenous architectural elements. Surrounded by a vast Charbagh garden and adorned with intricate marble and tilework, the Tomb of Emperor Jahangir is not merely a burial site; it is a symbolic representation of an emperor's legacy and a cultural jewel in the rich tapestry of Lahore's history.

Construction of the tomb began in 1627, shortly after Emperor Jahangir's death, and was completed in 1637. The mausoleum is located along the right bank of the Ravi River, providing panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Approaching the tomb, visitors are greeted by a monumental gateway known as the Akbari Sarai. This imposing entrance, adorned with intricate tilework and Persian calligraphy, serves as a prelude to the splendors within. The mausoleum stands at the center of a Charbagh garden, a traditional Mughal garden divided into four quadrants by water channels. The meticulous design of the garden symbolizes the paradise described in Islamic traditions, with flowing water, greenery, and geometric precision.

The main mausoleum is a majestic structure constructed primarily of red sandstone. The intricate details and inscriptions on the exterior walls showcase the Persian influence on Mughal architecture, with delicate floral patterns and calligraphy adorning the façade. The central chamber, housing the emperor's tomb, is adorned with a graceful marble cenotaph, an epitome of elegance.

One of the distinctive features of the tomb is the exquisite marble screen, known as the Jali. This intricately carved screen surrounds the cenotaph and serves as a delicate veil between the emperor's resting place and the outer world.

Adjacent to the main mausoleum is the Akbari Sarai, a spacious courtyard enclosed by a double-story structure. The courtyard served as a space for visitors and pilgrims and includes a mosque and other auxiliary rooms. The Akbari Sarai reflects the Mughal tradition of providing facilities for travelers and devotees visiting the tomb.

The tomb complex is not just a historical relic but a living space that continues to be a center for cultural and religious activities. Pilgrims and visitors from across the globe converge at the mausoleum, paying homage to Emperor Jahangir and marveling at the artistic brilliance of the Mughal era.

03/15/2026

We love sharing these stories -

Occasionally cemeteries fall into a state of neglect and disrepair due to lack of funds and staff.

Many times local community members step up and find ways to bridge the gap and volunteer to do the work to bring a cemetery back up to normative standards.

Volunteers in Patchogue did their part to raise funds and donate labor to clean up a historic cemetery, including restoring gravestones.

We love it when a community embraces it's past and recognizes the importance of a cemetery in a community's history.

"The preservation of these cemeteries is about more than repairing broken stones."

03/14/2026

We are honored to have been entrusted with the final care of Hamid Sangabi, 66 , of Binghamton.

He was a professor of Mathematics and Statistics at SUNY Broome.

Celebrate the life of Hamid Sangabi and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/14/2026

Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight some interesting tombs and places of rest across the world.

We start in Eastern Europe, where what appears to be a traditional looking European church with a graveyard, reveals something different when you take a look inside the Sedlec Ossuary bone church in Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic.

In 1278, Henry, the abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec, was sent to the Holy Land by King Otakar II of Bohemia. He returned with a small amount of earth he had removed from Golgotha and sprinkled it over the abbey cemetery. The word of this pious act soon spread and the cemetery in Sedlec became a desirable burial site throughout Central Europe.

In the mid 14th century, during the Black Death, and after the Hussite Wars in the early 15th century, many thousands were buried in the abbey cemetery, so it had to be greatly enlarged.
Around 1400, a Gothic church was built in the center of the cemetery with a vaulted upper level and a lower chapel to be used as an ossuary for the mass graves unearthed during construction, or simply slated for demolition to make room for new burials.

The ossuary was intended to serve as the final resting spot for the thousands of people who had already been buried in the cemetery. In the 1500s tens of thousands of graves were exhumed, and the human remains were stacked inside of the church. The task of relocating the remains was trusted to a monk who suffered from poor vision, and for a few centuries the bones sat in piles in the ossuary.

Between 1703 and 1710, a new entrance was constructed to support the front wall, which was leaning outward, and the upper chapel was rebuilt. This work, in the Czech Baroque style, was designed by Jan Santini Aichel.

In 1870 a woodcarver named František Rint was employed to create a more artistic arrangement to display the skeletal remains, including the Schwarzenburg (The family who commissioned the artistic arrangement of the remains) family coat of arms and numerous chandeliers. The final result is a strikingly beautiful, startling and creepy all at once.