Speechless—the most gifted speaker. Almost as speechless, the most eloquent pastor. That’s what we all are at a funeral. No one knows what to say or do. How do you honor the dead? How do you comfort the living? Are there any words you can say that can possibly make a difference? Is there anything you can say that can possibly offer any hope?

Owen Vaughan is a professional mourner in London, England. You heard me right—a professional mourner. He gets paid to attend the funerals of people he has never met. He is hired to memorize large amounts of information about the deceased person, and to attend the funeral and participate in the religious rituals or family customs that honor them.

In this job, he’s had some strange requests. Some customers dictate who the paid mourners are allowed to t…