In the past, a gravestone was a somber symbol of a life ended, usually engraved with only a few words: the name of the deceased and the dates of his or her birth and death. Well, ‘‘RIP'' is now RIP.

You know that recipe your family requests at every holiday, potluck and birthday party? The one you’re famous for? What if you had it engraved on your tombstone? Some folks have done just that. “I ...