It's been my favorite cake since I was a kid, but I never knew the name of it. To me, it was always the "chocolate funeral cake". I know that sounds a little strange, but you see, I grew up in a small town and whenever someone passed away, neighbors would take food over to the bereaved family so they didn't have to worry about cooking. Even if they didn't have much of an appetite, most likely they'd have a steady stream of friends and relatives stopping by and they could offer them something to eat.

I'd always tag along with my parents and when they were talking to the other adults, I'd look for the "funeral cake". Oh boy, was it good. A devil's food cake with a buttercream frosting.

When my mother died last May and her friends and neighbors brought food over to the house, guess what showed up--the funeral cake. I wasn't hungry, couldn't eat a thing, but how could I resist? I think I ate half of the cake myself.

Months later I got a note from Betty, the funeral cake woman: "Suzanne, I was thinking of you and your mother and I remembered you'd asked me for the recipe."