First I'm really sorry to hear about that sad news. I think I share the same mood as you. In China when a man/woman is dead, the relatives (maybe intimate friends)of him/her will build a little shed for the dead and keep vigil beside his/her coffin in it for several days. During those days the relatives, friends and colleagues will come and send wreaths for the dead and show their sorrow for the death. Chinese also have funeral for the dead but we call it a "memorial meeting". There is a leader or other respectful man to read the lament for the dead at the meeting. In China people believes the burned things can be received and enjoyed by the dead in heaven, therefore the relatives and friends usually make or buy some "valuable things" made of paper, such as various food, money, houses, limousines and even charming girls. Those things will be burned along with the wreaths during the funeral. I think that is just a supersition and on the other hand it will pollute environment and even cause fire. I think in this aspect the western tradition is much better than the Chinese.
--Albert