I can't figure out what these women are doing. Why would someone hire a professional mourner?

Pichi Chuang/Reuters
Professional mourner Liu Chun-ling, (2nd R) 25, leads a procession into the hall of memorial service as a monk passes by in Banciao, Taiwan December 12, 2007. Re-enacting grief-stricken daughters, among the most emotive elements of a traditional funeral, professional mourners offer themselves for T$2,000 ($60) to T$3,000 per half day of singing, crying and crawling on the ground.