Anyone who has been through the grueling process of a funeral knows how emotionally draining and socially trying the process can be. Unfortunately, celebrating the life of someone you loved—along with everyone else who loved them—can take a lot out of you. First you have to go to the funeral itself, and then, probably the reception, and sometimes an extremely long wake. If only you could swing by and pay your respects without having to chat up the old preacher and all those weird in-laws… well if you live in Michigan, now you can.
The Associated Press reports that The Paradise Funeral Chapel in Saginaw has begun offering drive-thru funerals for mourners on the go.
Ivan Phillips, president of the funeral home, thinks plenty of customers will choose the automotive route. It’s simple: curtains in front of the drive-thru window connect to sensors in the pavement. When you pull your car up the curtains open and music plays, as you gaze mournfully at the remains of your loved one. Each car will have three minutes with the body, then it’s over.
Phillips explains that part of the impetus for offering this service was to better serve those mourners who have physical limitations. Only a few families have tested out the service so far, but Phillips told the AP he thinks more people will want to use it after it becomes more established.
According to Phillips the drive thru-window is separate from the indoor viewings, so you can get in and out without a word to those relatives you’re trying to avoid. We’ll see if this catches on.
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