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Obama's America: Drive-Thru Funerals Allow Busy Mourners to Pay Their Respects on the Go

December 5, 2014

A drive-thru funeral home in Saginaw, Mich., has opened its doors for business, allowing mourners to pay their respects without having to leave their cars.

Paradise Funeral Chapel unveiled the drive-thru window in September, marking the first funeral home of its kind. Mourners can drive their car directly up to the window, triggering weight sensors that open up curtains to reveal the open casket inside.

"You may find people that are afraid of funeral homes, that they can view their loved one from the convenience of their car," owner Ivan Phillips told WNEM.

Phillips has a history of accommodating mourners who are unable or unwilling to set foot in his funeral home, allowing family members of the deceased to attend visitations via the internet by placing webcams in the wake room.

"The funeral industry is changing rapidly," Phillips said. "So my understanding was to bring something here that would be accessible to the community."

One mourner praised the innovation as 'advancement.'

"I think it shows how far advanced people are, especially since we live in such a technologically advanced society," the mourner said.

As for detractors of the drive-thru funeral business, Phillips said not to knock it before trying it.

"I say to those folks that are uncertain about it, first of all, you have to give it a chance and experience," Phillips said.

Published under: Michigan