Drive-through funeral services premiered in Florida over forty years ago. And they’ve been a growing trend ever since. I googled “drive through funeral homes” and found fourteen million listings. Nearly every U.S. state has them now. Why? Well, for starters, “the U.S. funeral market is worth $20 billion a year.”
My more sardonic side imagines this:
- “Hi, and welcome to McDeath, where we put the fun in funerals!
- “Right, uh, I’d like to see my cousin Ernie.”
- “He was cremated. Would you like to see the ashes?”
- “Sure.”
- “Would you like fries with that?”
“I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” ~Anonymous
“Don’t think of it as dying,” said Death. “Just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush.” ~Terry Pratchett
Seriously? It seems to me there’s something a little perverse about making death convenient. We shouldn’t fear death (that’s missing the point). But neither should we trivialize it.
“It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live.” ~Victor Hugo
“Many people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five.” ~Benjamin Franklin
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” ~Shannon Alder
“Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.” ~Arthur Schopenhauer
“To die will be an awfully big adventure.” ~J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)
“Live like you were dying.” ~Tim Nichols (lyricist/songwriter)
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” ~1 Corinthians 15:26
∞
Living from SS to SS my friends who live below me sure know how I feel, I told them to keep a clean unused large garbage pail around. Once I pop off get me into that garbage pail slap on the lid and all is done. Meanwhile I will be enjoyed my reuninting with my loved ones above.
;>)
I had no idea such a thing existed. Interesting.
Great quotes! Glad you included Terry Pratchett; that Death character is awesome (and the Death of Rats character, too). I cannot imagine a drive-thru visitation. Très weird.
Yes, Pratchett’s Death character is strangely lovable, isn’t he, Ed?
That’s just weird! No thanks.
I love that last quote, especially.
Drive-through funeral services don’t appear to be respectful of grieving loved ones. Great quotes. The Biblical ones are always exceptional. 🙂
I agree with you, Nancy. It’s disrespectful to the grieving and to the deceased.
LOL, Bah humbug! The world has gotten too weird for me. Kind of sad, the vast majority of people won’t have any kind of funeral at all. Too expensive, no friends and family left anyway. Cremation has now become a thing.
Our tombstone is ready for us, except for the dates! One less thing for an only son (who lives out of state) to think about later.
Same here. We’ve paid to be buried in the Veterans’ Cemetary in Vermont.
Good idea, and good for you. We keep putting that stuff off, and meanwhile we’re not getting any younger. :/
Completely my husband’s doing. I was in fingers in my ears, la la la mode for years. Couldn’t deny it any longer . . .
If my family members stick me in a drive thru funeral, I will haunt them forever 😅
;>)
So how exactly does this work? Drop the body off at the window?
;>)
NO! We shouldn’t make death more convenient. And the funeral industry needs to stop gouging the grieving.
And I thought drive-thru church was bad. (It is.) Drive-thru death is worse. Death is significant. It deserves its own attention. And you’re right, not to be terrified. But to be dignified. Thanks for this post in which you share your own excellent insights and also the thoughts of others.
It does deserve attention. When a funeral procession is passing, it should be a time we stop and reflect on the fact that we all are heading for the same end. It frustrates me to see some get impatient and cut through.
I agree.
My privilege, Christopher.
Mitch, when I read that first quote, it was credited to Woody Allen. I can’t swear to it, but it seems like something he’d say.
One of my favorites is what my dad always said: “Live every day as though it were your last, and someday, you’ll be right.” 😉
Your dad nailed it, Annie.
Death should absolutely be convenient. For the person dying.
It should also be affordable to give your loved one reverence and care. Reasonable compassionate thinking should win here. What have we become?
If this doesn’t rattle your bones, I don’t know what will:
“Many people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five.” ~Benjamin Franklin
Whew! 🥺😔😢 The truth of it is mindblowing!
Wow, that’s absolutely wild. I would expect that from Vegas, not Florida.
;>)
I honestly can’t imagine a drive through funeral home. I guess it’s only a matter of time before we get them in New Zealand. And yes, I will have fries with that please. 😉
;>)
I’m not surprised. We have Drive-Thru Wedding Chapels here. I am waiting for Drive-Thru Divorces.
!
Life really is speeding up! We’re rushing to get more done.
If life is speeding up, Vanya, I suppose we shouldn’t be surprise that death is speeding up.
Yes, they both are.
Love the Corinthians and Ben Franklin quotes. Geez, didn’t even know this was a thing. A low-water mark in our “I’m bored, let’s move on” society. If you can’t be bothered to get out of your car and sit through a 60-90 min service for someone you supposedly cared about, just stay home.
I have never heard of this, this is very interesting
Drive in funeral parlors is a new one for me, too, although since COVID, funeral homes are not as busy as they were. Shorter wakes, fewer viewings if any at all, and more cremations.