You can get a burger and fries, or even cash your check at a drive-thru, so why not be able to say goodbye to a friend or loved one that way.

Paradise Funeral Chapel in Saginaw is offering you the opportunity to do just that.   

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MLive.com reports that President Ivan Phillips had the idea years ago, but only recently put  it into service.  He said it came out of efforts to allow an elderly woman, who couldn't physically make it into the building, to bid farewell to her departed husband.

"She would've got a chance to see him if  we had this, so I knew we had to move forward," Phillips said.

Drive-thru viewing, although certainly not conventional, is not a new concept.  The article cites three other cities that have it available.

Phillips says it could, though, be catching on and in a big way.

"Considering the elderly generation that we service, so many people are afraid of funeral homes.  So why not be able to do it from your car?" he asked.

The service will in no way become standard, though.  Phillips said it will be up to individual families to determine if the viewing "window" is used.  A curtain would cover the window and opened only when someone drives up.  Music will then also be played.

Guestbooks can still be signed by visitors.  The article indicates a retractable door will allow access to a book that can be signed and returned.  There would also be a slot to allow for memorials.

The Phillips family also owns a facility on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Lansing.

Join Jo Anne Paul weekdays for news updates on 99.1 WFMK-FM, 100.7 WITL-FM and 1240 WJIM-AM and the other stations of the Michigan Talk Network


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