Scott Funeral home in Jeffersonville, Indiana believes it has come up with the right solution to help grieving families. The Funeral home received its liquor license last March which gives it the right to have an open bar during the viewing and visitation, before the funeral starts, and after the service. Some families use the bar for simple toasts at the end, but no liquor is served during the actual service.
It has become a trend across the country that funeral homes are having open bars to help grieving families deal with the death of loved ones.
The alcoholic beverages include wine, beer and popular brands of liquor. More and more people are throwing parties to celebrate the life of a friend or relative who has died. That's why funeral parlors are providing the venue and booze for the occasion.
People's reactions
Even before Scott received the license, people had been asking about it, and the funeral home lost customers who went to other venues that did offer the open bar. Since receiving the license, Scott Funeral Home has performed at least one service a month where alcohol was involved in some way.
Some people such as Robin Vance who lives in Jeffersonville says this service was overdue and should have been provided long ago. Others are concerned about family members who might drink too much and get drunk.
Officials said the staff will keep an eye on attendees to keep people from overindulging.
Mary Loveland told her family before her death that she wanted her family and friends to celebrate her life when she died. When the longtime nurse died on November 9, her family honored her wishes and made arrangements with Scott Funeral Home where brothers Aaron and Billy Scott and their staff were more than happy to accommodate the family with an open bar to help celebrate the life of Loveland.
One day before Loveland's funeral, her family and friends gathered at the funeral home. They told stories about the deceased while holding beer, wine, and liquor in their hands. Betty Roberts was delighted with the way her mother was celebrated. She is now interested in having her life celebrated in the same way.
Alcohol trend
The Scott brothers learned that Buchanan Group Funeral Homes in Indianapolis had been offering alcohol at funerals more than eight years ago because the 129-year-old establishment discovered that many families are moving away from the traditional services their grandparents had. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, other funeral homes are leaning toward having their own liquor license so they can provide the service to grieving families. The number of people choosing this option is increasing rapidly.
The cost of the service is a $250 setup fee that includes pay for the bartender. The cost of the alcohol depends on how much the family decides to order. It usually starts out at $500.
Aaron Scott concludes that it has been really good for his business and for the families involved.
What do you think about an open bar at a funeral? Is that something you want your family to do for you?