Funeral home offers drive-thru visitations

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Drive thru visitation
A funeral home in Michigan is now offering a drive-thru visitation service for people who couldn't make the traditional ceremony

SAGINAW, MI -- A funeral home in Michigan is now offering drive-thru visitation.

Paradise Funeral Chapel is now putting caskets on display behind a large window. This allows friends and relatives of the departed to pay their respects without ever getting out of the vehicle.

The funeral director says this is for people who want to say their goodbyes but couldn't attend the traditional visitation because of work, disability or other challenges.

"When you enter the drive thru you'll drop a memorial into the memorial box, sign the registry book, drive forward and you'll be able to sit in the privacy of your vehicle for three minutes," said funeral home owner Ivan Phillips.

Anyone can drive up and pay their respects to the deceased. Phillips says the drive-thru's design uses sensors to open and close the curtains when cars pull up and leave. He says he spent $300,000 to get it installed.