Dead set opposed to Mitcham funeral parlour plan
by Mortuary Transport Expert ~ April 2nd, 2008. Filed under: Funeral Homes In The News.Unfortunately, there are always closed minded people who want some realities hidden from them, birth and death.
This funeral home is just opening an office in a high traffic area, to allow people an ‘non-funeral home’ environment to make arrangements, whether it is preneed or postneed.
This funeral home is in Australia, the owner is providing a service to the community, and if he didn’t do his homework, the office will close naturally due to the laws of supply and demand. Otherwise, I say he’s doing a good thing.
It’s not like he’s opening Frank Featherbeds’ Funeral home that was more over the top entertainment oriented in “Plots with a View” (aka “Undertaking Betty”). Gosh that was a funny movie.
You don’t expect an insurance office to do claims inspections in a mall, nor would you expect indescrete viewings to take place. With proper shielding in a rear entrance, and enough room inside, viewings could take place quite privately and without anyone knowing otherwise.
What do you think?
A MITCHAM-based funeral company is facing protests over its expansion plans.
Traders have expressed grave concerns about Bethel Funerals opening an office in a Mornington shopping strip.
They said customers would be put off by the sight of hearses in the street, while local residents raised a 100-signature petition that said keeping bodies on site for viewings was “gruesome”.
But company manager Ray Thomas said many people’s fears were “unfounded”.
“Unfortunately, this has got out of hand,” he said.
Mr Thomas said the shop would mainly operate as an office and all mortuary work would be done at the company’s Mitcham site, in Cochrane St. Mr Thomas said on-site viewings at the Mornington office would be infrequent and the hearse would be using the back entrance.
“Most people won’t even know we were there,” he added.
The company is waiting on Mornington Peninsula Council to grant permission for the plan.
Neighbouring pizza shop owner Mikhael Kabalan called for the office to be sited elsewhere. “I would be turned off about coming down if there was a funeral parlour next door,” Mr Kabalan said.
Petition organiser and local resident Robert Arnold said “everyone I have spoken to is horrified”.
