The Niagara Gazette recently published an article featuring Michael Goodlander, owner of the Otto Redanz Funeral Home in New York state.  The article captured the thoughts of Goodlander and his funeral home as it is preparing to offer food – in the way of baked goods, snacks, and platters to those visiting and using his facility during visitations and funerals.

The article states that the State of New York recently passed legislation which makes this legal in the Empire State as of this past January.

Goodlander mentions that he has a large room available which he plans to remodel into a hospitality room for families and visitors to enjoy the refreshments.  He believes that it is simply a return to the long-standing traditions of nourishment shared among the grieving and a time when visitations and wakes were held in family homes.

Another funeral director from a competing firm, Gerald Gentile is quoted in the article as saying, ” We haven’t had any families that have wanted to do any of that.”

Funeral Director Daily take:  First of all, I think it is high time that the state of New York has allowed food in funeral homes.  I think it has been well proved that, as long as the meals are from a qualified and approved catering agency, there is little threat to the health of the visitors just because they are served in a building that also has dead human bodies under the same roof.  Matter of fact, in many areas we have moved past refreshments in funeral homes to some areas where funeral homes are serving wine.  Again, not for everybody, but some welcome the experience at a visitation or a wake.

This article also shows, in my opinion, some of the ignorance of funeral directors on how society is changing right under their noses and they don’t even notice.  The quote by Mr. Gentile is interesting.  He could just as easily have said, “We have not heard of anybody who price shops on the internet or reads on-line obituaries.”  In my opinion, he would be just as wrong as his food quote.  It is simply that people don’t mention food requests to him, because those that want food at the wake, etc. are already at another funeral home that is providing it.  The same could probably be said of price shoppers and on-line obituary readers.

Many funeral directors and funeral home owners have their own stubborn way about them and believe that they always know what is best for the client.  However, today’s consumers are – if you haven’t noticed – changing and are looking for just the “right” experience in how they memorialize their loved ones.  The more open and adaptable to new and fresh ideas that funeral homes can be, the better off they will be financially and in their ability to capture market share.

From my point of view I think it is time for funeral homes to be looking at the consumer with “Eyes Wide Open” and being nudged by the consumer on what kinds of services can they offer – ancillary to funeral and cremation care – that will help build market share for their business.

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