Unique Funeral Plans: Stopping a Procession at the Drive-Thru
Stopping a Procession at the Drive-Thru
The funeral procession has long been a part of traditional burial plans. When a loved one is being buried at a cemetery located some distance from the funeral itself (either at a funeral home or at a separate church), it is customary for the guests to form a line of cars to accompany the hearse to the burial site. Depending on the distance, this could be a quick journey through a stoplight or a lengthy trip requiring attendants to direct traffic.
These days, more and more families are looking for ways to personalize a funeral, and the procession provides a unique opportunity for that to happen—especially if the deceased had a love of a particular drive-thru restaurant. In one instance, a Pennsylvania family honored their loved one with a trip through Burger King, where everyone ordered his favorite burger on the way to the cemetery.
Whether the deceased loved a particular coffee stand or enjoyed takeout burgers, there are many different ways to interpret this idea. And with the right planning, it can be pulled off successfully.
The Realities of a Procession in a Drive-Thru
While there is just enough whimsy in taking a procession through a drive-thru that it could be the perfect way to set your loved one’s funeral apart from the crowd, it is not the right choice for everyone. Here are a few pros and cons to consider.
Pros:
- Everyone can band together to say goodbye to a loved one in a manner that is personalized and fun.
- You can support a favorite restaurant of the deceased by providing customers and possible media coverage.
- You can ask the restaurant to also cater the memorial service or after party.
Cons:
- Very large processions might find it difficult to move efficiently through a restaurant without backing traffic up unnecessarily.
- Those who don’t wish to participate in the drive-thru trip may feel left out of the procession as a whole.
- Unless you warn the restaurant in advance, they may be unequipped to handle such a large order.
There is no right or wrong way to say goodbye to a loved one—and any activity you do that honors the deceased in the way he or she would have wanted is worthwhile. If you live in an area where a drive-thru procession won’t create problems (or where you can coordinate services ahead of time), you may find that a lot of food and a little fun can go a long way in personalizing your funeral plans.
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