Can You Blame Them???

[lizbud]

I think I'm with the old folks here.


Seniors protest funeral home near center

Posted: Jan 4, 2008 12:35 PM EST


COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) - Several older residents of this town are protesting plans to open a funeral home across the street from a senior center, saying it would be a little too close for comfort.

About 100 people have signed a petition calling on the City Council to deny James Asper and Mary Hansen, partners in Aspen Funeral Home LLC, a special use permit giving them the right to lease the building across the street from the Lake City Senior Center as a funeral home, senior center manager Vickie Harrison said. They plan to present the petition at a Feb. 5 hearing on the matter, she said.

"I don't like it at all. It kind of gives you an uncomfortable feeling," said 65-year-old Marg Dunkle, who signed the petition.

The city's planning commission approved a special use permit in December for the business, but a neighbor appealed the decision, citing concerns over traffic and parking.

Hansen said the building was chosen because it suited the business' needs, not because of its proximity to the senior center.

"We find it a little disconcerting that they would think that location is intentional," Hansen said.

Some, like 81-year-old Doy Seng, had a practical view of the proposed funeral home.

"We're old here. We're all ready to go," she said. "I think it will be handy."


(Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

[Twisterdog]

I think that's kind of a silly thing to protest, frankly.

The funeral home here is a couple of blocks away from the senior center. I don't think anyone has ever noticed or complained. There is also a church located across the street from a bar. The humane society and animal control are on the same street.

If they built a funeral home across the street from a school, would the parents complain? Silly.

[lady_zana]

If they built a funeral home across the street from a school, would the parents complain? Silly.

Actually, if they did build a funeral home across the street from a school, I'd say the parents (and the school would complain). Most parents wouldn't want their children exposed to death so often. As for the school, it would be hard for the buses/parents to drop off and pick up the kids from school on days that the funeral home was operating with a funeral-car-route.

As for the funeral home near the senior center, I don't know if I'd protest or not. Part of it does seem like it would be "a little too close for comfort" but then, as the lady said, they did not chose this place intentionally because of it being so near the senior center. I would have to think about it and know more about it than what is in the article to know if I would protest it or not.

[catnapper]

I have a funeral home in my backyard -- literally! I look out my back door and see the funeral home. What do I see when I look out my front door? A nursing home.

We protested the funeral home because it was going to do cremations --- nobody wanted the smoke and such in their backyard. So they dropped the cremation thing and are here. The funeral home makes nice neighbors, quiet neighbors

[Sevaede]

Actually, if they did build a funeral home across the street from a school, I'd say the parents (and the school would complain). Most parents wouldn't want their children exposed to death so often. As for the school, it would be hard for the buses/parents to drop off and pick up the kids from school on days that the funeral home was operating with a funeral-car-route.

As for the funeral home near the senior center, I don't know if I'd protest or not. Part of it does seem like it would be "a little too close for comfort" but then, as the lady said, they did not chose this place intentionally because of it being so near the senior center. I would have to think about it and know more about it than what is in the article to know if I would protest it or not.

If that's the reason then, theoretically, could one oppose a religious institution (that they do not pertain to) that is across the street from their childs school? Or anything else that they don't particularly agree with?

[Jessika]

Well, if I were in their shoes, I can completely see why they would be upset. A constant reminder that your days are numbered.

But on the other hand I completely see why it's a logical place to put it and a silly thing to protest.

I guess we can't really comment until we're sitting in the nursing home... lol.

[Twisterdog]

[QUOTE=lady_zana]Most parents wouldn't want their children exposed to death so often. As for the school, it would be hard for the buses/parents to drop off and pick up the kids from school on days that the funeral home was operating with a funeral-car-route.[QUOTE]

Well, it was a hypothetical question, I wasn't really thinking to the detail level of parking and car routes.

I was just trying to make the point that ANY business could say, "not in my backyard" to a funeral home on SOME grounds. And I find that sad.

Death is such a taboo in our culture here. I think we do a great disservice to our children by making death and dying a secret, dirty, not-seen-or-talked-about event. EVERYONE is going to attend a funeral and lose a loved one, most of us well before got out of high school. Death is a part of life. It is going to happen to us all. Better to teach our children that death can be a beautiful celebration of a life well lived and a person loved than that death, funerals and the deceased are such horrible things that they need to be located away from and out of sight of everyone.

[Karen]

Our property backs up to a cemetery. As Aunt Bertha said - at least the neighbors are quiet!

I do not think a funeral home across from a nursing home warrants protest. Some people will protest anything. My friend Mary Green told me when she was just 90 - she lived many years afterwards "If the good Lord calls me, I'm going!" and I find that attitude common among elderly people. It is not like any need to be reminded, or that they forget, that death is nearing ... unless they suffer from mental illness, like Alzheimers, that make them forget nearly everything.

I would, however, approve highly of nursing homes being built across from elemetary schools. With the way families are so spread apart these days, many children never even see their grandparents. Being familiar with the elderly is a good thing, and children and elders have much to offer each other. Imagine the joy the elders would have seeing the children running and at play - would that not be a good thing?

[Pam]

"We're old here. We're all ready to go," she said. "I think it will be handy."

Now there is a lady with a sense of humor! My aunt just passed away this past summer. She used to always say "I'm ready to meet the Lord. I just hope He isn't quite ready to meet me yet." I do believe most seniors have quite a different attitude toward death.

Coincidentally, about a mile from me there is a funeral home and it sits right next to the senior center! The senior center was there first and, to my knowledge, no one ever complained when the funeral home was being built.

[lizbud]

Well I doubt these seniors have the energy for much of a protest.

I understand why some of them would like to sit on the front porch and
not have to stare at a funeral home.

[LoudLou]

Well I doubt these seniors have the energy for much of a protest.

I understand why some of them would like to sit on the front porch and
not have to stare at a funeral home.

... It could be worse. We have a Senior assisted living home here that is directly across from a cemetary...

[lizbud]

... It could be worse. We have a Senior assisted living home here that is directly across from a cemetary...

LOL Yes, it could be worse.