I came up with a way to make funerals cheaper and more fun… but not everyone agrees with it

A Midwest mortuary is bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘funeral party.’

Evergreen Funeral Cremation and Reception, in Ohio, has applied for a liquor license so it can start serving cocktails, beer and wine to mourners as they bid farewell to their dearly departed. 

Hunter Triplett, the Columbus funeral home’s young owner, fittingly describes himself as a ‘party planner for dead people,’ telling DailyMail.com that the decision to serve booze to the bereaved was inspired by the conversations he’s had with clients. 

‘I found many were going to event centers, restaurants, and bars for after-service celebrations and figured why not include that in service packages that help to save families money and provide an easier solution during a stressful time in their life,’ the 23 year old explained.

Triplett’s family bought the cemetery in 2015, and he started the funeral business next door last year. Growing up in the undertaker world gave him a unique view into the profession before his ascension as funeral director. 

‘I was lucky enough to see each funeral home perform services at the cemetery and took the best aspect from each and left behind the ones that I felt were not helping benefit the family experience,’ Triplett said of the steps leading to his unique business model. 

Traditionally, mourners will opt to have a visitation or a wake on a separate day or days before the funeral ceremony. Then they generally have a vehicle procession from the funeral home to the cemetery and often a separate reception after burial.

‘My role in this position is to kind of be a party planner for dead people,’ Triplett told CNN affiliate WSYX. ‘You know, be more of a celebration of life than more of the multiday, traditional services, which costs a lot of money.’ 

Evergreen Funeral Cremation and Reception is in the process of obtaining a liquor license to sell alcoholic drinks during funeral services

Making what can be a grim process a bit easier for the bereaved, Evergreen actually owns the cemetery across the street, so families can hold the entire wake, service, burial and reception on the same property – and all in one day. 

‘The concept of Evergreen Funeral Cremation & Reception was to be an affordable funeral home to all,’ Triplett told DailyMail.com.

Offering reception services along with burial right across the street allows for families to go to Evergreen for a ‘one-stop shop,’ he boasted. 

Triplett hopes his open-bar approach to funerals will help cut the cost of multiday ceremonies, which can be upwards of $10,000, to a package around $5,000-$6,000.

But his unique view of the ultimate sendoff has also generated controversy – and critics, many from his Columbus community, are sounding off. ‘This seems like a bad combination,’ posted one Reddit commenter. 

‘I feel like people often forget alcohol is a depressant. Having alcohol available at a place where people are grieving sounds like an absolutely terrible idea,’ another agreed. 

Some praised the idea, though, and commended Triplett for trying to ease loved ones’ nerves at a time that’s often so dark for them. 

‘As someone who has had to plan a funeral, I love this. It is awkward and difficult to find a place to go after, when everyone wants to be together and share memories. Wish him the best of luck!!’ wrote one commenter.

Triplett’s unique approach to the ultimate sendoff has generated controversy – and critics on social media, many from his Columbus community, are sounding off

Making their services even more ‘one-stop shop,’ Evergreen actually owns the cemetery right across the street 

‘I want an open bar at my funeral,’ another joked. 

Triplett defended his decision, arguing that it’s common for families to go to a restaurant or bar after a memorial service and order an alcoholic drink, so why not just make it more convenient. 

He added that the response from the community he has heard has been largely positive, with many supporting the idea. 

‘There have been lots of people driving by checking out the facility and coming in to see what we have to offer,’ the enterprising undertaker said.  

Families have even asked, he claimed, to move their already arranged funerals to Evergreen because they prefer their offerings, even if he is still awaiting approval from the state to serve booze. 

Those options include a full kitchen so families can hold a separately catered reception right after the service. The funeral home also offers a variety of cultural and religious rites as well as online translators for families with members who do not speak English. 

He clarified that alcohol won’t be provided if the family holds multiple events in various locations to protect the community from potential drunk driving. 

‘This ensures that any consumption remains on premises and allows for easier coordination with family to ensure safe arrival and departure from our facilities,’ he told Dailymail.com.  

If the liquor license is approved, Triplett, has arranged for ServSafe licensed staff to bartend the services. ServSafe is a certification that is administered by the US National Restaurant Association. 

Triplett told Dailymail.com that the staff is trained to handle confirmation of identification so that underage attendees won’t be served alcohol. 

Evergreen has applied for a Class D3 license which if granted, will allow the funeral home to sell beer and wine. 

‘Having alcohol available at a place where people are grieving sounds like an absolutely terrible idea,’ commented on observer, while another cracked: ‘I want an open bar at my funeral’

The DeJohn family operates four funeral homes across Ohio 

Like Ohio, most states allow the sale of alcohol at funeral homes. The exceptions are Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and North Dakota. New York passed a law in January 2017 to allow food and soft drinks inside but still restricts alcohol.

Indeed, several other mortuaries in Ohio have begun setting up bars – and it could become a regular feature in the not-too-distant future.

Triplett said he’s already been contacted by other funeral homes in Columbus expressing interest in what Evergreen is offering. 

Meanwhile, three other funeral homes in the state already have active licenses, according to the Ohio Liquor Control. 

DeJohn Funeral Homes and Crematory operates three locations across Ohio that practice a celebratory approach to funerals. 

One of their locations partnered with a local restaurant to accommodate catering and even features two banquet room options. 

‘Funerals today, the definition is by the families. We’re just here to help facilitate it. We’re here to be almost an event coordinator, not the funeral director,’ owner Ross DeJohn III told local news outlet, the Geauga County Maple Leaf.  

‘You can still have the traditional service and be cremated or you could be cremated first and have any type of event, it could be a cocktail party, it could be music,’ he added. 

Danessa Molinder and Billy Castrodale held their wedding ceremony at the Washington Park East Cemetery Association 

Some couples have opted to hold their wedding ceremonies in funeral homes to cut down on costs 

Instead of funeral directors, DeJohn’s has ‘certified celebrants’ to help families send their loved ones off to the great beyond. The funeral home even has an event space for weddings to create full-circle moments of life and death. 

Then there’s Spring Grove Funeral Homes, in Cincinnati, which offers families ‘unique nontraditional services’ that can include anything from a garden party or a champagne toast to a last softball game, according to its website. 

Across the state, Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center has already expanded  to host weddings, while dishing out alcoholic beverages to attendees. 

The funeral home boasts a reception center that can be booked for any event from weddings to graduation parties and dinners. 

The owner’s niece, Chelsea Lesnick, even had her wedding at the funeral parlor. She told Today.com that the venue was important to her family so having her special day celebrated there had deeper meaning.

The notion of holding a ceremonious event like a wedding inside a funeral home may seem a little dark, but it can save families thousands. 

The average cost of funerals in the US can range between $7,000 and $12,000, while the average wedding cost can be upwards of $33,000.

The Washington Park East Cemetery Association in neighboring Indiana was ahead of the trend and opened up their Community Life Center for weddings in 2010.

In 2015, Danessa Molinder decided to tie the knot there near thousands of graves. She described the ceremony to the Associated Press as a ‘beautiful thing.’ 

‘It’s such a beautiful building,’ Molinder said. ‘That’s what really drew us to it.’

Mike Nicodemus, a vice president with the National Funeral Directors Association, told AP the trend is growing.

‘People aren’t as religious as they once were … and their attitudes toward death are changing,’ he said.

‘Funeral homes were seen for one reason: to have a funeral. Now they’re being used for all kinds of things.’