Funeral home adds on-site wine cellar

A funeral parlour in Florida has opened an on-site wine cellar in order to offer mourners “a different way to grieve.”

Hodges Funeral Home general manager Seth Minson poses in the home’s new on-site cellar. Credit: Scott McIntyre

As reported by NBC, Hodges Funeral Home in Naples, Florida, is the first of its kind in the US to offer wine tastings during its services.

“Nobody wants to go to a funeral or stay at a funeral home, so we’ve been renovating things,” general manager Seth Minson told NBC.

Old barrels are used as tables at the bar. Credit: Scott McIntyre

“They still want to have a party and have the means to mourn their loved ones, but they don’t want to do it over a person’s body.

“Our goal is to make people comfortable, almost like they weren’t even in a funeral home,” Minson added.

The move has sparked mixed opinions from local residents, though Minson has assured that the home will offer traditional services for those not interested in using the cellar.

“It will be no different to going to a restaurant that serves alcohol and not sitting at the bar,” Minson said.

He believes his idea could soon catch on in funeral parlours throughout the US. “Sure, there are tears, and sure, there’s sadness, but the fact of the matter is there’s a personal way to celebrate somebody,” he said.