World’s first drive-in funeral theater in San Antonio allows mourners to watch the service and grieve from their cars amid coronavirus lockdown
- Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries became the first in the world to announce plans to open a drive-in theater earlier this month
- One of the first of the unique services was held outside their chapel in San Antonio on Tuesday morning
- Coronavirus deaths in the US have now reached 25,603, with confirmed cases surpassing 600,000 and as many as 1,500 Americans dying in 24 hours
- Mission park’s theater allows family and friends the chance to attend the funeral service from their vehicles, without breaking social distancing guidelines
- The ceremony concluded with guests honking their horns three times – to represent comfort, support and love – before driving away
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to keep lockdowns and social distancing measures in place across the US, a funeral home in San Antonio has started offering a new service to ensure mourners can still say bid their loved ones a proper farewell.
Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries became the first in the world to announce plans to open a drive-in theater earlier this month – and one of the first of the unique services was held outside their chapel on Tuesday morning.
Coronavirus deaths in the US have now reached 25,603, with confirmed cases surpassing 600,000 and as many as 1,500 Americans dying from the deadly illness in a single 24-hour period.
Reacting quickly to the changing dynamics, Mission park’s drive-in theater allows family and friends the chance to attend funeral services from their vehicles at no cost, helping to maintain social distancing guidelines.
Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries became the first in the world to announce plans to open a drive-in theater earlier this month, and one of the first of the unique services was held outside their chapel on Tuesday morning
Mission park’s drive-in theater allows family and friends the chance to attend the funeral service from their own vehicles at not cost, helping to maintain social distancing guidelines
As part of the service, mourners are able to drive up to a window, view the departed’s casket or urn, then drive to a microphone stand to leave a spoken message for the grieving family – all without leaving their cars.
The ceremonies conclude with guests honking their horns three times – to represent comfort, support and love – before driving away.
For others unable to attend in person or leave their homes, services are also streamed online.
Virtual guests are able to digitally sign guestbooks, leave messages of condolences and send virtual hugs to the family of the deceased.
‘It’s absolutely free of charge,’ CEO of the funeral home, Dick Tips, said on announcing the service. ‘Our families are hurting right now, and we want to make it as easy as possible on them. The best way we could do that was to be able to stream their services.’
As part of the service, mourners were able to drive up to a window, view the departed’s casket or urn, then drive to a microphone stand to leave a spoken message for the grieving family – all without leaving their cars
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and San Antonio city officials have said the 10-person limit imposed on gatherings don’t apply to funerals. But funeral providers were urged to keep mourners a social distance away from each other and to follow the CDC’s guidance on hygiene and cleanliness
Regardless of the ongoing pandemic, Tips acknowledged making funeral arrangements for somebody you love is hard enough, ‘but to tell somebody they can’t come, that’s even worse,’ he said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and San Antonio city officials have said the 10-person limit imposed on gatherings doesn’t apply to funerals. But funeral providers were urged to keep mourners a social distance away from each other and to follow the CDC’s guidance on hygiene and cleanliness.
‘It’s probably new for everybody. We’ve redesigned our facilities to accommodate for this in short order.
‘We have to make adjustments and we have to make them fast,’ Tips said. ‘To make it easier for every family in San Antonio to be a part of the ones they love.’