A Message About Senate Bill 1111, Relative to Food and Refreshments at Funeral Homes

Today, at a hearing on the Joint Committee on Public Health, Senate Bill 1111, An Act Relative to Funerals, will be heard. It is a bill that has garnered much media attention as of late, and I wanted to let the public know a little bit more about the bill.

This bill, which I have filed for the last several years, seeks to allow licensed funeral establishments to provide food and liquid refreshments during hours of operation. In the past, it has been said that a health hazard would exist should food and drink be allowed in the same vicinity as a corpse. In light of the fact that a great number of funeral homes across the Commonwealth are also private residences, however, I find this argument to be less than persuasive. Obviously, should this bill be passed, reasonably prudent steps would be taken in order to ensure complete public safety and security relative to the separation of areas where food and beverages would be served from any dangerous chemical substances used in the course of business.

For decades, wakes and funeral services were conducted in the decedent’s home, where food and refreshments were served to attending mourners. However, that tradition has undergone changes over the past generation. The custom of family and friends gathering together in a wake setting has continued, only in a different venue – funeral homes. What needs to be prominent in your deliberations is the fact that these substitute locations should always be looked upon as a surrogate home in which the deceased family can relocate for the purposes of bidding farewell to their loved ones. Just as one would extend hospitality of food and drink to visitors in their residence, so should they be able to extend the same courtesies to visitors at their chosen funeral home.

In order to dispel some misconceptions about the ideas behind this bill, I want to assure the Committee that the intention would be to allow family members – some of whom spend six, seven or eight hours at a time at the funeral home – to exit to an adjoining room for the purposes of having light refreshments. At no point did I intend for my bill to be looked upon as an affront to the deceased – merely as a way to help comfort family members and mourners at an already difficult time, nor was it intended to mandate that funeral directors provide these amenities – only that the prohibition be lifted.

I look forward to continuing the dialogue about this bill and hope it is passed favorably this session and is signed into law by Governor Patrick.