Many years ago a notice about a funeral may have appeared somewhere in the town square, in the local post office, or the info was passed by word of mouth. Then we had printed newspaper funeral notices and obituaries. Today we also have online obituaries via newspapers and funeral home websites.
Change has come once again. A funeral home in Des Moines, Iowa is posting obituaries on billboards. Yes, you read that correctly. I had to reread the article about it.
They appear on electronic billboards and rotate with other advertising. I can see it now. Attend John Q. Smith’s funeral followed by the ads for BBQ ribs, a local “gentlemen’s” club, the all-you-can-eat buffet, and then one for the 10:00 news team. How did obituaries ever escape the Burma Shave style series roadside ads? That could have said —
Friday 4:00
Stop to see
John Q. Smith
Don’t be late
Oaks Funeral Home
“Jessica Koth, spokeswoman for the National Funeral Directors Association in Brookfield, Wis., said it’s the first time she’s heard of a funeral home displaying service information on a billboard.” Read the Associated Press article by clicking here.
© 2009 – 2014, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.
