Funeral home offers decorated graves
Paul Allen, funeral coordinator at Draes Funeral Home in Bushy Park, Old Harbour, is confident that tomb decor will become the new trend.
The funeral home recently added the decoration of graves among the services it offers.
Colourful drapes, and even balloons are among the decorations used to line the grave, giving the casket an eye-catching base.
According to Allen, it has given his company a competitive edge.
"Sometimes you can't stand in with the crowd, yah fi stand out. Because when you check uppa some a the funeral homes weh people use to, dem nah offer those stuff; and sometimes families like fi know seh the funeral not going to be mournful," he said
He added: "People start hear about the service, and came and wanted to know what the service is about. I believe the word will spread, just like a virus. I believe in the next year or suh, 95 per cent of every grave will be a decorated tomb."
Allen said the inspiration to offer the service came from its customers, many of whom are laying young people to rest.
"Dem seh dem want inside a it (the grave) pretty up, but guess what? They were talking about painting art inside the tomb. Suh wi seh, no, we have to start another trend in the industry. So then and there we just come about with the material, test it out in a board infrastructure weh inside the office. And when it done, it look pretty, suh wi just put it to dem," he said
Allen said the response has been tremendous so far, especially when the funeral being planned is that of a young person.
"Every day a young person die, either by bike accident or get shot. And you know, as a young person, you family nah go put you down like a pauper. So therefore, the bling burial will fully be requested," Allen said.