Heidi Coats-Frobel hopes eight months of renovations at the funeral home her family has owned since 1925 will make the task of planning a funeral a little bit easier for local residents.
Coats Funeral Home on Sashabaw Road in Waterford recently completed a project designed to give families the option of holding a funeral luncheon in the airy, remodeled upstairs of the building, rather than arranging for separate accommodations.
The new kitchen is equipped with all the necessary amenities’a full-size stove, refrigerator, sink, and dishwasher, as well as a long countertop with two-sided access that allows the layout of a banquet-style meal.
Families can provide their own food or hire a caterer, but funeral home personnel hope to provide additional choices soon, as well.
‘We want to have one or two caterers available,? said, Coats-Frobel, business manager at Coats. ‘Most caterers require a lot of notice, so right now we’re looking to find someone who can put a meal together for a large group on very short notice.?
The facilities are also available for smaller groups who just want to prepare a quiet meal between visitation hours, rather than going out to a restaurant.
In addition to the new kitchen, the building’s upstairs has been transformed to include a spacious, multi-purpose sitting room that is functional enough to serve as a banquet room, yet traditional enough to convert to an extra chapel when necessary.
A second lounge area with caf? tables and chairs has also been added, as have upstairs restrooms, a sound system and a wheelchair accessible lift.
Coats-Frobel said she hopes the new conveniences will make the funeral experience less taxing for families who are already experiencing a difficult situation.
‘It’s one less thing they have to worry about,? she said. ‘There are so many decisions to be made and details to be taken care of. This will help families to lighten the load a little bit.?
A kid’s area with television, videos and other activities to help alleviate the restlessness and boredom children often experience after spending several hours in a funeral home is also in the works.
The project got underway last February, with contractors timing the hammering, sawing and hauling of debris to occur when the noise would not disrupt mourning families.
Builders hauled materials in and out of the big upstairs window, where Coats Funeral Home Founder Robert H. Coats and his wife Lena once occupied an apartment. Leonard Coats, the son of Robert H. and Lena, also lived in an upstairs apartment with his wife Mabel. Heidi Coats-Frobel and her sister Heather Coats, are fourth-generation owners of the business, both daughters of Lois and Robert M.Coats ? grandson of Robert H. Coats. Coats Funeral Home is located at 3141 Sashabaw Road in Waterford. For more information, call (248) 674-0461.