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  • Now, A Fitting Send Off...

    • 05/02/2016
    • ADB
    • 0 Comments

    Yes, it seems at times that the bar industry is being assailed from all sides.  The coffee shops, like Starbucks are reinventing themselves as casual evening lounges serving beer and wine. 

    Burger King, Taco Bell and other fast food outlets are ramping up to serve beer and burgers at airports and other selected locations. 

    Whole Foods markets opened an in-store restaurant and even invites shoppers to imbibe while rolling shopping carts down the aisles.  

    Well, now you can imbibe at a mortuary visitation, memorial service or funeral. Yes, soon there may be a bar set up right at the funeral home, or even at graveside. 

    Sure, at American Bars we can already hear our Irish friends chuffling, “Laddy Boy, we been doin’ the whole send off with liquor for centuries. It’s called an Irish Wake don’ cha’ know!” 

    Ah, Faith and Begonia! Those wonderful, old-timey, 19th Century Irish home wakes, lasted for up to three days. The deceased was remembered and honored with countless whiskey toasts until the wee hours of the morning. Yes, those remain legendary.

    Yes, American Bars is well aware of the grand Erie tradition and salute it, toast it, and drink to it (and an Irishman knows that accounts for three rounds, for those counting). However, an Irish Wake is not held within the Holy Confines of the Mortuary, Cemetery or Chapel. But now, you can. 

    Of course, the funeral of a loved one can be a sad time or a moment for the celebration of life. For one funeral home in Wheeling, Illinois, it will be a real celebration because of a recent measure approved by the local city council. Kolssak Funeral Home has been granted a liquor license and will now be serving drinks at viewings and funerals. The measure also requires that food be served to mourners during events at the funeral home.

    According to David Kolssak, CFO of Kolssak Funeral Home, “Right now we’re pioneering, we’re out there looking far out, thinking these things could change the life celebrations at a funeral home. The spirit of this is not to do nothing but help people at a time of need.” The measure will allow the funeral home to serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

    Owner Jon Kolssak stated, “We have received an amazing outpouring of support from people. We feel [catering] allows another tier to the services that we provide. We are giving people the freedom to celebrate the lives of their loved ones.”

    According to Kolssak, the actual servicing of food and drink will be provided by a local restaurant and not by the funeral home itself. This allows local businesses the opportunity to reach new customers and supports the community as a whole.

    Kolssak Funeral Home has been in business since 1930 and serves a community of about 40K in Wheeling, which is a suburb of Chicago. The funeral home will begin alcohol  and food service by June 2016.

    American Bars predicts that come June, no one in the town of Wheeling will die friendless. Actually, every vigil, visitation and service will show a grand outpouring (pun intended) of love and affection for everyone who passes away in the community, no matter how obscure. What a great little city! 

    If you’re interested in the services of Kolssak Funeral Home, they can be reached at:

    189 S Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090

    Phone: (847) 537-6600

    Open 24 hours — but liquor is only served from 7am to 8pm. 

    And the primary drink they plan to serve is champagne. 

    We’ll drink to that. A toast — 

    … May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You! 

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Now, A Fitting Send Off...

Yes, it seems at times that the bar industry is being assailed from all sides.  The coffee shops, like Starbucks are reinventing themselves as casual evening lounges serving beer and wine. 

Burger King, Taco Bell and other fast food outlets are ramping up to serve beer and burgers at airports and other selected locations. 

Whole Foods markets opened an in-store restaurant and even invites shoppers to imbibe while rolling shopping carts down the aisles.  

Well, now you can imbibe at a mortuary visitation, memorial service or funeral. Yes, soon there may be a bar set up right at the funeral home, or even at graveside. 

Sure, at American Bars we can already hear our Irish friends chuffling, “Laddy Boy, we been doin’ the whole send off with liquor for centuries. It’s called an Irish Wake don’ cha’ know!” 

Ah, Faith and Begonia! Those wonderful, old-timey, 19th Century Irish home wakes, lasted for up to three days. The deceased was remembered and honored with countless whiskey toasts until the wee hours of the morning. Yes, those remain legendary.

Yes, American Bars is well aware of the grand Erie tradition and salute it, toast it, and drink to it (and an Irishman knows that accounts for three rounds, for those counting). However, an Irish Wake is not held within the Holy Confines of the Mortuary, Cemetery or Chapel. But now, you can. 

Of course, the funeral of a loved one can be a sad time or a moment for the celebration of life. For one funeral home in Wheeling, Illinois, it will be a real celebration because of a recent measure approved by the local city council. Kolssak Funeral Home has been granted a liquor license and will now be serving drinks at viewings and funerals. The measure also requires that food be served to mourners during events at the funeral home.

According to David Kolssak, CFO of Kolssak Funeral Home, “Right now we’re pioneering, we’re out there looking far out, thinking these things could change the life celebrations at a funeral home. The spirit of this is not to do nothing but help people at a time of need.” The measure will allow the funeral home to serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Owner Jon Kolssak stated, “We have received an amazing outpouring of support from people. We feel [catering] allows another tier to the services that we provide. We are giving people the freedom to celebrate the lives of their loved ones.”

According to Kolssak, the actual servicing of food and drink will be provided by a local restaurant and not by the funeral home itself. This allows local businesses the opportunity to reach new customers and supports the community as a whole.

Kolssak Funeral Home has been in business since 1930 and serves a community of about 40K in Wheeling, which is a suburb of Chicago. The funeral home will begin alcohol  and food service by June 2016.

American Bars predicts that come June, no one in the town of Wheeling will die friendless. Actually, every vigil, visitation and service will show a grand outpouring (pun intended) of love and affection for everyone who passes away in the community, no matter how obscure. What a great little city! 

If you’re interested in the services of Kolssak Funeral Home, they can be reached at:

189 S Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090

Phone: (847) 537-6600

Open 24 hours — but liquor is only served from 7am to 8pm. 

And the primary drink they plan to serve is champagne. 

We’ll drink to that. A toast — 

… May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You! 

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