Refrigeration Unit At Funeral Home In Manchester Draws Complaints

MANCHESTER, CT — Neighbors of a longtime funeral home in Manchester lodged complaints about an extra refrigeration unit brought to the business to handle a potential swell in deaths related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The complaints about the Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home on Main Street were issued last week to the town manager's office and the mayor, officials at Town Hall said.

Glenn Blumenstein, one of the funeral home owners, also acknowledged the complaint. The unit was brought in about two weeks ago to "stay ahead" of the pandemic, a practice employed by several parlors across the state, said Laura Soll, a spokeswoman for the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association.

Manchester had 262 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday, according to state health department statistics. In Hartford County, there were 4,128 confirmed virus cases and 442 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday.

Town officials said the extra refrigeration unit needed extra power, so the home worked with municipal officials to add a temporary power pole. The neighbor complained about the noise and the unit being partially visible.

Manchester Mayor Jay Moran said it's a product of coping with uncertain times.

"I have received complaints and understand the neighbors' concerns," he said. "However we are in a time where normal is so different. That being said, the funeral home doesn't have the capacity to handle these challenging times and this is hopefully a short-term temporary solution."

The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association a statement Wednesday:

"During this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been unusual for funeral homes in Connecticut and other hard-hit states across the U.S. to add temporary refrigeration storage units to accommodate the surge of decedents. As at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home in Manchester, funeral directors are working with their local municipalities and other key agencies to comply with safety and health requirements. This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone, and funeral directors continue to respect and be especially mindful of the deceased, their families, and the communities helped by their funeral homes."