Seniors unnerved by closeup view of their final stop

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho - Oldsters in this town are protesting plans to open a funeral home across the street from their senior center, saying it would be a little too close for comfort.

About 100 people signed a petition calling on the City Council to deny James Asper and Mary Hansen, partners in Aspen Funeral Home LLC, a permit to open their funeral home across the street from the Lake City Senior Center, senior center manager Vickie Harrison said. They plan to present the petition at a Feb. 5 hearing, she said.

“I don’t like it at all. It kind of gives you an uncomfortable feeling,” said petitioner Marg Dunkle, 65.

“We find it a little disconcerting that they would think that location is intentional,” Hansen said.

But some seniors, like Doy Seng, 81, had a practical view of the proposed funeral home.

“We’re old here. We’re all ready to go,” she said. “I think it will be handy.”