High school class to hold 65th reunion in funeral home where services for dead classmates have been held

By Nina Golgowski

Published: | Updated:


When you're 80-years-old and 45 members of your high school class have died in the last year, celebrating your class' 65th reunion at a funeral home isn't entirely a crazy place to meet up with your old friends.

That's at least the shared opinion of Alice Baryenbruch, 82, who will gather with other surviving members of Lincoln High School’s class of 1949 at a Manitowoc, Wisconsin funeral home facility in July.

'I'm familiar with funeral homes at this age so it doesn't seem weird at all,' Mrs Baryenbruch told Today.

Reunion: Approximately 120 surviving 1948 Lincoln High School graduates plan to gather at this Wisconsin funeral home facility for their 65th reunion in July

Reunion: Approximately 120 surviving 1948 Lincoln High School graduates plan to gather at this Wisconsin funeral home facility for their 65th reunion in July

Invite: The invitation to the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center initially caught some of its recipients off guard

Invite: The invitation to the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center initially caught some of its recipients off guard

'As long as I can have an Old Fashioned, it doesn't matter where the reunion is. I'm looking forward to the door prizes,' she said.

The Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center where the gathering will be held is just across from the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home but on the same land and sharing the same parking lot.

It was built as a gathering place for funeral lunches, with several having been for the services of other Lincoln High School graduates - several being from the class of 1949.

They expect less than 120 former graduates to attend this summer, from an original class of 378.

'If it’s your five-year class reunion, you may be a little apprehensive about it, but for people up in years, going to a funeral home is almost second nature,' Harrigan Parkside part-owner Andrew Harrigan told Today.

Home: Sharing the same parking lot is the Harrigan Parkside Funeral home, pictured, which says they will not schedule a funeral on the same date as the high school reunion

Home: Sharing the same parking lot is the Harrigan Parkside Funeral home, pictured, which says they will not schedule a funeral on the same date as the high school reunion

Passing: In the last year 45 members of Lincoln High School's (pictured) class of 1949 have died, with several of their funerals held at the Manitowoc funeral home

Passing: In the last year 45 members of Lincoln High School's (pictured) class of 1949 have died, with several of their funerals held at the Manitowoc funeral home

‘When my husband was looking for locations and came home and told me he went there, I said, “You went where?!”’ exclaimed Germaine Waak to Today, who helped organized the event with her husband Gerry.

After seeing the facility – which has held everything from birthday parties to wedding anniversaries - Mrs Waak says she’s completely changed her mind.

She now tells those who react the way she did:  ‘No it's done beautifully. You don't feel as if you're walking in there and have the feel of any part of a funeral home.’

'It's tough to explain to people. Initially people have a level of apprehension, but once they walk in, it's never been an issue. They see the way it's set up and the atmosphere within, and it’s always gone very well,' said Mr Harrigan.

‘God works in mysterious ways sometimes,’ said Mrs Waak.

The funeral home says they will not schedule a funeral on the same date as the high school reunion while keeping parking accommodations in mind.

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