Posted on 06/12/2011 9:46:12 AM PDT by smokingfrog
The Discovery Channel found South Chicago Heights yesterday.
A television crew from Discovery was in town to film a piece for a program called "Outrageous Final Wishes."
The focus was on Bill Bramanti, who in 2008 had a coffin designed to look like a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer can. The episode featuring Bramanti is expected to air toward the end of the year.
"In 2004, I had, I believe it was my fourth heart attack," Bramanti said. "And it was a good one."
Bramanti figured he would make things easier for his family by making his final arrangements in advance. So he went with his two daughters to Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home in Chicago Heights.
"Being in construction, I thought I would want a wooden one, but there was nothing that really grabbed me," Bramanti said.
Then he noticed a sliver casket, and it reminded him of a can of his favorite beer -- Pabst Blue Ribbon.
With help from the Scott Sign Co. of Chicago Heights, the casket was designed to look like a can of Bramanti's beverage of choice.
Now, Bramanti, 70, has found a creative way to use the coffin that he keeps in the barn on his property on East 34th Street. At least once a month he has a party and fills the coffin with ice to serve cans of PBR to his guests.
"I said, if I have to buy a coffin and spend thousands of dollars, I want to use it before I have to use it," Bramanti said. "So I'm getting my money's worth out of this."
Saturday's Discovery Channel taping coincided with Bramanti's third annual casket party, and many of his friends and family showed up for food and to drink beer from the giant, unusual cooler.
(Excerpt) Read more at nwitimes.com ...
Good idea, but he has terrible taste....
Good idea, but he has terrible taste....
If you knew anything about South Chicago Heights you’d realize that this is the classiest guy in town.
Bad Idea Great Taste
PABST???
Perhaps appropriate for a casket, eh?
I see he got some good advertising out of it too.
LOL
I built mine for $200. And yes, I've served beer out of it. It's in the garage with antennas and antenna parts in it now.
/johnny
Pabst is one of the best party beers ever expectically if you’re gonna have more than five. Tastey for the cost.
Personally, I’d want my casket to look like a Lagunitas IPA or a Sierra Nevada Torpedo....
Right up there with "Pigs Eye"! ; )
Ted Kennedy would have needed a six-pack.
Bear Republic Racer 5....
Eh, great idea, but as others have said - bad beer. Give me a Landshark, Sweetwater or Sam Adams anyday.
He can buy a Smart car and drive until the time comes when he needs a coffin.
Very close to my parents’ graves is that of a local Mexican who had a can of Budweiser engraved onto his granite marker.....and on holidays, we’ll see empties laying there - residue from his visitors (.....I hope it’s visitors).
LMAO !
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