Maine Man Creates Caskets That Double as Furniture

Who says you can’t take it with you?

One Maine casket maker is doing what he can to help his clients fight the rising cost of funeral planning by creating coffins that can double as furniture. For the past five years, Chuck Lakin has been building caskets that can be displayed in the home, as decorative furniture pieces, until the time comes when they need to be converted back into coffins.

“Basically, like on the bookcase coffin, you take the shelves out, you take the screws that are holding the shelves up out, and if you haven’t put the handle on yet, you put the handles on and you’re ready to go,” said Lakin.

One customer by the name of Virginia Landry has already purchased her casket, which is currently being used to store her collection of handmade quilts.

“You know I’m in my 80s, by the time you’re in your 80s, if you’re not accepting the fact that you’re not going to be around forever, what’s wrong with you? When they get ready to take me over the hill it’s going to be an easy job,” said Landry.

Lankin says that while his goal is to help people offset funeral costs by providing them with an item they can enjoy for years before St. Peter wants to see it, some people are simply put off by the idea.

“There are more people that are willing to talk about it now than there used to be, but it’s still a tough sell for a lot of people,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that the video above is not of Lakin's creations. Visit Chuck Lakin's website by clicking here.