Indian Community to Open One of a Kind Funeral Home

By Jobin Panicker

May 10, 2012 Updated May 10, 2012 at 8:05 PM PDT

Fresno County is now home to a one-of-a-kind funeral home. A building labeled "Peaceful Place" is being constructed by the Sikh community. The $4 million project started after the Indian community wanted a more intimate and specialized form of funeral service. It's a work in progress in Fowler.

Workers spent the day outside pouring concrete for a new building called the Peaceful Place. Inside Dr. Boota Singh Chahil gave us a quick tour of a one-of-a kind funeral home.

"So we bought this land. Started the process. Got all the permits and a year ago started building it," said Singh.

Dr. Singh says the conversation started about 10 years ago. And just now they're realizing the dream. Singh says he wanted to give the Indian community options when it comes to saying farewell to a loved one. Places they use now had issues with space and parking.

This funeral home caters to the traditional service and can fit up to 800 people.

"We do cremations only. We need some place where they can feel comfortable."

The place is set to open in two months.