New Brosh Chapel shows emerging industry trend

A new Brosh Chapel at the Czech National Cemetery in Cedar Rapids is opening this month, replacing a flood-ravaged facility on Third Street SE with a digital-age multifunction space.

While memorial services and funerals will s be the main need served by the chapel, it also will host weddings, birthday parties, and other family events.

“We'd like to say that our new chapel is a positive outcome of the flood of 2008,” said Matt Linn, owner of the Cedar Rapids Brosh Chapel. He said the new facility “helps fill a void in the community.”

Brosh Chapel was forced to abandoned its location near Cedar Rapids' historic Czech Village when the Cedar River reached a record flood crest in June 2008. Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids shared its facilities with Brosh Chapel until a new funeral home could be constructed.

The funeral chapel was known for serving families of Czech heritage, making the National Czech Cemetery a logical place to continue the tradition.

Linn said the new facility is the first newly constructed funeral home in Cedar Rapids since 1985. He said the building demonstrates advances in the ability to enhance the experience and reach of services through technology.

The chapel itself is equipped with two large projection screens. Inconspicuous cameras will permit viewing of the services in overflow areas, including large video screens in the lobby and the adjacent multi-purpose facility.

Linn said the facility will be equipped to webcast funeral services for family members who are unable to attend because of health or travel issues.

In warm weather months, Linn expects the facility to host many social events on its outdoor patio, which is also equipped with a television.

Brosh Chapel has operated in Solon since 1885 and expanded to the Czech Village neighborhood in the 1930s. The company completed a new Brosh Chapel and Community Center in Solon in 2003. Its catering operations in Solon will provide food and beverage services to the Cedar Rapids facility.

Linn said the new Cedar Rapids chapel facility will have a capacity for roughly 200 visitors, and the multi-purpose facility will be able to hold about 150.

The new technologies will include a touchscreen computer that clients may use to design and view the casket of their choice, and make other selections.