Giancola's casket go-kart livens up local parade
This year's Arlington Heights' July Fourth Holiday Parade included a unique vehicle - a Casket Go-Kart driven by Mark Giancola of Giancola Funeral & Cremation, LLC.
It accompanied members of the St. Joseph Club of Italian Americans based in the Northwest suburbs and Northwest Chicago. Giancola is the co-founder and a former president of the club, which has raised money for people in need and scholarships, as well as holding social activities for members and their families.
"I was happy to use the Giancola casket go-kart to bring attention to the St. Joseph Club and all the good work it's done for others since being founded in 2001," Giancola said.
"In a sense the image of the casket contrasts with the fact that our club is very much 'alive' in reaching out to help people, as well as passing on a sense of community and our Italian traditions. St. Joseph is the patron saint of families, which reflects another important focus of our club," he said.
Having the casket go-kart in the parade is also a lighthearted slant on Giancola's business as a funeral director and serving families as they pay final respects to their loved ones.
Giancola Funeral & Cremation has been providing these services since 1983 with services available with such funeral homes as Matz Funeral Home in Mount Prospect and Chicago, The Original Rago Brothers' Chapels in Chicago and Norridge, and many other in the Chicagoland area.
"Over the years, we've served hundreds of families with funeral services in a very respectful and understanding way. We are dedicated to caring and personal service. It's been an honor to help so many people move-on and have a sense of peace about the passing of their loved ones," Giancola said. "Sometimes this has involved assisting families on a very short notice.
"Other times we have been able to assist with preplanning funeral services. We handle all the arrangements and preparations of the deceased and their families in both instances."
Giancola's casket go-kart is custom built by C.R.O.W. Enterprises, Inc., based in Bolingbrook and Elmhurst, for promotional purposes in parades or assisting law enforcement awareness campaigns for safe driving. They are hand-built on a steel frame to support a standard steel casket and engine.
"I purchased my casket go-kart to bring some fun to special events and would consider requests for use of it for events and worthy causes," Giancola said.
Giancola Funeral & Cremation, LLC can be contacted by calling (800) 975-4321 and by visiting its website at giancolafuneral.com.