Town councillors in Carrickmacross are appealing to the Co Monaghan planning authority to permit the establishment of a funeral parlour in the town.
At present, relatives are obliged to bring remains directly to church following a hospital death if there are inadequate facilities at their residence, particularly in the case of elderly people living alone.
The appeal follows a decision by council planners to refuse permission for the development of the funeral home at a premises next to the town's Main Street.
The proposal was put forward by local undertakers Michael and James Deery.
The application by the undertakers has received cross-party support from the council, with Fine Gael councillor Teresa Carolan, a former town mayor, saying she cannot understand why a town the size of Carrickmacross has no funeral parlour.
"I think this is unreasonable for the year 2006," she said.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Pádraig McNally has also appealed to the planners to have a change of heart on the issue.
However, town manager Michael Fitzpatrick says the planners based their refusal on several issues, including pedestrian safety.