What is the importance of the funeral home located across the street from Zuckerman's apartment in the novel, Zuckerman Unbound?

The second and final time that Zuckerman interacts with Alvin Pepler, it is in front of this funeral home, just outside Zuckerman’s apartment. Pepler potentially found Zuckerman’s apartment and waited there for Zuckerman to emerge. In this interaction, Pepler asks Zuckerman to read and critique a short piece of Pepler’s writing, and Pepler asks for an honest opinion. Zuckerman’s honest opinion is rather negative, and Pepler becomes hostile. Zuckerman flees into the funeral home, where he pretends to be a mourner.