A Celebration of Life
By Rosie Conway
By Rosie Conway
High above the front door of the building on 60 South Grant Street hangs a vintage gas lantern. It’s one of the new features added by the Sullivan family when they purchased the funeral home a year ago. But not many people take note of that detail given that they’re likely walking into the building, heads down, to mourn the loss of a loved one. Yet the lamp represents the Sullivan’s attitude toward helping families—simply put, even the smallest details are important.
In 1924, the Sullivan Family opened Sullivan Funeral Home on the South Side of Chicago. Since its inception, four generations of Sullivans have been helping people through one of the hardest times in their lives. “In 1984, we bought Adams-Winterfield in Downers Grove and later changed the name to Adams-Winterfield and Sullivan,” explains Terry Sullivan, Funeral Director at Sullivan Funeral Home. “Now we have two locations—Hinsdale and Downers Grove.”
The newest addition to the Sullivan Family is conveniently located in the heart of town on the corner of Grant Street and Hinsdale Avenue. The Sullivans have spent the last year updating the building, replacing furniture, and redoing landscaping. “We are doing a lot of work inside and outside to make improvements,” says Brian Sullivan, Funeral Director at Sullivan Funeral Homes.
Prior to the Grant Street opening, loyal clients from all over Chicago used the Downers Grove location. Much of that is because of the quality of care and aforementioned attention to detail the Sullivan family provides. “Here, families are always dealing with one of the Sullivans during the funeral service process,” says Brian. “That attention sets us apart from many of the funeral homes in the area. My father or I will be with you the whole time.”
Sullivan Funeral Home, the only funeral home in Hinsdale, offers an array of services—everything from pre-planning traditional funerals to basic cremations and they ensure quality care throughout the whole process. Families can choose from traditional funerals, private visitations, cremation, memorial visitations, memorial programs, military themed funerals, florist assistance, direction with aftercare counseling, permanent memorialization, and more. No matter what your traditions, religious beliefs, or customs may be, the Sullivans can accommodate.
The Sullivans, however, contribute in many other ways to the community in which they live and work. They are active in various local churches and they offer refreshments during the 4th of July parade for spectators who are often perched on their front lawn. They had an open house for all local clergy, they sponsored the Christmas and spring luncheons at St. Isaac Jogues, and they joined the Chamber of Commerce and hosted the Business After Hours reception on June 21. “We all live in the community,” explains Brian. “We treat all of the families we serve like friends and neighbors.”
Their dedication to community service has also been recognized as both Terry and his staff have won, on two separate occasions, the SHARE Award—a pregnancy and infant perinatal bereavement program at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. Brian and Terry also received the Good Samaritan of the Year Award. The Sullivans also host the “Walk of Remembrance” each year at the Downers Grove location for families who have lost a baby.
The Sullivans enjoy being involved in the Downers Grove community and they look forward to building similar relationships in Hinsdale. “There are pictures, movies, and memories in the chapels and gatherings in our lounge to celebrate the life of the loved ones that we serve. Fortunately, most of the people we’ve served have lived a full and long life and we get to help people celebrate that,” says Brian. “We get to meet a lot of people and by the end of the services, we develop a friendship with the families that we serve. These are people we never forget.”
This story was sponsored by The Sullivan Funeral Home. The funeral home is located at 60 South Grant Street in Hinsdale, 630-323-0275 and 4343 Main Street in Downers Grove, 630-968-1000, sullivanfuneralhomehinsdale.com.
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