Business Type: Other
516 South Washington Street
Naperville, Illinois 60540
Phone: 630-355-0624
Website: http://www.beidelmankunschfh.com/FuneralHome/
Email: beidelmankunsch@aol.com
| HOURS |
| 24 Hours A Day For Your Needs. Normal Business Hours: 9am to 8pm |
Our History
Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home has a long history of service to the Naperville community.
In 1861, local cabinetmaker Fred Long established his furniture and "undertaking" business at the corner of Washington Street and Jackson Avenue, responding to requests to "undertake" the making of coffins. The Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home evolved from this pioneer firm.
Long's nephew, Oliver "O.J." Beidelman, began working for his uncle prior to the turn of the century. He purchased the business from Long in 1911, and 17 years later built the three-story brick building in the same location.
Oliver Beidelman continued to operate the dual-purpose business there until his retirement. He was a 50-year member of the Euclid Lodge #65 AF & AM and one of the founders of the Naperville YMCA.
Oliver's son, Owen "Dutch" Beidelman, entered the family business at an early age and continued to operate the two concerns at the original location (Beidelman Furniture Store) until 1966, when he built the new ground-level structure at 117 West Van Buren, where the funeral home operates today. Dutch was a member of Rotary for over 60 years; he was also a member of the Masonic Euclid Lodge #65 AF & FM, as well as past director and lifelong member of the Naperville YMCA. He served on the City Council for 24 years and actively supported many civic projects through the years.
In 1968, Dutch's son-in-law John W. Kunsch joined the funeral home staff. In 1978, a new partnership was formed and the name of the firm was changed to Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home. John earned his Bachelor of Science degree from John Carroll University in 1963 and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1969.
A Bronze Star medalist, John served as a second lieutenant with the 16th Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a member of the VFW, American Legion, Moose, Knights of Columbus, and Kiwanis Evening Club.
Along with the addition of a branch facility, John Kunsch's twin sons, John L. and Joseph O. (fifth generation) joined their father in the family business. They take pride in keeping the funeral home family owned and independent. They are both 1997 graduates of Loras College and 1998 graduates of Worsham College of Mortuary Science.
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Fans of Beidelman Kunsch Funeral Home
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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Jamie Ford Random House |
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Miles from Nowhere Nami Mun Riverhead |
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American Buffalo Steven Rinella Spiegel & Grau |
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The Piano Teacher Janice Y. K. Lee Viking |
Best Service For My Parents
My father died in 1999. I called the funeral home immediately after speaking to the coroner. The phone rang 4 times, then at about Midnight it was answered. John Kunsch Senior was on the phone. I briefly explained my father had passed. John asked what I would like him to do. I broke down and told him through the tears that I did not want my Dad spending the night in the Edward Hospital morgue. John Kunsch assured me that his 2 sons would be at the hospital soon to pick Dad up.
Once I heard that I felt total relief. Another task completed, another issue off my plate. During the time that passed after Dad's passing and the actual final services Beidelman Kunsch Funeral Home really stepped it up. They made all the planning so easy, and they were very caring. Knowing that our Father had asked to have a friend "bouncer" the door in case our older brother showed up they felt it was a bad idea. In fact they were clear that if we wished to ban anyone from the property it was our right, but that it may cause more of an issue than it was worth. It was settled. Mom allowed our older brother to be a part of the process. Regardless of the actions which ensued, his pequiliar behavior, and negative demeanor we persevered and allowed him to grieve as well. Turned out not to be such a good idea as during the lunch after the funeral (his father was buried that day too, by the way) he was tormenting the youngest brother about a Series 6 license. After that a man asked him why he was such a bully. To which the older brother replied, "It is years of payback". The reply from the older man was wise when he simply stated, "Take it easy, he just lost his Father, and he just buried his Dad today." That spoke volumes. In the past our Father would say that the oldes brother told him on many occassions "you are my best friend." Dad would always tell me that he did not want to be our best friend. He just wanted to be our Dad. To me he was my Dad.
The job of the funeral home / funeral director is not just to assist with the service organization but to also be a sounding board for family issues. Great counsel and a wonderful family to assist in the time of need. In fact I can think of no better family to assist during this absolute time of pain and need.
It came about that my Mother's cancer came back. She passed away 17 months after our Father. Again John Sr., John Jr., and Joe were all very helpful and attentive. As there were no requests to exclude a family member we were all on board to invite the family member that was the most harmful to our Mother and Father financially. Our brother in law drew the smalled straw, so he was capable to make the call and find our sibling on a trip somewhere in Florida. Our brother in law explained what had happened, when the services were, and the times of those services. The reply he received was less than positive. He was told "We will try to make it" from our Siblings wife. I believe this was before her arrest for beating up her mother and father who were in their 70's. Yes I am sure it was before she beat them up.
This turned out to be a wasted phone call as our older brother chose not to show up for his Mother's wake or funeral. Again an amazing and unbelievable situation which the Kunsch family had nothing but kind words and encouragement for us. They explained that while this may be inexcusable to us and them, there had to be a reason for this total lack of respect for ones Mother. As it turned out the attorney who drafted our Mother's will was very close to the older sibling. Also it appears that when the will was drawn up our Mother made it clear that "My older son will get nothing, as he has already taken enough from the family". Not only did the will state that, so did the trust. Wow. Months later we all pieced it together. The attorney (who was later accused and I believe charged with stealing a clients money in trust after a parents death) had to let our sibling know verbally (allegedly) that he and his parent beating wife were not being included in the will. According to our Mother there was a period of years from 1992 to 1998 where the sibling had total control over the money at the family business. That was evident by the amount of money that "dissapeared" during these years. It was somewhere around $2,200,000 in total.
All of these things show us why our sibling was a no show to our Mother's wake. Again these were the things that we were given advice, counsel, and above all empathy from our Funeral Directors at Beidelman Kunsh. Sorry it is so long, the story has to be told to show what really goes on. Money really changes the way others react to us, and how we react to others. The one constant in life is change.
While the service was lovely, classy, and in a beautiful facility there is always a circle of drama that surrounds you when a family member dies. I found that when going through these things as well as a death, the Kunsch family went above and beyond the call of duty.
Jack Mann
Mann Insurance
630-546-9303
http://www.manninsurance.net