Thank You Cards are Precious Reminders of ‘Why We Do What We Do’

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“Hardly a day goes by where we don’t get a thank you note from a family we’ve served” reflects Bob Van Staalduinen (Bob Van works just fine!) owner of Knollcrest Funeral Home in Lombard and Steuerle Chapel in Villa Park. Having served families in the western suburbs and beyond for over 30 years and a few generations of many families, it is pretty common for those families to let the licensed professionals and courteous staff members of Knollcrest and Steuerle know how grateful they are by writing a kind note after the services are completed. 

“You bet we read them, over and over again” adds Bob Van, with an emotional voice brimming with gratefulness. They’re precious to him, and to all of the funeral directors and staff at both locations. Things can get hard at times, and there is no greater reminder of how important this work is, than the grateful words of a family acknowledging that you made their most difficult times a little easier. Families don’t have to send notes, or call with these kind remarks, but after, and often even during, nearly every service, they do. It’s a spiritually fulfilling experience to which we say a heartfelt Thank You back to our wonderful families.

If you have any questions or need any assistance at-need, or you’re considering pre-planning, please contact us. There is no obligation in either instance. We’re here to help no matter what time of day or night you need us. For Knollcrest, phone us at 630.932.1500 or email us at knollcrest@knollcrest.net for Steuerle Chapel, phone us at  630.832.4161 or email us at steuerlefh.com

Presenting your loved one in a beautiful way at their Visitation

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When a family sees their loved one for the very last time during Visitation, the memory they treasure most is one of the person they loved to be “in peace,” and now without any Earthly burdens that may have caused hardships, however slight or severe. The person they’ve known and loved may have encountered difficult illnesses, trauma, or even difficult medical treatments in the final phase of life before being called home. 

We’ve always known this at Knollcrest and Steuerle Funeral Homes. For Bob Van Staalduinen, it meant that stating “Our Service is an Art” extended from how our client families were helped through these stressful and emotionally difficult periods and more. It means all the way through to how important the cosmetology, hairstyle, clothing selection, jewelry, etc. is in the final moments their precious loved ones are with us through the visitation and final disposition.  To the best extent possible, we want people to witness our loved ones appearing  how their families would like them to be remembered. There may be no greater satisfaction than when a family sees their loved one for the first time before a visitation and shares with us how pleased and grateful they are with the work we’ve done to ensure a beautiful life is represented by the beautiful person who lived it. The positive comments of how they appear pretty/handsome, younger, peaceful….beautiful; those are the goals we endeavor to achieve for the last comforting phase on Earth. Every one of our professional Directors are very well versed in just how important this is to our Family Funeral Services, as well as the families who offer us the privilege to help them through this time. It’s not a goal; it’s an expectation. Service is an Art here. We believe that with every fiber of our being. 

If you have any questions or need any assistance at-need, or you’re considering pre-planning, please contact us. There is no obligation in either instance. We’re here to help no matter what time of day or night you need us. For Knollcrest, phone us at 630.932.1500 or email us at knollcrest@knollcrest.net for Steuerle Chapel, phone us at  630.832.4161 or email us at steuerlefh.com

At Knollcrest Funeral Home and Steuerle Chapel, we have become part of the Filipino Community

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Arsenio and Ditas are two very special people and two remarkable Ministers of Consolation in their Parish, Community and truly the entire region. They’re from a very growing community that at the same time is also very well established in our area. The Filipino community proudly has shared its cultures and its customs to the DuPage County area and beyond for many decades. Those customs include some very beautiful and elaborate traditions during the visitation portion of the funeral arrangements. Bob Van Staalduinen recognized very early on that this community and all others require an atmosphere where they can grieve and celebrate their loved ones in the manner that brings them the most comfort; the way they have been forever in their homeland, and for decades in their new homeland. 

Arsenio and Mercedita (known to her legion of friends as Ditas)  Alzona are the Ministers of Consolation at their parish and in their larger community. They are among the most compassionate ministers one might ever encounter. They understand what it takes to grieve, celebrate life and provide comfort. So, their opinion is highly valued. As Arsenio says it “Knollcrest always caters to the needs of the Filipino Community” and Ditas adds,  “That’s why the Filipino Community prefers Knollcrest. They accommodate people and welcome people.” They go even further when they pay Bob the highest compliment by stating “Bob Staalduinen is one of us. He knows us. He joins in our celebration.” The celebration includes Ditas doing some exotic food preparation, and Bob loves what she cooks! 

A time existed in our more densely populated city where every neighborhood and ethnic group had their ‘own’ funeral home to go to for their friends and relatives. As the movement to the suburbs grew and diverse groups lived much more spread out and less condensed, the choices became less obvious and funeral homes needed to welcome all faiths, all beliefs, all cultures instead of only one or two. Knollcrest and Steuerle Funeral Homes have been precise since the beginning that “All are Welcome” and the strengh of diversity makes the entire experience more rich. The Filipino community is just one of the area’s diverse ethnic cultures that has found a high level of comfort and understanding from Robert Van Staalduinen and the staff at Knollcrest Funeral Home and Steuerle Chapel.

If you have any questions or need any assistance at-need, or you’re considering pre-planning, please contact us. There is no obligation in either instance. We’re here to help no matter what time of day or night you need us. For Knollcrest, phone us at 630.932.1500 or email us at knollcrest@knollcrest.net for Steuerle Chapel, phone us at  630.832.4161 or email us at steuerlefh.com

EVEN WHEN THE FUNERAL HOME SERVICES ARE COMPLETED; THE SERVICES TO THE FAMILY CONTINUE 

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While one might think after the visitation, religious service, disposition; burial or cremation, are complete, all the services a family may require are over. That is often far from the case. 

Our first concern is always for the family and their comfort while they are celebrating the life of their loved ones. Much of the ‘official’ and ‘legal’ requirements are seen to by our professional Directors and very tenured staff at Knollcrest Funeral Home and Steuerle Chapel, Ltd. Families have enough to do in such a short period of time without being swallowed up in the administrative details that must be dealt with. 

Invariably, issues arise later on with estates, property, insurance, benefits, etc. where we can help and we’re very pleased to offer our assistance. We’ve seen to it that “your loved one” is taken care of and their life celebrated properly, so to us it’s only natural that we take care of “their loved ones” to help navigate the official, administrative and legal issues that come up after their formal funeral services are complete. Sometimes it’s in a few days. But it can be even weeks, months and even years! Regardless; we’re ready and very pleased to help. When your mission is to minister to families, there is no expiration date on that promise. 

If you have any questions or need any assistance at-need, or you’re considering pre-planning, please contact us. There is no obligation in either instance. We’re here to help no matter what time of day or night you need us. For Knollcrest, phone us at 630.932.1500 or email us at knollcrest@knollcrest.net for Steuerle Chapel, phone us at  630.832.4161 or email us at steuerlefh.com