Vital decisions in precious little time

Every family and every circumstance are different. Even after serving thousands of families, we learned no two family’s circumstances are exactly alike. What most funeral services have in common is that a host of important decisions must be made in a relatively short period of time. It’s our responsibility to keep track of every detail in regard to the wake and funeral services. We feel privileged to accept that responsibility. We’ll help you move through the entire process with efficiency and great sensitivity. We’ll provide you all of the choices available so you can make decisions based on your desires, your faith, your preferences and your comfort level.

After making these important service decisions, we’ll escort you to our selection room to view the merchandise options. There are a lot of choices ranging from very modest to premium and everything in between. We are there to answer questions and assist you. We’ve provided caskets, vaults, urns, memorial items, etc. Yet, we’ve never “sold” them. Our families choose what is most suitable for their needs and their circumstances. Honoring a loved one starts with honoring the family members who are tasked with making difficult decisions in a short period of time. We’re here to help facilitate whatever options make people comfortable.

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Kaginhawaan at pagkakaunawaan

This is a Tagalog phrase (a common language of Filipinos) which translates to Comfort and Understanding. It’s a phrase Arsenio and Mercedita (Ditas, to her legions of friends!) Alzona use to describe Knollcrest Funeral Home. Besides being integral members of the area Filipino community, Arsenio and Ditas are Eucharistic Ministers at Christ the King Parish in Lombard and serve on the Ministry of Consolation.

Arsenio tells everyone “Bob is one of us. He just knows and understands how people in the Filipino community grieve”. Ditas adds “our celebration of life includes sharing a big important meal together. Bob joins with us and celebrates. He likes my cooking”. Everybody does!  Fellow funeral directors Keith Kustra, Josh Van Staalduinen and Office Manager Becky Schrader and Admin assistant Holly Stammis all look forward to digging in during a visitation.

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 his staff at Knollcrest. “One of the wonderful things about the suburbs is that we serve so many ethnic groups here. Years ago in the city, each ethnicity had a funeral home in the neighborhood that served them. As the suburbs grew, we learned the customs of different cultures by serving all different nationalities and backgrounds. I have always considered this a rich experience for us” is how Bob describes the privilege of providing arrangements to so many different faiths and ethnic communities. He adds “the food is a wonderful added benefit of serving the Filipino community”.