Tim Harrington is the third generation operating the family-owned Barr Funeral Home in Chicago, but it soon may join many others that have closed or sold to big chains as the industry has changed. WBEZCuriousCity
Ravenswood resident Jessi DiBartolomeo has long been fascinated with the death industry in America, including how its corporatization has impacted long-standing local businesses. But she’s noticed several family-named funeral homes sprinkled throughout Chicago’s North Side. Many of them look as though they have held their place on the block for decades, “seemingly … untouched by the mega corporations,” she says.
The funeral homes that Jessi noticed have managed to adapt and weather those changes, but as challenges persist, some are unsure how much longer their family businesses can survive. Aldo Marin, co-director of Marin Funeral Home & Cremation Services, has witnessed multiple funeral homes close in the Gage Park neighborhood since he opened his business 20 years ago.
Over the years, the Barr family has worked closely with St. Gertrude Catholic Church. Many traditional Irish Catholic funeral masses have been held at St. Gertrude. So Barr began to accommodate different mourning customs, like burning paper or incense inside the building. Today, Harrington says he serves families from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including African, Southeast Asian and the home’s traditional white European Catholic, among others.
“Sometimes it made more sense to sell the actual funeral home just for the property value,” McMurrough says. Harrington has lived above the funeral home since 1970. Although he says he gets a “tremendous property tax break” by living there, he still pays $57,000 per year in property taxes. Barr Funeral Home began offering cremation services more than 50 years ago. Harrington says the service has become more popular during his time as funeral director.
The small staff at Barr Funeral Home consists of three additional employees, including Anne Kelly, an administrative assistant and Edgewater resident whose son, Anthony, often accompanies her on the job. Barr Funeral Home began offering cremation services more than 50 years ago. Harrington says the service has become more popular during his time as funeral director.
She says it’s grown more difficult over the years to pass down the family trade — but that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of funeral directors. But he has three children in their twenties who have all entered different career paths: One is a manager for the Chicago Parks District, one is in the Air Force on the West Coast and one is an international male model in Los Angeles. None of them have shown interest in assuming the family business, nor have his first cousins or their children.
Harrington learned the funeral home business from his father . His two older sisters, however, went into different professions.
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