Main articles & media | Additional articles & media

Funeral Home sees five generations
Published in Suburban Life
By Kate Thayer, staff writer
June 28, 2003

In a time where there may not be many family-owned businesses, Hitzeman Funeral Home in Brookfield goes against the norm as a five-generation establishment.

Charles "Chuck" Hitzeman recently joined the funeral home following in the footsteps of generations before him.

"As a family business, we offer a more personalized service than a larger corporation would," he said. "We've been part of the community for so long." The home opened in 1904 and has been at its Brookfield location, 9445 W. 31st St., since 1963.

Chuck, a recent graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Before deciding to join his parents, Todd and Susan, at the funeral home he was on track to be an investment banker, studying at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

"After helping my father and grandfather, and seeing them help families in need, I decided (to join the family business)," Chuck said.

As the eldest of three children, Chuck is the only one to join the business. Todd Hitzeman said he let each of his children decide if they wanted to work at the funeral home.

"I told all my kids, everyone can do a job, they don't like for a couple of years, but for 20 or 30 years it would make you a bitter person," he said. "If you do a job to please someone else, then your heart isn't in it."

Todd said he is proud to have his son join the business. "Few (family businesses) make it to five generations," he said.

Main articles & media | Additional articles & media

Todd N. Hitzeman ~ President
info@hitzemanfuneral.com

Phone 708-485-2000   Phone 773-521-3808   Fax 708-485-2002

Web site Copyright ©2003 Hitzeman Funeral Home
  AIS, Inc - your technology partner