Jurrens Funeral Homes

by Jill Funke

The practice of holding a memorial or funeral service is one that is common to many cultures and religions. However, funeral traditions and rites vary across the world. Yet many funerals share similar components including transporting the deceased to a mortuary, preparing the body, holding a service to remember the departed one and providing for the needs of the remaining family members, and completing the interment or cremation of the deceased. In some countries, a person in the position of funeral director oversees the funeral arrangements and assists families in their time of grief.

Jerry Jurrens has held the title of funeral director since he was hired in 1996 by Rich and Sue Roste of Roste Funeral Homes. When he graduated from high school, Jerry attended Northwest Iowa Community College and earned his diploma in auto body. After returning to school to obtain his degree in business economics, Jerry furthered his education by completing his mortuary science degree. Following an internship at Roste Funeral Homes, Jerry became a permanent employee with the company. He found that working in smaller town settings allowed him to establish relationships with others in the area, and felt very privileged to be able to care for them in some of their most difficult times.

As licensed funeral directors, Jerry and the other three funeral directors he employs help families make the arrangements for funeral services. Spending time talking with the families and funeral service officiants, they ascertain the wishes for the funeral and final disposition of the deceased. A plan is established that includes locations, dates and times of various services and the burial. Many additional arrangements are made during this time, including a hearse to carry the deceased to the funeral home. Funeral directors and funeral home staff assist with the preparing of the obituary notices and sending them to the newspapers. They work with representatives from the area cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of the grave. Other details that are addressed are the transportation for the mourners, placement of funeral flowers, and selection of the casket. Other administrative tasks including some of the paperwork associated with a person’s death are handled by funeral directors. Funeral directors also work with living clients who enlist their help in preplanning funerals.

Jerry says that even through the occupation of funeral director might not appeal to the majority of people, he finds that he welcomes the opportunity to help others at this significant time in their lives. It is moving to see the trust that people place with him, and Jerry values the relationships that are built through walking along with others who are experiencing the grieving process. Jerry says that there is a reason that his title is called funeral director, as it gives him the honor of helping people deal with their own emotions while guiding them through the funeral process that they may not have ever experienced. In addition to bonding with the friends and family of the deceased, Jerry and his staff also make strong connections with area funeral homes and hospitals, as well as flower shops, clergy, grocery stores, and the other entities that come together to hold a funeral service. On November 1st, Roste Funeral Homes became Jurrens Funeral Homes. When Jerry and his wife Amy purchased the business from the Rostes in 2005, they retained the Roste name to reflect the fact that the change in ownership would not alter the level of services provided by the company. As over two years has passed, Jerry decided that the timing was right to make the transition to the new name. Now, the locations in Rock Rapids, George, Larchwood, Hills, Sibley and Ashton all bear the Jurrens name.