Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/205938
health, wellness & business ~ Keohane Star of Excellence 2013 KEOHANE: Over 80 years of caring for South Shore communities By R. T. Conroy It might be the last thing that you think about until you need it most, but having a caring and professional team managing the funeral of a loved one can make all the difference during a difficult time. At Keohane, a group of family owned and operated funeral homes, they're well-versed in the craft of caring for people in their time of need. And it's not just the paperwork, the arrangements and the multitude of small details that they look after. At Keohane, they look after your emotional wellbeing as well, and try to offer a truly special way of saying good-bye to a loved one. After all, in the words of their chairman, Ed Keohane, "A good funeral is one where you can laugh and cry. At Keohane, we try to help you make the service personal and extremely meaningful during a difficult time." Keohane's philosophy has clearly resonated with the South Shore community, given that the company recently celebrated its 80th year of business in 2012. Founded in 1932 by Cornelius Keohane, Ed, Cornelius's son, took over the family business in 1973 and now serves as the chairman of Keohane. His sons, John and Dennis, are the co-presidents of Keohane and manage its day-to-day operations. This relationship clearly works, for in a time when many family-owned businesses have struggled, Keohane has instead expanded its regional network of funeral homes throughout the South Shore. Keohane's expansion also offers testament to its reputation for excellence and premier service within this area. Its buildings are immaculate and regularly updated, with Dennis pointing out that Keohane has deliberately gone for a comfortable, elegant and 'non-gloomy' look in its facilities. If you ask John 62 what else sets Keohane apart from other funeral homes, he'll tell you without hesitating. "It's our people. They're flexible, they're friendly, they're open to new suggestions and yet they understand tradition. They're focused on making the arrangements perfect." Ed reiterates this view, stating, "This is a care-giving organization. It goes beyond being a business and is more of a relationship—you need to go that step farther and really care about individuals." Caring about individuals often translates into sitting down with families and loved ones and putting together the kind of service that is both meaningful and memorable. The Keohane staff navigates this sensitive scenario so well that according to a recent Graystone survey, Keohane ranks in the top 5% of the funeral homes in the country in terms of "service to families." While a caring and compassionate approach has long been a central feature at Keohane, newer developments have started to emerge in line with the changing needs of society. According to Joe Reardon, Keohane's Vice President for Community Development and Advance Planning, families have become more comfortable about coming in and making arrangements for themselves or a loved one before they pass. Given this growing demand, Joe now functions as Keohane's full-time Advance Planning consultant, with Keohane being the only firm on the South Shore to have a dedicated employee in this role. With regard to Advance Planning, Joe highlights just how important it can be for families to be able to put an entire, well thought-out plan into action with a simple phone call. He recalls a client once saying, "The amount of planning involved in this