Devanny-Condron Funeral Home Ending Over 100-Year Legacy
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Devanny-Condron Funeral Home will close next week after more than 100 years of serving mourning local families.
On Friday, the announcement that the Maplewood Avenue funeral home will close on May 26 was made on the funeral home's website and in a press statement.
A call to the funeral home was directed to a spokesperson, who said the business was closing for economic reasons.
The closure is said to mark "the end of an era deeply rooted in the community's history."
"Devanny-Condron has been a pillar of compassionate care and professionalism, helping generations of families commemorate their loved ones with dignity and grace. The decision to close the funeral home was made with deep reflection and is accompanied by gratitude for the trust and support extended by the community for more than 100 years," the press statement reads.
"Devanny-Condron is honored to have walked beside so many families through some of life's most tender moments, and Carriage Services is profoundly thankful for the relationships built over the years. As the chapter closes, the legacy of both the Devanny and Condron families will live on — not only in the history books of Pittsfield, but in the memories of the countless lives they have touched."
The funeral home's origins date to the early 1900s, and two families merged business in the late 1970s.
The Devanny Funeral Home was founded in 1915 by James J. Devanny, and in 1921, the neighboring Condron Funeral Home was established by Joseph W. Condron and Joseph Harwood. Both being respected institutions, the two funeral parlors joined forces in 1978 to form the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home, "a partnership built on shared values and community dedication."
Three generations of Devannys operated the business until John Bresnahan, a cousin, purchased it in 1993.
In 1998, Devanny-Condron became an affiliate of Carriage Services, a consolidator and provider of "death care" services and merchandise. Bresnahan served as a funeral service inspector for the state Division of Professional Licensure for at time before returning as a managing partner.
Responding to questions from iBerkshires, Carriage Services' Director of Operations Jerelyn Serra said the Devanny-Condron operators are not planning a new business venture.
"The feedback from the community has been kind and recognizes Devanny-Condron's historical impact to the Pittsfield community," Serra wrote via email.
"We've been honored to care for generations of Pittsfield families over the past 100 years."
She said there are plans for providing continuing care for prearranged funerals. The press release states that families with pre-arranged commitments are being contacted directly to ensure that "every need is met with the same care and respect that has defined Devanny-Condron for generations."
The funeral home offered a number of services for immediate need and pre-planning, including veterans' funerals, cremations, and burial services.
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