Family vs. Corporate Owned Funeral Homes

Family vs. Corporate Owned Funeral Homes

Is there a Difference between family-owned and corporate-owned funeral homes?

When choosing a funeral home, you may want to research whether or not the business is owned by a local family or run by a large corporation. There is a difference.

Historically, funeral services have been provided by generations of local families who have deep roots in their community. When dealing with such an important event, turning to a funeral director whom you know and trust can make a world of difference.

A family-owned firm will give you the personal attention and caring that you deserve and the extra support that you will need after the funeral is over. You will also receive the outstanding professionalism that only generations of service can cultivate.

Some of the benefits using a family owned and operated funeral home are:

Because this is our family business we take personal pride in all that we do for you. Corporate owned funeral homes are answerable to a board of directors who in many cases are located outside of Sault Ste. Marie and they in turn are answerable to investors or shareholders whose primary objective is to make a good return on their invested dollars.

We spend a lot of time working with our staff talking about issues of integrity, trust and other important values. Our attention is devoted to making our funeral home the best in Sault Ste. Marie. Not the biggest, but the best, providing excellent service to satisfy your needs. Because we are family owned we think it makes us more flexible, more responsive to your needs because you are our neighbor.

Our primary focus is you not profits. Like any business we need to make a profit in order to exist. Our staff does not focus on meeting quotas in order to get bonuses. We don't have pressure from corporate headquarters to increase our profits. We are answerable to only our families and their needs.

The decisions we make are local and responsive to our community. Not to a corporate office or out of town shareholders.

The profits from the O’Sullivan Funeral Home stay in Sault Ste. Marie and are returned into our community to allow us to continue to grow and improve our facilities, services and products. When we need work to be done in association with our business we support only local businesses by hiring them to work with us. We also support many local charities and organizations.

When the funeral is over and everyone has gone home, we are still here for you. Our staff are committed to assist you. We connect with every family we serve after the funeral to help with the completion of various documents and a plan of action addressing various things that must be looked after.

When all is said and done, we truly believe that O’Sullivan Funeral Home a family owned and operated funeral home has more to offer than our competitors.


Why people believe in us

“It was my first time having to take care of this kind of thing. I couldn't even think straight, Riely knew exactly what I needed and it was made much easier. Thank you so much and I already refer people to you!”
P. Berry
“Lisa, Riely and staff:
Thank you very much for supporting us during my father-in-law's final services. Our family is grateful to you for providing us with a beautiful heartwarming experience at Frank's private ceremony and interment. Riely, thank you for your guidance during the day and also during the planning stages.”
G. Turchet
“I lost my mom in November 2017. One of many reasons ....We choose O'Sullivan because it's 100% locally owned family business Lisa along with the entire staff drowned my family with so much kindness and compassion! I was amazed how the entire staff made this process easy without any pressure to purchase services or items. We were in total control of my mom's funeral with every request they worked to accommodate our needs. There was never a time that the staff was not available to help even if it was 6am I highly recommend O'Sullivan for their price' ....attention to detail, compassion and kindness. They truly were our hero's during that time” 
J. Merling
“ Thank you for all your care, compassion and great service. We were very pleased with all your help in laying our wife/mother/sister/aunt/grandma to rest. Thank you from the Brock family.”
T. Brock
“I was very pleased with your patience, your care and the excellent service you provided. Thank you Lisa. Our family was very comforted by your compassion.”
S.Clement
“Huge thanks to O’Sullivan’s when you are at the lowest they are their for you. Professional and caring.” 
M. Brock 
“Most caring family in the Sault, they do so much for our community.... hugs.”
C. Raynor-Elliott

"Lisa and her team have been

wonderful. In a time of need they were there for us. Very professional and at the same time the personal touch was there to make a hard time easier. Every question was answered and I was at ease when I left. Thank you O’Sullivan’s."


T. Berry

"It’s never and easy time  for a family to plan a funeral. My mother had decided to go with O’Sullivan not only because they are a family business but also for what they contribute to the community.  Christina was amazing.  She was patient, compassionate , answered our questions and accommodated us
where she could.  The current situation of the pandemic not only burdens the family with restrictions but also puts the staff  in a very awkward position with having to enforce such cold unwelcoming restrictions.   The home did everything they could.   Christiana’s talent and patience were also evident in presentation of my father.  This helped eased my mom and family members of any doubt and allowed us to move forward with the closure we needed.  Thank you to the entire team at O’Sullivan Funeral Home.  Our family will continue to to support your business and refer any family in need."


Walker Family

I would like to thank O'Sullivan Funeral Home for such compassion,  caring,  respect and went out of their way to make my mom's wake and funeral alot easier. Best funeral home in Sault Ste marie.  My mom looked so natural with no heavy makeup she looked like was sleeping.  Would recommend this funeral home to anyone when the time comes. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.  Thank you to Lisa and the staff you were amazing.


I. Alfano

Our Family Caring for Yours


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