WHEN YOUR LOVED ONE IS CALLED HOME, IT’S ONLY NATURAL TO COME TO GIBBONS FAMILY FUNERAL HOME

It’s natural for people to “feel at home” at Gibbons Family Funeral Home. As Michael Gibbons, a third generation member of his family to own and operate the Funeral Home, states, “My father always wanted our building to feel like home, and it was our home. We lived upstairs, and the people who came here were our friends and neighbors. It was our honor to open our home to them.”

Katie Sweeney agrees whole-heartedly, as she explains how her mother and generations of her family discussed the importance of choosing the place that not only ‘felt like home’, but was home to families and friends in the neighborhood and even beyond. She uses words and feelings like ‘comfort’ and ‘warmth’ to describe how, she, her mom, her grandma, her entire family felt about the Gibbons Family and their home.

To be certain; this feeling of home is no accident at Gibbons.. It’s the result of strong effort, design and commitment from 3 Generations of the Gibbons Family serving even more generations of yours. So to Katie and so many other of our treasured families; It’s an honor.

For Tom Gibbons, the most important thing you could do for a family grieving was to provide a space for them that ‘felt like home’. As a little boy growing up above the funeral home, it was natural for Michael Gibbons to think of the space this way because it was home to his family.

For any questions you may have about At-need services or pre-planning, don’t hesitate to contact us. 773-777-3944 or www.gffh.com

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHm0CEUcnYWO_05Fg

Gibbons helped bring dad home from North Carolina to Chicago. The Chicago Fire Dept. provided a motorcade to Gibbons Family Funeral Home

Chicago Fire Dept. Lieutenant Leonard passed away in North Carolina while receiving treatment. It was necessary to bring him home to his real home; The Northwest side of Chicago. Michael Gibbons made the phone calls to coordinate with the funeral home in North Carolina to bring Lt. Leonard home, working with son, John Leonard here in Chicago. What John did not know was that upon arriving at the airport, Michael would bring the hearse directly onto the tarmac at the airport and be greeted by Fire Trucks with crossed ladders and dozens of Chicago Fire Fighters in Dress Uniforms standing at attention honoring the arrival of their brother Fire Fighter and Officer. With Lights on, the Fire Dept. provided a motorcade back to Gibbons Family Funeral Home on Irving Park Road. “It was something we didn’t know about, didn’t expect and really very cool”, recalls John Leonard, regarding his father’s arrival.”.

Michael knew. Because First Responders have a special place at Gibbons Family Funeral Home and always have. “We have a history and a tradition of taking care of the families of the men and women who serve our citizens in Chicago” says Michael Gibbons. Both the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago Police Department consider their members to be family, and that tradition and camaraderie starts when a member passes away and extends through to the moment when they say good bye to a fallen brother or sister and send them home…not quietly, but triumphantly.

For the Gibbons Family, it is an honor and a privilege to be among the people who Chicago’s families choose for this responsibility. There’s no effort too great to take special care of the people who protect us every day.

To discuss at-need or pre-planning or any questions you may have, contact Gibbons Family Funeral Home at 773-777-3944 or gffh.com We’re here 24 hours a day, every day of the year for our families.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

Carrying Out Special Funeral Arrangements – First Responders

When a First Responder from the Northside is called home, they’re likely to go through Gibbons on the way.

Fr. John McNalis served as a Chaplin for the Chicago Fire Dept. If there is such a thing as “Irish-ness”, well, Fr. John is all of that and proud of the heritage of the service so many of his fellow Irishmen chose in public service. While attached to the Fire Service at the hip, the good-humored Chaplin extends his good feelings to Police, Public Works, and all manner of hard-working Chicagoans.

“There is a lot of ceremony involved with these kinds of visitations and funerals, and the Gibbons Family knows what to do and how to manage these arrangements”, says Fr. John. Chucking a little bit, but very seriously, he adds, “If you don’t do it right, word gets around, you know what I mean?” In addition to the religious rites, there are official rites and commendations, family recognition- that includes the men and women a loved one worked beside. Often the number of paying their respects can be very large, at the funeral home, at the church, at the cemetery, and perhaps elsewhere afterwards. The processions themselves can be a logistical plan worthy of days of study and preparation.

According to Fr. John, “The Gibbons Family is outstanding. Every generation of them. That’s the word that’s gotten around, so they take care of a lot of our members”. Michael Gibbons states clearly, “Our Family has always been extra proud of being able to serve so many First Responder and Veteran families here. They deserve every bit of the special treatment we can provide. It’s a honor to serve the people who’ve served”.

For any questions you may have about At-need services or pre-planning, don’t hesitate to contact us. 773-777-3944 or www.gffh.com

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHm0CEUcnYWO_05FgwNZiAw

Gibbons Family Funeral Services Chicago – It Felt Like Home

It was important for my father that people felt like our space felt like home for our families. ~ Michael Gibbons

Updating, redecorating, always focusing on the experience of the family and their guests at Gibbons Family Funeral Home has always been and continues to be a strong focus for Michael Gibbons and his family. When Katie Sweeney’s grandmother passed, her mother made a very specific request that her services be at Gibbons Family Funeral Home, because it was pretty, and it was comfortable, and it felt like home. Katie confirmed that the warmth of this environment was a big help to her family. “It was such an inviting place for our family and friends. During a difficult time when we were there for hours on end, the comfort and the warmth were always there for us”, adding “It made things a little bit easier for all of us”.

At Gibbons Family Funeral Home, we look for every way we can to make the process of celebrating the life of your loved one an experience that families can share in an environment that makes it accommodating to your family, your friends, and neighbors. It’s among the most meaningful and purposeful thing we do to continue serving generations of families who entrust us with their loved ones when it matters most.

For any questions you may have about At-need services or pre-planning, don’t hesitate to contact us. 773-777-3944 or www.gffh.com

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHm0CEUcnYWO_05FgwNZiAw

IT ALL STARTS WITH LISTENING

Eileen O’Grady Newell describes a feeling everyone has when it comes to planning funeral arrangements; “We’re all so stressed out.”

The Gibbons Family understands “stressed out.” Whether they see it, hear it or sense it, they know that feeling is an overwhelming one that every family feels when they have a very short time to do something very important. And do it right. What’s right? Whatever the family needs are what is right if you ask Michael Gibbons. “The most important thing we can do is observe and listen closely to our families to know what is important beyond the usual details of helping them cope with a loss and receive their friends and families in a comfortable and loving environment”, is how Michael describes it.

Eileen shared, “I feel like they knew what we wanted before we said it.” And the Gibbons Family does know. Mostly because they listen. Something that is “important” and something “that would be nice” are things they pay close attention to so they can make sure those things are taken care of. During the procession to the cemetery, Eileen’s father observed how comforting and meaningful it was driving past the family home. He then thought and whispered it would be nice for them to pass his daughter’s resting place on the way to his wife’s cemetery service at her resting place. A great listener made the decision in the blink of an eye for the procession to pass the children’s section where his daughter was at rest on the way. It was a little thing that meant so much because a family listened to a family they were serving. But it actually wasn’t a little thing at all. It meant the world to a grieving husband and father to check in on everyone he loved. That’s what a family-owned business does. Because the family has a larger meaning in these times of need.

For any information on at-need or pre-planning services, feel free to contact us at 773-777-3944 or www.gffh.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our family is here to serve yours.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

An inviting and warmhearted place. Like home.

For Michael Gibbons, having families invite people to a place very much like home was natural. For the Gibbons Family, their buildings were their home. They lived upstairs, answered the phone at whatever time it rang, because it was their mission and privilege to be there for families. Michael’s father Thomas Gibbons understood clearly how important it was for families to be able to come into a comfortable and inviting place to receive their extended families and friends in respect of their loved ones. No detail was ever left to chance. The surroundings needed to provide beauty, peace of mind, and more than anything else; comfort.

Katie Sweeney’s family understood this too. “When my grandma passed away, my mother told me we need to contact the Gibbons Family. We know them. We trust them. When we came in, we knew we were home. It was comfortable,” said Katie, adding, “It was so inviting at that difficult time and it made things easier because we were here”.

“The Sweeney’s are special to us, as are all the families who place their trust in our family at their most difficult moments” is how Michael Gibbons sums up the closeness of the Gibbons Family to the neighborhood and the communities, parishes and organizations they work closely with and serve. The Gibbon’s want every family to feel at home for the time our home becomes their home. It’s meaningful and it’s purposeful to us to continue to ensure that is always how people feel here. It matters more than anything else.

To discuss at-need or pre-planning or any questions you may have, contact Gibbons Family Funeral Home at 773-777-3944 or gffh.com We’re here 24 hours a day, every day of the year for our families.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

We had no idea these Veteran’s Services were available to us.

“If it weren’t for the Gibbons Family we would not have known that such meaningful and important services were available to my dad and our family”, states Barbara Murphy, adding “my dad passed away at 74 years old and it had been 50 years since he served. Other than to say how proud he was of his service to our country, he really didn’t talk about his service so much”.

The first question Michael Gibbons asked was if Barbara’s father was a Veteran. He was. From there, the Gibbons took care of everything to ensure the military honors were bestowed upon Mr. Murphy. Barbara remembers a moment during the service where the American Flag was being folded. From her vantage point, the flag was hovering above her father. Her description was “it took our breath away”.

A United States Marine will often repeat the credo that “Once a Marine, you are always a Marine”. The ceremony was moving to every person there. Barbara shares that had it not been for the Gibbons Family, they would never have known that her father was entitled to these services that were earned by his service.

Veterans are entitled to many services including burial at no charge at a National Cemetery like the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. For additional information about Military benefits and honors, Pre-planning, At need planning or any questions you may have, contact us, 24 hours a day at Gibbons Family Funeral Home 773-777-3944 or visit www.gffh.com

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

Being a Veteran and Serving in the Marines Meant Everything to My Dad.

Barbara Murphy’s dad passed away at 74. It had been 50 years since he served. The Murphy’s didn’t realize that Mr. Murphy had indeed earned funeral and burial services with his service. The Gibbons made sure to advise them of everything that was available to them. Among their first questions was “Did he serve?” From there, the Gibbons took care of everything to ensure the military honors were bestowed upon Mr. Murphy. Barbara remembers a moment during the service where the American Flag was being folded. From her vantage point, the flag was hovering above her father. Her description was “it took our breath away”. A United States Marine will often repeat the credo that “Once a Marine, you never stop being a Marine”. The ceremony was moving to every person there. Barbara shares that had it not been for the Gibbons Family, they would never have known that her father was entitled to these services that were earned by his service.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

The Irish American Heritage Center

John Gorski is Past President of the Center and member of the Board of Directors, states “We preserve our heritage”. We all promote the mission together with Gibbons Family Funeral Home, and many of the surrounding supportive businesses and services on the north side. The Gibbons Family has helped a lot of our members with their needs for services. Michael helps the families when they’ve suffered a loss, He helps them when the journey is difficult, both with his involvement at the funeral home and his involvement with the Irish American Heritage Center. The Gibbon’s Family understands our families and they fulfill their mission and ministry with kindness. They also understand the mission of the Irish American Heritage Center in the lives of the people here. Michael Gibbons is a former member of the Board. For generations, the Gibbon’s Family has worked closely with the Center to preserve Irish Heritage in Chicago, the US, and Ireland.

To discuss at-need or pre-planning or any questions you may have, contact Judy Teubert at Gibbons Family Funeral Home at 773-777-3944 or gffh.com We’re here 24 hours a day, every day of the year for our families.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

AT GIBBONS FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, THE WORD “FAMILY” MEANS EVERYTHING.

Judy Teubert is from the neighborhood. In Chicago, people are likely ask what neighborhood and what parish you come from moments into meeting you. Judy is from St. Pascal’s, a parish we’ve served for generations. She has always wanted to help the people she grew up with. It’s a special thing to be able to help people in their time of greatest need for Judy, and being from the community, it’s likely their families have connected and intersected often throughout the years. There’s also some greater pride and responsibility with assisting families that you know so well, often families who have likely seen you grow up.

Family is important to the Gibbon’s Family. It’s not often that a person who isn’t directly related to the Gibbons Family is providing service at a Gibbons Funeral Home. Michael Gibbons explains it rather simply, “Judy is family. She’s grown up here. She was a student apprentice here. We were very excited for her to continue her service here. She is part of our family.”

While Judy is a St. Pascal’s graduate and parishioner, she spent years playing basketball in the gyms of Our Lady of Victory, St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Francis Borgia, St. Bartholomew and Immaculate Conception in Edison Park, to name a few. “Gaining the trust and confidence of the people in the neighborhoods of the northwest side of Chicago and serving them now is a remarkable privilege”, says Judy.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

Honoring the Monthly Tradition of Remembrance

For nearly 70 years, the Gibbons Family have been honoring a tradition begun by their grandparents, Thomas and Anne Gibbons. Believing the service never really ends for the families they’ve served since opening their first funeral home, they began a tradition of “remembering” the loved ones of those families with a monthly mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago. Every month, a mass is celebrated remembering all the families and loved ones who passed away during that month. A month prior families receive a letter of notice to remind them of the mass of remembrance for the upcoming month of the anniversary of their loved one’s passing. These masses have brought families together for years to celebrate their loved ones together as a community. Lifelong friendships have developed as people have come to know one another through the commonality of celebrating the lives of their loved ones. Many people attend several of the masses each year commemorating different beloved members of their family.

A member of the third generation of the Gibbons Family, Michael, of Gibbon’s Family Funeral Home in Chicago states, “I’m so proud of the tradition started by our grandparents and continuing today. It is a privilege for our family to be trusted into our third generation serving generations of people throughout the Chicago area”. Adding “It’s nice to see people at St.Pat’s where we’re celebrating together happy memories”. Added Rev. Fr. Karl Langsdorf who often is the celebrant at the family masses, “Tommy and Ann Gibbons are smilin’ down on their kids and grandkids for continuing this wonderful tradition they started. I’m sure they’re so proud”.

For any questions regarding our Monthly Mass of Remembrance or more information on Pre-arrangements or At-Need services, we are available 24 hours a day at Gibbons Family Funeral Home 773-777-3944 or visit www.gffh.com

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

We wanted to do what mom would have wanted.

Kathie Warta shares the experience of her family when preparing arrangements for her mother. Her mom suffered from memory loss and was not able to help. The family wished they spent a little bit more time discussing what her mom would have liked before her memory loss occurred. Kathie shares with people in similar circumstances that it is important to have some discussions before these decisions need to be made so the family has the peace of mind of knowing for sure that they are truly honoring the wishes of their loved one. Having those discussions when loss is not imminent makes it easier. Every family will face loss at some time. Fulfilling the wishes of a loved one is enormously rewarding to a family. Whether it is knowing apparel choices, songs, readings, remembrances or other elements of funeral planning, the direction to family members from a loved one creates an expression of love in itself that they can carry out. Families want to know they are honoring and celebrating a life in the manner in which it would be most appreciated.

To discuss pre-planning or any questions you may have, contact Gibbons Family Funeral Home at 773-777-3944 or gffh.com We’re here 24 hours a day, every day of the year for our families.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

Links:

Funeral planning to: http://www.gffh.com/services/v

Pre-Planning to: http://www.gffh.com/pre-planning/

Gibbons Family to: http://www.gffh.com/contact/

Gibbons Family Funeral Home Understands “Details aren’t Little Things”

Eileen O’Grady Newell refers to little details that make a great big difference. She understands how much stress grief causes. She understands that there are only a few days to account for everything that matters for a loved one who has a lifetime of important moments to consider.

“I feel like they knew what we wanted before we said it.” And the Gibbons Family does know. Mostly because they listen. Something that is “important” and something “that would be nice” are things they pay close attention to so they can ensure those things occur, In Eileen’s case, when entering the cemetery, her father observed that it would be so nice after driving past the house, it would be so nice for them to pass his daughter’s resting place as well. In the blink of an eye the procession passed the children’s section where his daughter resting place was. It was a little thing that meant so much because a family listened to a family they were serving. That’s what a family owned business does. They treat you like family. Because you are.

For any information on at-need or pre-planning services, feel free to contact us at 773-777-3944 or www.gffh.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our family is here to serve yours.

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibbonsfamilyfuneralhome/

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com/

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

Archbishop Blesses Cardinal Francis George’s Grave Stone

Archbishop Blesses Cardinal Francis George’s gravestone at All Saints Cemetery. http://ow.ly/4mZoSG ^CL

For just a little while, this is “home” for the families the Gibbons Family serves.

For just a little while, this is “home” for the families the Gibbons Family serves.

This place needed to feel like home to all of our families. “It was important to my father that people felt this way” says Michael Gibbons. “This was our home. We lived upstairs.”Katie Sweeney confirmed that this warm environment was home for the days they needed it to be. It was so inviting during a difficult time. “It made it a little bit easier here” Katie shares.

At Gibbons Family Funeral Home, we look for every way we can make the process of celebrating the life of your loved one an experience that families can share in an environment that makes it accommodating to your family, your friends and neighbors. It’s among the most meaningful and purposeful thing we do to continue serving generations of families who entrust us with their loved ones when it matters most.

For any questions you may have about At-need services or pre-planning, don’t hesitate to contact us. 773-777-3944 or www.gffh.com

To Connect with Gibbons Family Funeral Home:

Website: http://www.gffh.com/

Blog: https://gibbonsffh.wordpress.com

Twitter: @gibbonsffh

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

It was important for my father that people felt like our space felt like home for our families. ~ Michael Gibbons

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: