Each of us will face the loss of people we love. While we can’t change this fact, there’s plenty we can do to improve end-of-life quality and to memorialize those we’ve loved and lost.
It’s important to properly honor your loved ones in their final days and when they pass away. They impacted your life, your hopes and dreams, your joys and sorrows. They leave behind an emptiness that’s difficult to ignore and important to address.
Hospice care addresses the needs of the terminally ill and their surviving family. The goal of a hospice center is to make life better for a patient before it ends, and provide follow-up care to the patient’s family with phone calls, letters and support groups. Hospice is about celebrating life and embracing the final chapter.
A funeral or memorial service is a helpful way to remember and cherish the special moments of your loved one’s life, while also coping with the confusing and often overwhelming emotions of loss. Good funeral directors know the delicacy and importance of this final service. Therefore, they can guide you through the difficult planning process. They answer questions, help with decision-making, listen and respond to concerns, and ultimately help bestow peace of mind.
Our “End of Life” Guide lists trustworthy hospice centers, funeral homes and related services that can help you make the necessary expected and unexpected decisions. Beyond providing a service, these places offer comfort, condolence and support during a difficult time.
Hospice Care Services
Hospice Care of America
3815 N. Mulford Road, Ste. 4, Rockford, (815) 316-2700 • hospicecareofamerica.com
Mission Statement: Hospice Care of America is committed to providing the highest standard of excellent hospice care for patients in the Northern Illinois area. The highly trained and experienced staff is dedicated to meeting the complex needs of hospice patients compassionately, respectfully and prayerfully.
Northern Illinois Hospice
4215 Newburg Road, Rockford (815) 398-0500 • northernillinoishospice.org
Mission Statement: Northern Illinois Hospice has been providing expert care for patients in the final months of life – and support for their families – longer than anyone else in the community. In fact, we were one of the first hospices in the United States. As the region’s leading advocate of quality hospice care for more than 35 years, we have provided quality end-of-life care for thousands of families. Always putting the needs of our patients and their families first… that is our commitment to you.
Serenity Hospice & Home
1658 S. Illinois Route 2, Oregon, Ill., (815) 732-2499 • serenityhospiceandhome.org
Mission Statement: Believing in the dignity of life, Serenity Hospice & Home offers care to the terminally ill and their families. This encompasses physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the family unit, with emphasis on the desires of the patient and family. Serenity Hospice & Home believes that living continues until the moment of death and our focus is on promoting optimal living through this final journey of life.
Funeral Homes/Crematoria
Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services
218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, (815) 544-2616 • andersonfcs.com
Mission Statement: Our mission is to celebrate one’s life and help families navigate the journey of loss with a sense of hope. One of the most painful events we experience in life is the loss of a loved one. At Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services, we believe that finding an appropriate and meaningful way to celebrate your loved one’s life, while giving thanks to God for their life, is the necessary foundation to healing.
Delehanty Funeral Home
401 River Lane, Loves Park, Ill, (815) 633-6010 • delehantyfuneralhome.com
Mission Statement: As a family-owned and -operated funeral home, we have been dedicated to serving our region for 67 years. We believe during times of loss and hardship that a sense of community and fellowship can provide strength and comfort. Our philosophy is to provide support and strength through compassionate care, community involvement and charitable work.
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory
1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, (815) 226-2273 • fitzgeraldfuneralhome.com
3910 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford, (815) 654-2484 • fitzgeraldfuneralhome.com
Mission Statement: When you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, you can trust us to guide you through the arrangements necessary to create a meaningful ceremony that celebrates the unique life being honored. Our staff is committed to providing your family with the highest-quality care and service in your time of need, and we take pride in our responsibility to lighten your burden as you take the first steps toward healing and recovery.
Honquest Family Funeral Home
4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park, Ill., (815) 636-5100 • honquestfh.com
11342 Main St., Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-7553 • honquestfh.com
Mission Statement: We pride ourselves on our first-class facilities, first-class service, and personal commitment to the details that make your loved one’s service unique and a true reflection of who they were in a way that fits your needs, values and budget. Our success is dependent upon our ability to provide families with a positive and meaningful experience while under our care and guidance. It would be our honor to guide you on this journey.
McCorkle Funeral Home
101 W. Main St., Durand, Ill., (815) 248-2200 • mccorklefuneralhome.com
529 Washington St., Pecatonica, Ill.(815) 239-1234 • mccorklefuneralhome.com
203 W. Fifth St., Pecatonica, Ill., (815) 239-2105 • mccorklefuneralhome.com
767 N. Blackhawk Blvd., Rockton, Ill., (815) 624-1155 • mccorklefuneralhome.com
Mission Statement: McCorkle Funeral Home is family-owned and -operated and is dedicated to providing personalized funerals for your loved ones. Our staff is licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin, and completes 24 hours of continuing education every two years. Our paraprofessional staff is trained in detail in assisting families. You will find our staff courteous, compassionate, informative, honest and trustworthy.
Olson Funeral & Cremation Services
1001 Second Ave., Rockford, (815) 963-6521
2811 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6521
1245 Somonauk St., Sycamore, Ill., (815) 895-6589
309 S. Fifth St., Kirkland, Ill., (815) 522-3563
202 E. Main St., Genoa, Ill., (815) 784-2518 • olsonfh.com
Mission Statement: We are a family-owned funeral home treating our client families as if they were our own. Since 1888, our family has believed that the most valuable thing we own is our good reputation. We are honored to be the preferred family-owned funeral home in the region as a result of the support we have received from families like yours.
Sundberg Funeral Home
215 N. Sixth St., Rockford, (815) 962-7743 • sundbergfh.com
Mission Statement: It is the mission of our staff at Sundberg Funeral Home to provide personal service to the families in our community with the highest level of care and compassion. We are committed to being professional, ethical and respectful of the families we serve.
Related Services
Enders Flowers
1631 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 229-1290 • endersflowers.com
Mission Statement: Enders Flowers is a locally owned florist specializing in elegant, garden-style arrangements for every occasion, including weddings and funerals. With seasonal and indoor plants and naturally inspired home accents, Enders Flowers offers many unique gift ideas.
Event Floral
8181 Starwood Drive, Loves Park, Ill., (815) 885-3900 • event-floral.com
Mission Statement: Event Floral is a full-service florist specializing in custom-designed flowers and artistic decor for weddings, corporate events and funeral arrangements in the greater Rockford area. We believe every event should capture the beauty of your story by reflecting your personality, style and uniqueness. Event Floral’s ability to seamlessly coordinate floral, linens and accent decor into a stunning, individually inspired design will make your special moments truly memorable.
Muraski Monument Company
2711 Highcrest Road, Rockford, (815) 218-2720 • muraskimonumentco.com
Mission Statement: Muraski Monument Co. is a locally owned and operated family business. Our inspiration is to provide grave markers and monuments that tell the story of a life lived. Whether subtle or expressive, we can help to create a lasting memorial for you or your loved one.
Scandinavian Cemetery Association
1700 Rural St., Rockford, (815) 965-6625
Mission Statement: The caring staff provides peaceful and well-maintained grounds designed to meet the needs of each family and to commemorate the lives of those buried on the grounds. Memorial counselors at Scandinavian Cemetery Association may also offer information on purchasing cemetery plots or cremation niches for your pre-planning needs.