When John Mitchell arrived to Mattoon in
1934, he brought with him the dream of establishing a business rooted in the
ideals of quality service and customer satisfaction. Today, after nearly a
century in operation, Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home and Ambulance Service
continues to provide local and area families with compassionate support and
professional service.
Originally named Mitchell Funeral Home in
1934, the beautiful Queen Anne structure, built in 1899 at 1204 Wabash Avenue served as the Mitchell's business location and home.
Prior to their arrival to Mattoon, the Mitchells operated funeral homes in
Newton and Gillespie, Illinois. Three generations have continued the legacy at
this same location. In 1982, the Coles County Regional Planning Commission
voted to place Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home on the Coles County Register of
Significant Places. The structure was renovated in 1953. The renovation
included a casket room and a chapel, which seats up to 250 guests. In 1984, the
Mattoon Chamber of Commerce awarded the Beautification Grand Award of
Excellence to Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home. In the years following, the
building underwent extensive exterior and interior renovations and remodeling
projects. In 2016 the Coles County Historic Preservation Advisory Council
re-designated Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home and Ambulance Service as a significant landmark.
The house was constructed for Lewis L.
Lehman, a prominent banker and politician. George B. Ballard was the general
contractor and the grandfather and great-grandfather of future Mitchell-Jerdan
Funeral Home successors George S. Jerdan and Gregory L. Jerdan, respectively.
In 1917, Mr. Lehman sold the home to Dr. T.O. Freeman. It was the childhood
home of his daughter and noted author, Bernadine Freeman Bailey.
In 1946, the Mitchell's only daughter,
Lois, married George S. Jerdan who had served in World War II as a captain in
the United States Army. John Mitchell died two years later, and
George S. Jerdan became involved in the operation of what became known as
Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home and Ambulance Service.
Mr. and Mrs. George and Lois Jerdan both were graduates of Mattoon High
School. Mrs. Jerdan graduated from McMurray College and became a teacher, while
Mr. Jerdan graduated from the University of Illinois School of Engineering, as well as the College of Mortuary Science
in St. Louis, Missouri. The Jerdan family raised two sons: Myles, a physician
in Marietta, Georgia, and Gregory, a graduate of Southern Illinois University
in Mortuary Science in 1976, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Eastern
Illinois University in 1978. In 1977, Gregory joined his father at
Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home and Ambulance Service. In 1980, Gregory married
Sylvia Núñez. Sylvia, a native of Peru, South America, graduated from Mattoon
High School, Eastern Illinois University, and Decatur Memorial Hospital School
of Medical Technology. They are the parents of four daughters: Brooke,
Courtney, Kimberly and Kendra. Kendra, the
fourth generation of the Jerdan family, will continue the legacy. She will soon be graduating with a degree in Mortuary Science to follow in the family business.
Since 1985, Gregory and Sylvia Jerdan have
operated the family business with a commitment to serve their community and
surrounding area with dignity and respect. They plan to continue into the
future as the "people you can rely on, both today
and tomorrow".