Chicago Jewish Funerals Opens Skokie Facility

For most people, funeral homes bring thoughts of death. For Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, the new Chicago Jewish Funerals building is a symbol of rebirth.

“This is a beautiful building,” Van Dusen said. “It’s going to serve the community. At the same time it’s also going to contribute significantly to the rebirth of West Dempster Street.”

After three years of planning and construction, the Buffalo Grove-based Chicago Jewish Funerals opened a 15,000-square-foot chapel at 8851 Skokie Blvd. in July. The Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting and grand opening reception Sept. 1.

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“This is a very important economic milestone for the community,” said Howard Meyer, the chamber’s executive director. “This is a piece of property that was vacant for 10 years, and it’s wonderful to see it developed into such a beautiful facility.”

The facility includes two chapels--one whose occupancy capacity is 250 people and the other can handle 50 people. The smaller chapel can provide extra seating as it has a television so ceremonies from the larger space can be broadcast to the room. Both have attached family rooms equipped with bathrooms, coffee makers and plenty of tissues.

A mikvah in the basement will be used to wash bodies according to Jewish tradition and space outside the main facility is devoted to Kohanim, for Jews who cannot enter a building with a dead body unless it is one of their closest relatives.

Funeral director Jackie Jasinsky said she had heard nothing but good feedback from families who held funerals at the new facility.

“Some of it’s ‘Oh, it’s a new building,’ but I think some people are surprised because it’s not what they’re expecting when they walk into a funeral home,” Jasinsky said.

The chapel reflects Chicago Jewish Funerals founder David Jacobson’s design philosophy. He prefers bright and open spaces to the traditional dimly lit funeral homes decorated with dark woods and heavy fabrics.

“It’s kind of nice to walk in and it’s not this oppressive, dark atmosphere,” Jasinsky said. “You don’t want people to be happy at a funeral home, but you can make it less unpleasant.”

Chicago Jewish Funerals administrator Connie Rocque, who divides her time between Buffalo Grove and Skokie, says she loves the new facility.

“I think it’s going to be great for the Jewish community and the community in general,” Rocque said. “It’s been a dream of David’s for a long time, and I’m happy to see that dream come true.”

Meyer acknowledged that some nearby homeowners were concerned about a funeral home being built close to a residential area, but said the Chamber always supported the project from a longtime member.

Van Dusen was not concerned about bringing a funeral home to the village, noting the economic benefits.

“What it will do is give us a beautiful piece of architecture and a thriving business,” he said. “It’s going to take what was a dilapidated piece of property and make it productive.”

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