Death isn't necessarily a topic many people are comfortable talking about and funerals are even less of a discussed matter. Matthew Bailey, the current owner of B.C. Bailey Funeral Home provides knowledge and comfort to help ease your mind during difficult times. He has followed in the footstpes of his father and grandfather and has seen what needs to be done to make a hard times a little easier. I have known Matthew for a few years and appreciate his friendship as well as his approach to business. (Sidenote: his family portrait is hanging in the Impressions lobby after our spring refresh!) You can read a little bit about what Matt had to say about B.C. Bailey below!

"The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home is Wallingford longest continually operated company. Carl W. Bailey bought the Griswold Funeral Home on Center Street in 1912. He renamed the business C.W. Bailey Funeral Home and ran it until his death in 1944. Benjamin C. Bailey followed in his father's footsteps taking over the business and changing the name to B.C. Bailey Funeral Home and moving the firm to South Elm Street in 1952. Ben ran the funeral home until his retirement in1977. Ben's son Robert took over the business after his father's retirement and ran it for 46 years. He and his family lived above the funeral home on South Elm Street. Except for the years attending college and four years in the United States Air force, he lived continuously in Wallingford. He married Darlene Cannata and they raised 3 children, Michele (Chaudhry), Michael, and Matthew. 

Matthew currently serves as president of the company and continues the family legacy of service to people during their time of need. After serving the community for over a century, Matt says his family has seen many changes in the nature of funeral service. "When we started, there was not even a crematory located in the State of Connecticut. In the rare case that someone chose cremation, we would have to drive to Ferncliff Cemetery in New York. Today, we have more families that select cremation over traditional burial."

Also changing is the way society approaches religion and "traditional" services. "We also are the first firm in the area to embrace having Certified Celebrants on staff for those families who are not part of a church or would like something other than traditional services." This provides an unique opportunity for families to have a meaningful, personalized life tribute that allows them to begin the healing process, even if they do not wish to embrace traditional styles of services. 

Matt attributes the length of the families presence and long term success to having a professional and caring staff and putting the needs of client families first. "At the end of the day, when people see the sign in front of our firm, my name is on it. That's a lot of pressure to make sure you are taking care of people as best as possible. I have no more valuable possession than my name and good reputation.""

Thank you for reading today's FOW and as always, make sure to comment below or contact me here if you are interested in having your Wallingford buisiness feautred!