It's gone. For many families in Chicago’s Beverly and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods, the sight of the Andrew McGann Son Funeral Home on 107th Street was a constant, a somber but reliable landmark that stood for decades. But if you drive past that stretch of Pulaski Road today, you won’t see the familiar signage or the cars lined up for a wake. The building is gone, replaced by a modern outpatient medical facility. It’s a jarring shift for a community that viewed the funeral home as the "gold standard" for saying goodbye to loved ones.
Losing a local institution like this isn't just about real estate. It's about the loss of a specific kind of institutional knowledge. Andrew McGann was a name that carried weight in the Chicago funeral industry, particularly among the city’s Irish-Catholic population. When someone passed away, you didn't look up a directory. You just called McGann’s.
The Shift from Family-Owned to Corporate Management
Here is the thing about the funeral business that most people don't realize: the name on the sign often stays the same long after the original family has left the building. Andrew McGann Son Funeral Home eventually became part of the Dignity Memorial network, which is operated by Service Corporation International (SCI). SCI is the massive, Houston-based giant of the "death care" industry.
Does it matter? Honestly, it depends on who you ask.
For some families, the corporate backing meant better resources and a more polished digital presence. For others, it felt like the personal touch—the "neighborhood" feel—started to evaporate. When a local family business is bought by a conglomerate, the local directors often stay on for a transition period, but the backend operations change. The pricing structures, the casket selections, and even the way staff are trained start to align with national corporate standards rather than local South Side traditions.
The eventual closure of the 107th Street location wasn't an overnight decision. It was part of a larger trend of consolidation. As property values change and maintenance costs for massive, older funeral chapels skyrocket, companies like SCI often choose to "merge" locations. In this case, the legacy of Andrew McGann was transitioned to other nearby Dignity Memorial providers, specifically Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn.
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Why the Location on 107th Street Actually Mattered
Geography is everything in Chicago.
If you grew up on the South Side, you know that your parish and your local funeral home were the anchors of the community. Andrew McGann Son Funeral Home sat right in the heart of a densely populated area filled with police officers, firefighters, and tradespeople. It was convenient. It was "ours."
Moving those services to Oak Lawn might only be a few miles away, but in Chicago traffic and neighborhood psychology, it feels like a different world. The 107th and Pulaski location was massive. It could handle multiple large wakes simultaneously, which was necessary for a community with large extended families. When that space closed, it forced a redistribution of local traditions.
Understanding the Legacy of Andrew McGann
Andrew McGann himself was more than just a businessman; he was a figure in the community. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives for years. This political connection meant that his funeral home was often the site of high-profile services for city officials and local leaders.
When a funeral home is run by someone deeply embedded in the local political and social fabric, the service is different. There’s an unspoken understanding of the "Chicago way" of grieving—the long lines, the specific floral arrangements, and the heavy emphasis on the post-funeral luncheon at a local banquet hall or Irish pub.
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Finding Your Way After a Funeral Home Closes
So, what do you do if your family has "pre-need" arrangements with a funeral home that no longer exists? This is a huge source of anxiety for seniors in the Beverly area.
If you bought a funeral plan at Andrew McGann Son Funeral Home years ago, that contract didn't just disappear when the building was torn down. Because they were part of the Dignity Memorial network, those plans are typically honored at any other Dignity location. Most families are directed to Blake-Lamb on 103rd Street.
- Check your paperwork: Look for the "Pre-Need" contract.
- Verify the provider: See if it is backed by a specific insurance company or a trust.
- Call the new location: Don't wait for a death to happen to find out if the plan is still valid.
- Transfer rights: You often have the right to transfer your pre-paid funds to a different, non-affiliated funeral home, though there might be administrative fees involved.
It's kind of a hassle, but it’s better to handle it now than when you're in the middle of a crisis.
The Modern Reality of South Side Funerals
The closure of the McGann facility reflects a broader change in how we handle death.
Fewer people are opting for the traditional three-day wake. Cremation rates are soaring—approaching 60% nationally according to the National Funeral Directors Association. When you don't need a giant viewing room for 200 people to sit with a casket, you don't need a massive, expensive building on 107th Street.
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Smaller, more "boutique" funeral services are becoming the norm. Some families are even choosing to hold memorial services in non-traditional spaces like parks, restaurants, or community centers. The era of the "funeral palace" is largely over.
What Replaced the Funeral Home?
The site is now an Advocate Health Care outpatient center. There's a certain irony in a place that dealt with the end of life being replaced by a place focused on wellness and longevity. While neighbors initially mourned the loss of the landmark, the new facility brings significant foot traffic and healthcare access to the corner of 107th and Pulaski.
Actionable Steps for Families
If you are looking for the services once provided by Andrew McGann Son Funeral Home, or if you are trying to track down old records, follow these steps.
First, contact Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn. They are the primary custodians of the McGann legacy and records. If you have a pre-arranged plan, they are the ones who will likely execute it.
Second, if you aren't comfortable with the corporate feel of the merged locations, look into the remaining family-owned independents in the area. There are still several chapels in Evergreen Park and Blue Island that maintain that old-school, hands-on ownership model.
Third, if you are planning for the future, ask about "portability." Ensure that any money you put down today can be moved if a funeral home closes or changes ownership. In a city like Chicago, where neighborhoods change and businesses sell, portability is your best protection.
The physical building at 107th and Pulaski is gone, but the history of the families who passed through those doors remains a significant part of South Side lore. Understanding where that legacy went—and how to navigate the corporate landscape that replaced it—is the only way to ensure your own family's traditions are respected.