In the quiet corners of Meriden, Connecticut, there is a brick building that has seen more tears and more healing than probably anywhere else in the city. You’ve likely driven past 88 East Main St. dozens of times without thinking twice about it. But for families who have lived in this area for generations, jj ferry and sons isn't just a business. It’s a landmark of human connection.
Honestly, the funeral industry is getting weird. It’s mostly big corporations now. You call a local home, and half the time, you're actually talking to a call center in another state owned by a conglomerate that cares more about quarterly margins than whether your Uncle Joe liked Frank Sinatra or the Red Sox.
That’s not the case here.
A Livery Stable and a Patent
The story started way back in 1890. John J. Ferry wasn't even a "funeral director" in the way we think of it today. He was a liveryman. Back then, if you had a carriage and horses, you were the guy people called for weddings, parties, and—eventually—funerals.
John J. Ferry was a tinkerer. A man of imagination. Did you know he actually held a U.S. patent for a portable candelabrum? He even patented an improvement for casket handles. He wasn't just showing up; he was trying to make the process better, more dignified.
By 1910, he built a massive brick stable on Pratt Street. That building actually still adjoins the rear of the modern funeral home today. It’s a literal physical link to a time before cars and digital obituaries. When John died in 1918, his sons, Thomas L. Ferry Sr. and William A. Ferry, took over. They weren't just "inheriting" a job; Thomas actually went to the Dodge Mortuary School in Boston to get licensed.
They were professionals when "professionalism" in this field was still being defined.
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Five Generations of Keeping it Local
What’s actually wild is that the Ferry family is now on their fifth generation. In an era where family businesses fold after twenty years, they’ve hit over 135 years. Thomas L. Ferry III is currently the president, working alongside his sons, Patrick L. Ferry and Daniel T. Ferry.
Pat is an interesting guy. He didn't just walk into the family business out of high school. He graduated from UConn in 2003 with an accounting degree and spent a decade at places like KPMG and Travelers Insurance. You’d think a CPA would stay in finance, right? But in 2013, he felt the pull back home. He got his mortuary degree from the McAllister Institute in NYC and joined the firm.
That matters. It means the people running the place choose to be there. They know the weight of the name on the sign.
What Most People Get Wrong About Modern Funerals
A lot of people think funerals have to be these stiff, formal, "black suit only" events. Honestly, things are changing. While jj ferry and sons handles the traditional stuff—high-standard embalming, formal wakes, and religious ceremonies—they’ve leaned into the "new" way people grieve.
- Green Burials: For the eco-conscious, they offer options that reduce environmental impact.
- Cremation with a Twist: There’s a misconception that cremation means no service. Totally false. They do full visitations and memorial services even if someone chooses cremation.
- The "Sari" Story: There’s a famous story in the community about a staff member named Trish. A family needed their mother dressed in a traditional sari for the service. Trish didn't just say "we don't do that." She spent two hours learning how to wrap it correctly and doing the mother's nails exactly as requested.
That’s the difference between a "provider" and a neighbor.
Why the Building Looks the Way it Does
If you look at the architecture, the place is a bit of a time capsule. In 1935, during the height of the Great Depression, the family bought the home of Dr. Harold L. Meeks. They eventually replaced the old wooden porch with the yellow brick structure you see today in 1937.
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Inside, they have two spacious chapels that can hold about 100 people each. But here’s the smart part: they can open them up into one giant room to seat over 200 if a service is particularly large. It’s designed to be flexible.
The Order of the Golden Rule
You might see a seal on their door for the Order of the Golden Rule. It’s not just a fancy sticker. It’s an invitation-only professional association. They only let in funeral homes that demonstrate high ethical standards and integrity. It’s basically a peer-reviewed "we trust these guys" stamp of approval.
They’re also tied in with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and the Connecticut Association of Funeral Directors. This allows them to handle out-of-state arrangements. If someone passes away in Florida but wants to be buried back home in Meriden, they handle the logistics so the family doesn't have to navigate two different state laws and transport regulations.
Planning for the "Unplannable"
One of the biggest shifts the Ferry family has seen is the rise of pre-planning. It sounds morbid to talk about your own funeral while you're healthy, but basically, it’s a gift to your kids.
When you pre-plan at a place like jj ferry and sons, you’re locking in your wishes. You decide on the casket or the urn. You decide if you want a "celebration of life" or a traditional Mass. More importantly, it stops the "I think Mom wanted this" arguments that happen when everyone is stressed and grieving.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently navigating a loss or just trying to get your affairs in order, here is how to handle the process with a firm like Ferry:
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1. Gather the "First 24" Info: If you're calling them today because a death occurred, have the social security number, date of birth, and parents' names (including mother's maiden name) ready. They’ll need this for the official death certificate.
2. Look for the Trust: If you’re pre-planning, ask about establishing a funeral trust. This protects the funds and ensures the money is there when it’s needed, often with tax advantages or Medicaid spend-down compliance.
3. Don't be Afraid to Ask for "Weird": If your loved one was a massive fan of a specific hobby or had a non-traditional request, bring it up. The Ferry staff has seen it all, from specialized floral arrangements to unique music choices.
4. Check the Obituaries: If you're looking for a service time, their website (jferryfh.com) is the most reliable source for recent listings, as they update it in real-time before it hits the local papers.
At the end of the day, a funeral home is a service business. But it's a service business that deals in the one thing we all have in common. Having a family that’s been doing it since 1890 usually means they aren't going to be surprised by your situation, no matter how complex it feels to you.