Losing someone is weird. It’s heavy, it’s messy, and honestly, the paperwork is the last thing anyone wants to deal with when they're staring at an empty chair. In a small town like Princeton, Illinois, people don't just want a service; they want someone who knew their grandpa or remembered their neighbor’s favorite flower. That’s where Norberg Memorial Home Inc & Monuments obituaries come in. It isn't just a list of names on a screen. It’s a community record.
Since 1903, this place has been a fixture. Think about that for a second. Over 120 years of burials, cremations, and headstone carvings right there on Thompson Street. They've seen the world change from horse-drawn carriages to live-streamed funerals.
The Story Behind the Name
It’s not just a corporate entity. The history is kinda fascinating. It started with E.A. Vaughn way back when, but the "Norberg" name stuck because C. Arthur Norberg was such a staple in the community. Eventually, the Smallwood family took the reins. J.D. Smallwood basically grew up in those hallways. He was the kid mowing the lawn and running errands before he ever became the guy in the suit.
There’s something incredibly human about how the current owners, J.D. and Janice Smallwood, run things. They were actually high school sweethearts at the old Skate-A-Rama in Princeton. Life took them in different directions—Janice ended up in South Carolina for years—but they eventually found their way back to each other and the funeral home. Janice often talks about how she was "outsider" to the industry and used to be afraid of death. She lost her parents young, so when she talks to grieving families, she’s not just reciting a script. She’s been in that chair.
What's the Deal with Norberg Memorial Home Inc & Monuments Obituaries?
When you look up an obituary here, you aren't just getting the "born on, died on" data. They use a platform called "We Remember," which turns a standard notice into something way more interactive.
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- Interactive Memorials: You can post photos or share stories that might have been forgotten.
- Virtual Presence: For family members stuck in other states, they offer live-streaming. It’s become a standard thing now, but they really leaned into it when the world shut down a few years ago.
- The Sunflower Field: This is probably the coolest, most "un-funeral-home" thing they do. Behind the building, they planted a massive field of sunflowers for the community. It’s about life, not just death.
The monuments part of the name is important too. They don't just outsource the headstones to some random factory. They handle the permanent memorialization, which is basically making sure that 50 years from now, someone can still find that spot in Oakland Cemetery and know exactly who is resting there.
It’s About the Details Nobody Sees
Most people don't realize how much goes into a single service. J.D. Smallwood has talked openly about the "hardest jobs we've ever loved" vibe. From coordinating with the VA for veteran services to making sure the "KeepSake Thumbies" (those jewelry pieces with a loved one’s fingerprint) are perfect, it’s a lot of pressure.
They also do something called "Vital ICE." It's a life-saving app they promote in the area that helps first responders see your medical info on your phone’s lock screen. It shows they’re thinking about the living as much as the deceased.
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Navigating Grief in a Digital Age
Search for Norberg Memorial Home Inc & Monuments obituaries and you’ll find names like David Specht or Virginia Gordon. These aren't just entries; they’re legacies. David, for instance, was a retired teacher who loved woodworking and restoring old cars. The obituary mentions his wife Diana, who was a florist. These little details—the fact that he liked "doing things the right way" in his workshop—that’s what makes a human-quality obituary. It’s not just AI-generated fluff; it’s a reflection of a life rooted in Bureau County.
Why People Choose Them
There are plenty of places to go, but local trust is earned over decades, not weeks.
- Veteran Specialists: They handle the applications for Military Honors and those Presidential Memorial Certificates that mean so much to families.
- Pre-Planning: Janice is a big advocate for this. It sounds morbid, but it’s basically a gift to your kids so they aren't arguing about casket colors while they’re crying.
- The Smallwood Touch: Whether it’s putting rocking chairs on the front porch or Janice doing face painting at community events, they are present.
Honestly, a lot of people are opting for cremation these days because it’s "easier" or "cheaper." The staff at Norberg usually pushes back on the idea that "easier is better." They argue that skipping the ceremony actually makes the grief stick around longer. You need that "point of closure," as they call it.
Actionable Steps for Families
If you find yourself needing to use their services or looking up a friend’s obituary:
- Use the Search Tool: Their website has a pretty robust search for past services. If you’re looking for someone from a few years ago, it’s usually still there.
- Sign Up for Notifications: You can get an email when a new obituary is posted so you don't miss a visitation for a former coworker or classmate.
- Contribute to the "We Remember" Page: If you have a funny photo of the deceased from twenty years ago, upload it. Those things are gold for the immediate family.
- Check the Monuments Showroom: If you’re thinking about a headstone, don't just look at a catalog. Go see the 20+ caskets and various monument styles they have on-site at 701 E. Thompson Street.
The reality is that Norberg Memorial Home Inc & Monuments handles the stuff we’d rather not think about. But because they’ve been doing it since 1903, they’ve gotten pretty good at making the worst day of your life just a little bit more bearable. It’s a mix of old-school Bureau County values and whatever new tech helps people say goodbye.