Winning a national award is a feat in of itself, but Tetrick Funeral Home was not satisfied with just the one victory. They decided to go all out and win ten years in a row.

Tetrick Funeral Home has been in business for 75 years, and CEO Richard Tetrick said the accomplishment felt good.

“Our staff works hard every year,” Tetrick said.

He said winning the award ten years in a row earns the funeral home a spot in a national hall of fame for their service.

This year’s conference, held by the National Funeral Directors Association, took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tetrick said an application process is necessary to be selected for the award.

“The families you serve need to recommend you,” he said.

Tetrick said he owes their achievement to the lessons he gained from his father.

“I try to carry on his traditions, and how he would have served,” Tetrick said. “I always try to follow the Golden Rule. […] We may be the oldest family business in the county.”

With the tenth award under their belt, Tetrick said they do not plan on sitting on their laurels. The biggest aspect of the job to focus on, he said, is the people.

“We continually train our staff,” he said. “It is an ever-changing process. We have got the right people on our team. We are always looking for new members of our team.”

He said today’s ever-evolving landscape poses unique challenges to running a funeral home. Funeral Directors serve roles akin to event planners as much as they actually run the funeral home.

“More families do not go to the cemetery. They may do a cremation instead,” Tetrick said. “We always have to adjust.”

He said Tetrick Funeral Home is one of the few in three counties that offers cremation services.

“We continually train to do things differently,” Tetrick said. “We want to offer different options to families that want them.”

Tetrick said families have recommended Tetrick for their services, and those voices are not unheard.

“We always appreciate the support from the community,” he said.