Company Profile
Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes
Company Overview
For more than 88 years, Reeves Funeral Homes have been committed to the time honored celebration of a person’s life and all those who were touched by it. All of us at Reeves and Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville, understand relationships and grief, and we possess the years of experience, skill, and knowledge to assist families through the many areas of decision that occur at a time of loss. We also sensibly guide at a time of pre-planning.
Since 2007, Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. has been a recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award. This is the highest commendation in funeral service and places us one of only five funeral homes in Illinois, and among the top two percent of funeral homes nationwide. This prestigious designation has also been bestowed upon our newest acquisition of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home in 2011.
It is our privilege to be of service to families over a multi county area. Our hometown tradition of service and trusted name can be relied upon today and tomorrow.
Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. has locations in Coal City, Gardner and Morris and Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home is located in Wilmington.
Company History
In 1924 Wilfred and Anna Reeves established Reeves Funeral Home in the 500 Block of East Division Street in Coal City. At that time the facility was primarily used as an office, floral shop and seamstress shop due to the preparation and wakes being held within the homes.
In 1938 the new funeral home located at 75 North Broadway in Coal City was erected and it was at this time that visitations and services began to take place at the funeral home instead of the homes of the deceased.
Wilfred and Anna’s two sons, Charles and James took over the business in 1957 after the death of their father Wilfred, and their mother Anna then passed away in 1966.
Today, the Coal City funeral home is overseen by Matt Baskerville, who is privileged to carry on the fourth generation of long established tradition, trust and service excellence that the Reeves family has established.
For five consecutive years, since 2007, Matt Baskerville and Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd has been a recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award. This award is the highest commendation in funeral service, and has placed us one of only five funeral homes in the state of Illinois, and among the top two percent of funeral homes nationwide.
Aside from Leo and Karen Reeves, Matt is assisted by family service coordinator Violette Baskerville, whom is also designated as a Certified Prearrangement Consultant and Certified Funeral Celebrant; funeral director intern Tony Boyd, CCO, CCC (Certified Crematory Operator and Certified Cremation Counselor); funeral assistant: W. Scott Kuriger; visitation attendants: Richard "Doc" Christensen, Robin Cirrencione, Debbie Plese, Jane Kennedy and Maria Testa-Haldorson; administrative assistant: Sheila Allen and Raymond Baskerville, Ellen Peredetto and Don Jensen who assist with facilities and grounds maintenance.
Wilfred and Anna's son James opened a Morris Branch in the late 1950's. This location continues to operate at 408 East Washington Street in Morris. James and his wife Sylvia had three children: Lorna, Elaine and Leo. After the death of James in 1989 and Sylvia in 2000, Leo and his wife Karen continued on with the operations of both the Coal City and Morris funeral homes.
Today the funeral home is overseen by Matt Baskerville who is privileged to carry on the long trusted reputation and tradition of service excellence that the Reeves family has established over the past eight decades.
In February of 2007 Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. of Coal City and Morris acquired the former Gardner Funeral Home from Robert Cofoid.
The late 1800's structure located in downtown Gardner underwent a complete renovation and remodeling. In December of 2007, the funeral home reopened, and is providing local hometown service to the families of Gardner and the surrounding areas.
We look forward to becoming a part of Gardner tradition in the years and generations to come.
In December of 2010 we were pleased to announce part of a new page in history with funeral service in the Wilmington community. Freitag Funeral Home merged with Matthew Baskerville and Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. to honor the past, present and new future in funeral service throughout Wilmington and the surrounding communities. Together with Matt, Leo Reeves and Roger Freitag have served generations of families and look forward to becoming a new tradition to families whom we are privileged to serve. We are the funeral service professionals that the community knows, trusts, have counted on in the past, and can rely upon in the future.