Becvar & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Community Contributor

The Becvar funeral business began in 1907 when Frank M. Becvar opened his first funeral establishment at 1850 W. 47th Street in Chicago. This building was a storefront business since all funerals of that day were brought to the homes of the families. At that time that location was in the thriving neighborhood known as Back-of-the Yards.

In 1923, the business moved to 5207 S. Kedzie Avenue, again a storefront location, in an area referred to as Elsdon or Chicago Lawn where the Grand Trunk Railroad had one of its headquarters.

In 1927, Grandpa Becvar built a new, larger facility across the street at 5218 S. Kedzie Avenue that became one of the first funeral chapels on the Southwest side of Chicago thus taking funerals out of the homes and into funerals parlors. When Grandpa Becvar passed away in 1935, the business was taken over by his four sons, Carl, William, Frank J., and George. They were assisted by their mother Mary, who had been working closely with her husband since the business was started. One by one, as the sons retired or passed away, the third generation, the grandsons of Frank M., went to mortuary college and took over their fathers’ business.

In 1984 one of the grandsons, Frank V. decided to move the business down the street to 6541 S. Kedzie Avenue where the business continued to prosper. His son David, graduated from embalming school in 1996 and entered the family business soon after, becoming the 4th generation of funeral directors in the Becvar family.

The Becvars decided to expand once again in 1999 building a new facility at 5539 W. 127th Street in Crestwood.

In 2019, the Becvars celebrate 112 years of caring and dedicated service to the Chicago-land area.