Spotlight on George Irvin Green Funeral Home, Inc.
Scott L. Green is the president of George Irvin Green Funeral Home Inc. in Munhall, Pennsylvania. He shared his experiences with running a successful funeral home that has been around for more than 80 years.
How was your funeral home founded, and how does it operate today?
Our funeral home was founded in 1941 by my grandfather, George Irvin Green. In 1959 my grandmother, Helen Gaut Green, became a Licensed Funeral Director alongside her husband. I’m a third-generation funeral director, along with my brother, Todd Green, and we work with our father Donald I. Green.
Why do you believe funeral service is important?
We are dealing with vulnerable and grieving families, and it is our responsibility and honor to help guide them to creating a memorable celebration of their loved one’s life.
What is the most rewarding part of working in funeral service?
When all the details were handled with the utmost respect and the families are satisfied and saying thank you for doing a wonderful job.
What makes your funeral home unique?
We pride ourselves on exemplary service, which means we try to provide all options, to all families, at all times.
How does your team juggle having both a busy funeral home and a busy pet funeral home?
Communication is the key to running both a successful funeral home and a pet funeral home. Having designated rules in making decisions helps that process and allows both businesses to be successful.
What does your funeral home do in order to create a strong community presence? Do you believe that this is important?
Being active in your local community is probably the singular most important marketing tool we have available. We are active in many community organizations such as Rotary, Garden Club and our local churches. We make it a priority to attend and sponsor golf outings, local baseball and softball teams, boy scouts and high school scholarship awards. We do pictures with Santa at the funeral home for both pets and children alike. I think it’s important to have the funeral home open for many activities throughout the year, not just for funeral service. We need to make it a welcoming place.
In what ways do you use technology to further the services you offer?
During the pandemic we’ve had to rely more and more on technology. Part of that has been utilizing the Passare online planning platform for family members that can add vital information, the obituary and uploading pictures.
What growing trends have you noticed in the funeral service profession? How do you keep up with these changes?
Trying to brand your funeral home, such as being a veterans funeral home, motorcycle, etc. We focused on branding ourselves mostly on aftercare. In October we did a pumpkin decorating grief class and had a grief pumpkin patch outside our funeral home. We recognized Children’s Grief Awareness Day by having an ornament decorating time and reading children’s books about grief and emotions for kids at the funeral home.
What do you value most about OGR? Why did you become a member?
I believe we’ve been members of OGR since 1959, and it’s probably one of the singular most important organizations that we’ve been a member of for all these years. I truly believe the members of OGR make the organization what it is and the ability for them to share ideas at the conferences and study groups make it an invaluable organization to be part of. I truly believe we’re a better funeral home and organization by being part of OGR.
Is there anything in particular that you do at work to keep your spirits high or the spirits of your staff high?
I believe recognizing and showing appreciation to your staff goes a long way. Compensation is always important, but sometimes it’s just saying, ‘Thank you, we appreciate all the dedication you provide.’ We also sometimes give gift cards to a favorite salon, tickets to sporting events and gift cards on their birthday just to say thank you.
What are three future goals that you have in mind for your funeral home?
Our goal in the future is always to continue to provide the highest level of service and to keep educated on new trends. We never want to be a funeral home that becomes complacent.
Anything else you would like to add?
For the last 27 years, we’ve been providing a remembrance service during the holiday season and we take great pride in all those years to provide a wonderful service for the community. We’re also very proud of offering a Valentine’s Day widows luncheon for all widows who have lost a loved one throughout the year.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of The Independent® magazine. Click here to read the entire issue.