MACZ FUNERAL HOMES DISCUSS NEW BURIAL SERVICES, BRING BACK ANNUAL PASTORAL LUNCH
Macz Funeral Homes is celebrating former traditions while embracing new services in 2025.
The funeral home has introduced a new, eco-friendly burial alternative for clients, while restoring one of its former community events - a pastoral luncheon for local church officials.
The lunch was held Wednesday in the conference room of the Centralia Chamber of Commerce and was attended by pastors and church representatives from the Greater Centralia area.
Ahead of the luncheon, funeral director Tom Macz spoke with the chamber about terramation - a process which gently transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil in a controlled vessel. Though currently not legal to perform in Illinois, Macz Funeral Homes has partnered with an out-of-state company to perform terramation services.
“We did a lot of research. There are a lot of different companies that offer [terramation], but we ended up selecting a company that is very reputable that can assist us with this,” said Macz. “In Illinois, it is not legal yet to [perform] the process. But we can partner with a company out-of-state. We would [transport the loved one] to another state where it is legal and then the terramation process can be completed there.”
Macz said terramation can serve as a new alternative for those not interested in traditional burials or cremation, adding that more awareness and information about the process will become available after it is legalized in the state.
“Once it’s legalized in Illinois, it will be not only more advertised but there will be more education on it. There’s not a lot of people talking about it now because it is such a new process,” Macz said. “We are one of the few Green-Certified funeral homes in Illinois. Because of that we like to give our families options that maybe they don’t know about.”
Shortly after the noon hour, Macz, along with his wife and fellow funeral director, Traci, led the pastoral lunch. The event featured homemade food served by the funeral home staff and offered an hour of fellowship and networking opportunities for the local church officials.
While addressing those in attendance, Macz said the luncheon was meant to bring people together and help foster new connections.
“We have some of our older pasters and we have some of our newer pastors. We’d really like to introduce everybody so you guys can use your resources and pull together for the sake of the community in the greater Centralia area,” said Tom. “During this time, we encourage you guys to talk to each other. If you don’t know each other, get to know each other.”
Traci noted that the lunch was held closer to the holidays in previous years and had been out of commission since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both she and Tom chose to bring the luncheon back, however, and host it during October, which is Pastor Appreciation Month.
