Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Remkus.
Jonathan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Our family’s business, Hinsdale Animal Cemetery and Crematory, has been operating since 1926 and in my family since 1950. We started as just a pet cemetery and are one of the oldest and largest in the United States. We expanded into cremation in the early nineties. In addition to assisting the public, we work with the best veterinarians in Chicago.
I was born into the business, and after attending college, began working at the business full time followed by my siblings David and Kari.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In addition to working with the public directly, we also perform cremation services for pets referred to us through veterinary hospitals. We are blessed to work with the absolute best veterinarians in Chicagoland, but it was initially difficult to earn business as we are a premium service. Once veterinarians saw we care for other people’s pets the same way we would care for our own, they insisted on working only with us.
Hinsdale Pet Memorial Services – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We provide the highest level of care to people who have lost a beloved pet. We are most proud of the way we help people through a difficult time by caring for their pet as if he or she was one of our own. What sets us apart from others is the level of care we provide in addition to the high ethical standards we apply to each and every cremation.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I can’t single in on one moment, but knowing that we are able to make a troubling time for pet owners and families easier than it might otherwise be is a tremendous source of pride for us. We do a lot of work helping honor service K9s, both active and retired upon their passing. We are proud to give back as a way of saying thank you to the police, fire, and rescue K9s that are an integral part of the public safety family. Being able to help all different pet owners and families find some relief and comfort is the most important part of our jobs.
Pricing:
- Private Cremation services start at $180
- Burial Services start at about $650
Contact Info:
- Address: 6400 Bentley Ave
Willowbrook, IL - Website: www.petcemetery.org
- Phone: 6303235120
- Email: www.petcemetery.org
- Facebook: @hinsdalepet
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hinsdale-animal-cemetery-and-crematory-willowbrook-3
Image Credit:
Matthew Lewis
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
