Changing of the guard at local funeral home

BY PETE WICKLUND

Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:13 AM CDT

Journal times

RACINE -

The city's northwest side funeral home might have a new name, but those who have come to rely on what had long been known as Hanson Funeral Home and is now Sturino Funeral Home will still find familiar faces there.

That's because new owner Darryl M. Sturino has worked there as a funeral director for 18 years and had been a partner in the business, located at 3014 Northwestern Ave., with Jon Hanson for more than 10 of those years.

With Hanson's retirement, Sturino took the chance to be his own boss, fulfilling a dream he has had since his early teenage years.

The sale was closed in early June and Sturino, 52, said that even though the Hanson name will not be a part of the business for the first time since 1897, the traditions started by founder A.C. Hanson (Jon's great grandfather) will continue.

"The community and the Hanson family have been very supportive of the change," said Sturino, who came to work at the funeral home in 1989, just a year after he completed his mortuary science degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College. "It seems like the whole community is wishing me well."

Helping with the seamless tradition are Sturino's two full-time employees, funeral director David Herbst and office manager Sharon Baldukas, both of whom were also on staff at Hanson. Another half dozen employees help out on a part-time basis.

"As far as day-to-day operations go, nothing's going to change," said Sturino, who noted that all funeral preplans established with Hanson Funeral Home staff will be honored.

Sturino, who was born and raised in Kenosha has lived in Racine for as long as he has been with Hanson. He owns the funeral home with his wife, Jeana. The couple have three sons, ages 23, 20 and 11.

Sturino said he would eventually like to update and remodel the stately home, built in 1906 and once owned by Arthur Janes, one of the city's past prominent residents. The home also was once part of the Wustum farm.

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