Business Profiles
Lucas & Eaton: carrying on a tradition while fulfilling a life's ambition
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Stephen and Kimberly Martin are proud to be members of the York community and have been striving to offer residents comfort and choices in their first nine months as the owners of Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home.
Courtesy Photo
In the nine months that they have owned York's own Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, Stephen and Kimberly have been working to update the stately Colonial with even more amenities to give families comfort when grieving the loss of a loved one. Above, the Martins recently installed a new business sign outside the property on Long Sands Road.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
Nine months later, Stephen and Kimberly have been hard at work adding their own special touches and updates to York's one funeral home while becoming increasingly involved in the community.
That is because the Martins are firm believers in the importance of reaching out to their neighbors so that they can serve as a true support system for families in their time of grief and loss.
"We're invested in the community and we're here to stay," Stephen said of their commitment to York as their home.
Although they have not yet lived in town for a year, the pair said the reality of life in York has exceeded their expectations.
"It's everything we had hoped for in a community and more than we ever dreamed of," Kimberly said. "We feel very blessed to be welcomed like this."
While the Martins own a business in York, they are quick to point out that they are, first and foremost, a part of the community and dedicated to serving their friends and neighbors.
To those ends, the Martins have invested in the Lucas & Eaton property inside and out, including the newly-renovated main chapel, which can seat up to 85 people for services.
They also have an exclusive Batesville showroom with bright displays of casket and urn selections. Their goal, they explained, is providing families with choices and options.
Other updates include the striking new sign on Long Sands Road, as well as awnings, shutters, paint, landscaping and other exterior work and ongoing renovations to make the interior spaces even more comforting to those who choose Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home as the place to honor those who have passed on.
In the renovations of the property, the Martins pointed out that Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home is not just a business, it is their home.
"When people are grieving, we are opening our home to them," Stephen said. "We want them to be comfortable while they're here."
The Martins also offer a free series of workshops on pre-planning funeral arrangements to help individuals find ways to talk about their end-of-life wishes.
Without such planning, Kimberly pointed out, "the family that's making the arrangements is left with the burden of not knowing what their loved one wanted. … This is a way to remove that burden and allow people to grieve."
As Stephen put it, a time of loss is painful enough without worrying over what the person might have wanted.
"We offer traditional funerals as well as cremation options," Stephen said, and information is available on pre-planning options at the free seminars or by mail for those who are interested in learning more.
And what makes a young couple decide to purchase their own funeral home?
"I grew up in a funeral home. I've definitely always had a dream and goal of having our own funeral home," Stephen said. "Dreams do come true."
While Kimberly's background was not in funeral service, she has known Stephen's calling ever since they first met and in their 10 years of marriage, she has shared his dream.
Just as Stephen is a state-licensed funeral director and a member of the Maine State and the National Funeral Director's Associations, Kimberly has received her license as a funeral assistant.
"It's a lifestyle, it's not a job," Kimberly said.
Owning a home-based business, the Martins are also active in and around town. They are both members of the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, Stephen is a member of the York Rotary Club and a volunteer for the York Fire Department and Kimberly is an active York School Department volunteer.
Together, Stephen and Kimberly have spearheaded two community outreach programs: last year's very successful coat and hat drive - which they began just after purchasing the business and moving into their Long Sands Road home - and this year's school supplies and backpack drive, which is just now underway.
"We feel it's very important to give back to the community," Kimberly said. "We both know how lucky we are in to be in a position to help."
That is part of the reason the Martins are so committed to their annual outreach projects and to offering free seminars on funeral planning.
"I think people like to know who their funeral director is," Stephen said. "Nobody wants to deal with death, but because we are a part of the community, at least they know who we are when they come to the door."
Kimberly agreed.
"Because we're a part of the community, I think it's an added comfort when they see us standing at the door," she said.
The Martins said they feel honored to be members of the York community and to carry on the tradition of Lucas & Eaton as a family-owned funeral home since 1927.
From pre-planning to personalized services to funeral pre-payment, Lucas & Eaton offers an array of options. For more on the services able through Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, call 363-3531.
