Inclusive Funeral Care LLC

02/23/2026

Community Grief Event
With all the pain in the world, come be in community.

Thursday, February 26
7:15-8:15 pm.

Drop in to receive support, take a moment of quiet to remember the people and things we have lost, and know that you are not alone.

Hosted by our friend Erica Reid Gerdes from Waxwing Journeys and Amanda Mitchell, LCPC, BC-DMT

In Touch & Motion
4028 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60641

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-grief-circle-tickets-1982466839684?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/23/2026

Antonio Benecchi, Italian native, of Chicago's Gold Coast. Worked in the public sector at Civic Consulting Alliance in Chicago. Antonio helped leaders shape initiatives that strengthened Chicago’s economy and cultural institutions. Met his partner at Sidetrack and adopted the title of which he weas proudest: husband.

https://www.inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/antonio-benecchi/ #!/Obituary

02/21/2026

 What is “old” anyway?

It’s surprisingly hard to find a good term for people in late life.

02/21/2026

Beautiful example of a love legacy message from a much-loved actor who recently succumbed to ALS.

02/20/2026

VSED = Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking.

Join Inclusive Funeral Care and Waxwings Journeys for a meaningful and intimate gathering centered on one of the most important, and often avoided, conversations of our time: choice, dignity, and intention at the end of life.

Graceland Cemetery Chapel
4001 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613

Saturday, March 7, 2026,
2-3pm (doors open 1:30)

Ticket Price $5 (see link below)

"The Cheryl Hauser Effect" is a powerful documentary that follows a Minnesota woman’s courageous decision to face Alzheimer’s disease on her own terms through VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking).

At seventy-six, Cheryl Hauser became a clear, conscious, and compassionate advocate for end-of-life autonomy, sparking a national conversation about Death with Dignity, Alzheimer’s, caregiving, and health care ethics.

https://www.eventcreate.com/e/thecherylhausereffectchicago

02/19/2026

Look at this gem! We are handling services for a Golden Apple Foundation “Educator of the Year” winner.

The practice of forwarding obituaries to any alumni associations and social clubs mentioned in obits is generally well-received by our clients. It’s laborious and time-consuming, but part of our high level of service. And it's messages like this that make it all worth it.

Sadly, very few people read newspapers anymore and of course the purpose of an obituary is to announce a life lived and lost. Obits are official family announcement, to be shared publicly.

Our obits also appear on legacy.com, which powers all of the major daily newspapers across the country.

02/19/2026

Steve Budd, 77, of Mundelein's Diamond Lake neighborhood. Worked at Lambs Farm and owned a 40-acre Christmas tree farm in Cedar Falls, Iowa; met and fell in love with a woman who showed him the world! Beautiful obit! And read about his urn...

Share Memories and Support the Family.

02/19/2026

Mary Jackson, 80, of Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, formerly of Springfield Illinois. Golden Apple Foundation Educator of the Year, 1994. Loved God and loved Science!
https://www.inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/mary-jackson-139/ #!/Obituary

02/17/2026

As with almost all IFC families, our Jewish clients pick and choose from their own sense of tradition, culture, and belief system. Several families have requested a taharah, the ritual washing performed by the Chevra Kadisha, a sacred volunteer society.

We had a very helpful meeting with one if Chicago’s Chevra Kadishas last year. They helped ensure that we were providing correct and necessary items and respect for the process. We were grateful for their time and also relieved to be doing a-ok!

IFC would never expect an Orthodox or Conservative family to call upon us, as we are not an exclusively Jewish funeral home. There are so many levels of observance. Reformed and even irreligious families have ordered a taharah prior to cremation and the general trend is towards green cremation as there is no active flame.

We’ve heard everything from “Well, she wasn’t religious- she was Jew-ISH” to “No – nothing! He was an atheist!” (this family did accept a Shiva candle and kriah ribbons).

One of our favorite clients said “You know, the more I talk about this, the more Jewish I’m becoming...” We were honored to stand with the Rabbi as the decedent’s three children filled in the grave at Waldheim Cemetery while a portable speaker played the album “Space is the Place” by Sun Ra. It was everything for this family, and for IFC.

02/16/2026

Our director was deeply honored to serve the family of Mr. Ken Nordine seven years ago.

“I sat in a chair @ his house that had previously held the tushes of David Bowie, JerryGarcia, and Lou Reed. He had original art by Muhammad Ali on his wall.

I was borderline star-struck by all of it, esp when I found out that his granddaughter Gwen owned my favorite brunch venue at the time, Over Easy on Damen.”

If you don’t know who Ken Nordine was, look him up!

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/obituaries/ken-nordine-dead.html

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JWtPQF8ea/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/16/2026

Green Burial! We have performed several green burials over the years. This Sun-Times article is from last year, we neglected to post it then. Ask us about green burials!

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/04/21/green-burial-natural-funeral-planning-environmentally-friendly-cemeteries?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=042224%20Afternoon%20Edition&utm_content=042224%20Afternoon%20Edition+CID_3f0c102144d34e186032c1986a1483c7&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=READ%20MORE&tpcc=042224%20Afternoon%20Edition

02/14/2026

Garrett Derner, 70, of Evanston, valued justice, kindness, folk dance, excellence in music, and high-quality food. Founding member of the Chicago Spelmanslag (Swedish folk music performers). Started Songbird Coffee Roasters.
https://www.inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/garrett-derner/ #!/Obituary