Bridges Funeral Home

Bridges Funeral Home Family-owned and -operated, Bridges Funeral Home is the name local families have trusted for years. Our facility is beautiful, spacious, and state of the art.

When sorrow strikes, your neighbors at Bridges Funeral Home are ready to serve your family. Whether you’re at your moment of need, or want to preplan, we are Knoxville’s premier funeral service provider – the name local families know they can trust. We offer traditional interment or cremation and can personalize a service to make it as memorable and unique as your loved one. Most importantly, we offer you compassionate, professional service, and we truly understand our community and its needs.

April is Stress Awareness Month, a reminder to pause and care for your well-being. Life’s responsibilities can feel heav...
04/02/2026

April is Stress Awareness Month, a reminder to pause and care for your well-being. Life’s responsibilities can feel heavy at times, and taking small steps toward rest and balance can make a meaningful difference.

Today, we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served during the Vietnam War. National Vietnam War Veterans Day ...
03/29/2026

Today, we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served during the Vietnam War. National Vietnam War Veterans Day is a time to reflect and express our lasting gratitude.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, honoring the journey of faith and the spirit of renewal that this day represents.
03/29/2026

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, honoring the journey of faith and the spirit of renewal that this day represents.

A meaningful farewell can include the details that made them who they were. From hobbies and traditions to colors and me...
03/27/2026

A meaningful farewell can include the details that made them who they were. From hobbies and traditions to colors and memories, we help you create a service that truly reflects their story. Discover our personalization options on our website: https://www.bridgesfuneralhome.com/our-services/personalization

Spring is the perfect time to slow down, step outside, and enjoy the simple moments that feel fresh and new again. Wheth...
03/26/2026

Spring is the perfect time to slow down, step outside, and enjoy the simple moments that feel fresh and new again. Whether it is a picnic, planting flowers, or a peaceful walk, let this season inspire you.

03/23/2026

The History of Knoxville Rests Here: Sonia Fractman was born in Akkerman, Russia, on June 20, 1888. Her family moved to the United States when she was just a young girl, and they settled in Chicago, IL.

After finishing her secondary education, Sonia enrolled as a medical student at Rush Medical College in Chicago. Rush was the first medical college in the state of Illinois. It was chartered in 1837, two days before the city of Chicago was chartered. The college was named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Rush, who was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and is widely recognized as the "Father of American Psychiatry."

Sonia was successful in her medical studies and earned her medical degree, but she chose to never practice medicine. While Sonia never lived in Knoxville, she married Knoxville native Frederick (Fred) E. Gore.

Fred became associated with Blue Diamond Coal in Knoxville in 1915 and worked his way up in management. When the company merged with several other coal companies in 1922, making it one of the world's largest coal companies, he was named one of the vice presidents and moved to the company's headquarters in Cincinnati. He stayed there until his death in 1948.

Following Fred's death, Sonia brought him back to his hometown. She commissioned a beautiful private estate in Greenwood Cemetery, which served as the final resting place for her and her beloved husband.

After traveling extensively around the world, she settled in New York City and dedicated the rest of her life to her second love: opera. For many years, Sonia was a first-nighter at the Rome, La Scala, Torino, and Vienna opera houses. As a long-time patron of Metropolitan Opera, she served on the National Council of the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York for several years. Sonia was a box holder for 47 years.

She served as an honorary vice chairman of the Knoxville Civic Opera Company and the Chicago Civic Opera. She was also on the board of governors of the New Jersey Opera and the State Opera Guild. Before her husband's death, she served as the vice chairman of the Ravine Park Opera, the Cincinnati Opera, and the Cincinnati Symphony.

As Sonia's health began to fail, she moved to Boca Raton, FL, in 1975. She died on Sept. 23, 1981, at the age of 93. Sonia was brought back to the beautiful estate she built for her husband at Greenwood Cemetery and joined him there on Sept. 27, 1975.

Spring invites us to pause and appreciate the beauty in change. Today marks the start of a season filled with light, gro...
03/20/2026

Spring invites us to pause and appreciate the beauty in change. Today marks the start of a season filled with light, growth, and hope.

Give yourself the same grace you'd offer someone you love. 🫶
03/19/2026

Give yourself the same grace you'd offer someone you love. 🫶

Traditional burial offers a timeless way to honor a loved one with a meaningful resting place. We guide you in selecting...
03/18/2026

Traditional burial offers a timeless way to honor a loved one with a meaningful resting place. We guide you in selecting the right cemetery, casket, and personal touches to reflect their life. Explore our traditional burial options on our website: https://www.bridgesfuneralhome.com/our-services/burial-services

Address

5430 Rutledge Pike
Knoxville, TN
37924

Telephone

+18655234999

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