21 W Stevens Ave, Hawthorne
Thu Open 24 hours
4.8
★★★★★
13 reviews
“In anticipation of our Mom’s imminent passing, our first contact with a funeral home (since our Dad’s passing 25 years ago) was quite disappointing. Generic, sterile, undignified, and lacking the human touch...we could not proceed with them.<br><br>Thankfully, we next met Ernie at Hawthorne Funeral Home (now Ballard-Durand of Hawthorne), and instantly felt at peace with his old-school kindness, patience, compassion, and competence. Claudia was also in the office and demonstrated the same sensitivity and decorum.<br><br>Ernie treated us with profound respect, gentility, and understanding. His seasoned professionalism and life experience engendered in us an instant trust and comfort as he patiently, thoughtfully, and unhurriedly walked us through the process as if we were his only clients.<br><br>We are deeply grateful that Ernie made a challenging situation as pleasant as possible, while preserving our Mom’s dignity every step of the way. He and Hawthorne Funeral Home reflect the care and excellence we all hope for when faced with the inevitable pain and planning after a loved one’s passing.”