BIG NEWS RELEASE: 

McGann Hay 

Plans New Facility on Eastside

SOUTH BEND --  McGann Hay Funerals | Cremations | Gatherings, one of the oldest businesses in Indiana (established in 1842 as The Notre Dame Undertaking Parlor by Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC and Bro. Francis X. B. Crowley, CSC ),  has today announced plans to construct a new facility on the eastside of South Bend.   The new funeral home will be similar in scope to the firms New Granger Chapel at 13260 SR 23 at Cherry Rd., that opened to critical acclaim as one of the most beautiful and largest funeral homes anywhere in the country four years ago in November. The new facility’s central location will serve as the firms new General Offices and will employ up to nine people and is expected to be a two million dollar plus investment in the area.

The new chapel will include the most modern crematory in the area with an adjacent chapel for those faiths that have traditions of watching the casket being placed in the crematory chamber following the funeral service.  This feature will be unique to the Michiana area.  Refrigeration for up to twelve remains will also be available for delayed services. 

There will be a large reception area for meals following services as well as for non-funeral events such as weddings and meetings for fraternal, civic and neighborhood groups.

The new facility is intended to be a LEED Certified Building.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the new national standard for green construction.  It will be the first funeral home in the state to be so designated and perhaps the first funeral home in the country to achieve this level of green certification.

Although, site selection has not been announced yet, it will be on the eastside of the South Bend Metro Area close to Mishawaka and Notre Dame.  The project will replace and combine the two older funeral homes McGann Hay operates in that area now: their University Chapel at 2313 E. Edison Rd. at Ironwood and their Forest G. Hay Chapel at 435 S. Ironwood Dr. at Jefferson.  McGann and Hay are the two oldest funeral service families in the Michiana area.   J. Patrick McGann and Mrs. Brian (Bonnie Heck) Hay merged their businesses in November of 2005 to form the McGann Hay Funeral Homes.  Today, they are one of the largest funeral home operations in the Michiana area with four locations.

Other amenities will include three viewing/service rooms that will be able to be opened up together to form one very large room for funerals with large crowds.  A fully equipped kitchen will have café seating with two buffet areas.  A video system is planned to be able to video stream funeral services over the internet via a private password for family members that can’t make it into town to personally attend the service. The exterior grounds will be well landscaped including water features and topiary in the gardens similar to the Granger Chapel which is a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. The operating Room Suite will be the most modern in the industry with a separate dressing grooming area.  Included in the new facility will be a Chavra Kadisha Room for the Jewish Faith, as well as a Clergy Study for the clergy person to use in preparation for funerals and a children’s room to comfort smaller family members.