Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service opens in Frankfort – Manistee News Advocate

ByColin Merry, Pioneer News Network

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service opens in Frankfort

FRANKFORT Benzie County residents have a new option when preparing to mark the passing of a loved one.

Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service has opened a funeral home in Frankfort, at the former location of Frankfort Building Supply on the east end of Main Street. The fully renovated building features a conference room, a reception area and a room for the funeral service itself to take place.

"We're a full service funeral home," said Courtney Barz, who co-owns Beacon with Kirk Barz.

The modern facility features neutral decor and multiple monitors for videos to be played. The space can accommodate around 295 people, according to Kirk.

"The building has a modern feel, it's not a funeral parlor," he said.

Courtney said the space could be used for other purposes too, such as weddings and anniversary gatherings.

"Having lots of space is a huge deal," She said. "With the exception of the cemetery, you don't have to go anywhere else. You can have the funeral and reception in the same building."

Food can be catered to Beacon as well.

While Beacon does handle cremation services, the actual cremation takes place at the Bennet Barz Funeral Home, in Beulah.

"We don't own the crematorium, but we have direct supervision of the cremation," Kirk said.

As for special touches Beacon can provide, Courtney said there are a lot of little details they take care of.

"When you come to a funeral there are a lot of things going on," she said. "Things like taking care of flowers, markers, lunch, things to be delivered to people; little touches that make it personal."

She also said the modern feel of Beacon made it stand apart from the funeral parlors and the homes converted to funeral homes of the past.

"Those types of facilities don't work as well anymore," she said. "People want space, and the modern facilities are more compatible with wheelchairs and walkers."

Kirk said he bought the building in 2018, and began remodeling in 2019.

As for why he opened a Beacon location in Frankfort, Kirk said he saw a need for a funeral home in Frankfort.

The Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service facility is one of several owned by the Barz family. There are other Beacon facilities in Whitehall, Ludington and Hart.

They also own the Bennett Barz Funeral Home in Beulah and the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva.

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Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service opens in Frankfort - Manistee News Advocate