Hoskinson Funeral Homes assuming operations of Granville's McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home

Hoskinson Funeral Homes is assuming operations of Granville's McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home after owners Bill and Mary Hoekstra retired March 31.

Richard Hoskinson, managing partner of the Hoskinson Group of funeral homes, with locations in Kirkersville, Hebron, and Thornville, and Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home in Newark, said the decision to acquire the Granville location was an easy decision to make.

"We have known and respected both Rod and Debbie McPeek and Bill and Mary Hoekstra for many years. I came back home to Licking County in 2006, about the same time that the Hoekstra’s assumed ownership of the Granville funeral home," said Hoskinson. "From the very beginning of our friendship, we have looked at each other as colleagues, not competitors. Since 2016, we have provided cremation services for the Hoekstra’s at our West Licking Crematory in Kirkersville and have also supported them with vacation and needed day and night-off coverage —especially during the increased volume of calls due to the COVID-19 crisis."

The business will be known as McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home.

The Hoskinson Group has recruited a talented funeral director and embalmer who will be living in the Granville community and will live in the funeral home. Lisa Bruns, an Ohio-licensed funeral director and embalmer with nearly 35 years of experience in the industry, will be coming to Granville in the near future. Lisa brings a great deal of experience as a funeral service practitioner and was also a former inspector for the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors of Ohio. A Roman Catholic by faith, Lisa is looking forward to meeting her faith community at St. Edward the Confessor Church. She also enjoys history and is looking forward to volunteering at the Granville Historical Society.

Funeral directors Rick Hoskinson, Mark Pinnick, Jon Wagner, Ethan McKee, and Ray Orr will assist Lisa, along with long-time Granville resident Greta Blegvad, who herself is an active member of the community and a member of the Granville Chapter of the daughters of the American Revolution.

The goal remains the same: to give the best possible care to the families we serve, helping them honor the lives of those they love.

Information submitted by McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Hoskinson Funeral Homes assuming operations of Granville funeral home