About Us

Our Beginnings

Generations of Caring Beginning in 1929, our tradition of offering caring, compassionate service began when August Nelson, a prominent Swedish funeral director, founded a funeral service on North Ashland Avenue, in the Summerdale district of Chicago. August Nelson's primary intention was to provide local families with a comfortable funeral establishment that would be committed to caring for each individual's unique needs. After the death of August Nelson in 1949, the funeral home was passed on to his wife Lillian Nelson and son, John Nelson, who represented the second generation of the Nelson family. Together, they carried on the tradition of improving service to area families by purchasing the second Nelson Funeral Home in Park Ridge in 1961. In 1967, Vera Nelson inherited the business. Her son, John A. Nelson Sr. joined her in 1969 after graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, to become the third generation to carry on the family tradition. John A. Nelson Sr. continued working until his passing in 1997. Mrs. Vera Nelson passed away in October of 2010. She had been active in Verdandi Lodge #3, Kronan Lodge #179, Hagar Lodge, American Daughters of Sweden, Swedish American Museum, Service Guild at Three Crowns Park, Swedish Cultural Society and a long time member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church.