History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
Our History
Although the names and faces of the staff may have changed over the last 89 years, the dedication and quality service at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes has remained consistent throughout.
In 1915, Thomas Morgan began his funeral business and was joined in 1928 by Michael “Bud” Clancy. Their business was located just south of the Kankakee Court House on the corner of Merchant and Harrison Streets in Kankakee. Together these two men were highly respected leaders in their profession.
In 1955, Richard “Dick” Clancy joined his father, Bud, in the family business. Bud and Dick Clancy saw their business grow and in 1963 they built the location at 1151 E. Court St. in Kankakee. In January 1972, tragedy struck the Clancy family with the sudden death of Dick Clancy, followed by the death of his father, Bud, five months later. The business was then operated by Bud’s wife, Catherine, who was also a licensed funeral director. Tim Gernon joined his Aunt Catherine in 1972 and together they managed the business. 1986 marked the opening of the new Clancy Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. A mere two years later, Catherine Clancy passed away. That same year, they acquired Sexton Funeral Home in Manteno and Houk Funeral Home in St. Anne. Patty Clancy, Dick’s daughter, joined her cousin Tim in the family business in 1990.
This brings us to where we are today. In January of 2004, Hertz-Thoma Funeral Chapel was purchased by the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes. Hertz-Thoma has been a Kankakee funeral home since 1904 when it was started by Ben Hertz and later run by Gilbert Hertz. The owners and staff are: Tim Gernon, President; and Patty Clancy, Vice-President; Robert Gernon, Tim's son and licensed funeral director; Eric Mayo, licensed funeral director; Justin Bruno, licensed funeral director; Joe Harvell, crematory manager; Sara Soucie, office manager and licensed funeral director; Cari Czakó, assistant office manager; Cathy Antognoli, assistant office manager; Nathan Starke, licensed funeral director; Josh Clyden, licensed funeral director; Kyle Morgan, licensed funeral director; Daniel Nottke, licensed funeral director; Jim O'Connell, licensed funeral director; Kathy Goodrich; Charley Frame; Colleen Regnier; and Marlene Clancy. Services will be conducted in the finest facilities available in Kankakee County at the following locations: Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home at 295 Main St. NW in Bourbonnais; Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home at 1480 W. Court St., in Kankakee; Clancy-Gernon-Houk Funeral Home at 214 W. Sheffield in St. Anne; and Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home at 291 N. Main St. in Manteno.
Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes continue to offer sincere and compassionate funeral service at affordable prices. These services include a wide range of funeral packages, cremation options, and pre-arrangement plans. At Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes you will ALWAYS meet with a licensed funeral director whether you need their services immediately or are planning for the future. The diverse and experienced staff enables them to provide the premier funeral service for your family. They offer unique personalization of services, 24 hours/day availability, the only on-site crematory in Kankakee County, and many other resources to best serve families in the community. Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes continue to honor the tradition of generations past and respect the changes of the future.
Our Valued Staff
From left: Robert D. Gernon, Licensed Funeral Director; Patricia A. Clancy, Owner, Vice President & Funeral Director; Marlene Clancy, Associate; Lawrence Tim Gernon, Owner, President, & Funeral Director
Lawrence Tim Gernon
Owner, President, & Licensed Funeral DirectorCity of Residence: Kankakee, ILSchool: BS degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1972Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1973Personal Information: He and his wife, former Colette Childs, a retired kindergarten teacher,have three children. Daughter, Liz, is a teacher for the Kankakee School District. Son, Rob, is employed here at the funeral home. Daughter, Timoney, is a teacher at Herscher Grade School. Tim has 3 grandsons and two granddaughters. Member of St. Patrick Church, Former Board Member, Founder, and First President of Hospice of Kankakee Valley; Former chairman Presence St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors; Kiwanis Club; Knights of Columbus; Board member of Kankakee Community College Foundation; President of Bishop McNamara Catholic High School Foundation.
Robert D. Gernon
Licensed Funeral Director & EmbalmerCity of Residence: Kankakee, ILSchool: Graduate of Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in 1998 BBA degree in Marketing from The University of Iowa in 2002Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2003Personal Information: Lives in Bourbonnais with his wife, Nicole. They have two sons, William and Jack and one daughter, Ryan. Parishioner of Maternity BVM Church, Bourbonnais, IL
Marlene Clancy
AssociateCity of Resident: Manteno, ILPersonal information: Member of St. Joseph Church in Manteno; Widow of Richard Clancy and mother of four, Kevin, Michael, Mary and Patricia. Grandmother of 4. Member of Manteno Woman’s Club; Associate member of Provena St. Mary’s alumni and avid reader.
Eric Mayo
Licensed Funeral Director & EmbalmerCity of Residence: Kankakee, ILSchool: Graduate of Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in 1998 BS degree from Illinois State University in 2002Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2005Personal Information: Member of Knights of Columbus. Lives in Kankakee will his wife, Jill, and his dogs, Buddy and Ozzie. Member of the Kankakee Country Club, The Hundred Club, and the Kankakee Valley Boat Club.
Nathan Starke, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Licensed Funeral Director & EmbalmerCity of Residence: Kankakee, ILSchool: Graduate of Southern Illinois University in 2016Personal Information: Nate lives in Kankakee with his dogs, Nutmeg & Duke.
Joseph Harvell
Crematory Manager of Clancy-Gernon-Hertz CrematoryCity of Residence: Bourbonnais, ILSchool: Graduate of Manteno High SchoolPersonal Information: Born and raised in Deselm (Manteno) area and lifelong resident of Kankakee County. Joe is married to Janet.
Sara Beth Soucie
Office Manager and Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer. City of Residence: Bradley, ILSchool: Graduate of Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School in 1996. Associate Degree from Kankakee Community College in 1999Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2002Personal Information: Mary Kay Sales Director; Volunteer for Team RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities), participating in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathons. Proud member of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, fundraising and walking the Avon39 over five times.Joyful mother of four, Barkley, Beatrice, Birdie, and Bourbon and the late, Chach & Bentley (R.I.P).
Cari Czakó
Assistant Office ManagerCity of Residence: Bourbonnais, ILSchool: Graduate of Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields in 2001BS degree in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University in 2005Personal Information: Lives in Bourbonnais with her husband, Iggy, and their two dogs
Cathy Antognoli
Assistant Office ManagerCity of Residence: Kankakee, ILSchool: Graduate of Kankakee High SchoolPersonal Information: Lifelong resident of Kankakee. She and her husband, David, have three children, Paige, Emily, and Nicholas. Parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee, where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister. Retired Treasurer for Pack 324 Cub Scouts. First time walker and fundraiser for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer for the Avon 39 in 2017. Fur babies: dogs, Rocco, Bear, Maisy Mae, and Agador Sparticus; cats, Tigger and Figaro.
Kathy Goodrich
Director of Housekeeping and HairdresserCity of Residence: St. Anne, ILSchool: Graduate of BBCHS in 1981Cosmetology license from Paul Mitchell the School in 2014Personal Information: Member of St. Anne Catholic Church, St. Anne, IL where she is Eucharistic Minister. She has 3 children and a grandson.
Charles "Charley" Frame
City of Residence: Manteno, ILSchool: BS degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois UniversityPersonal Information: Retired as an Illinois State Trooper after 28 years. He and his wife, Kim, reside in Manteno and have two children, Amanda and Andrew.
Kyle Morgan
Licensed Funeral Director/ Embalmer City of Residence: Bourbonnais, ILSchool: 2011 Graduate of Manteno High SchoolAssociates Degree in Science from Kankakee Community CollegeBS at Southern Illinois University in Mortuary SciencePersonal information: born and raised in Manteno, IL, currently lives in Bourbonnais, IL with his wife, Allison. Enjoys going to concerts.
Joshua Clyden
Licensed Funeral Director/ EmbalmerCity of residence: MomenceSchool: Graduate of Bishop McNamara High School in 1998BS in Kinesiology from Illinois State University in 2004Graduate of Vincennes University in 2018Personal information: Josh lives in Momence with his wife, Emily, and three children, Jonah, Nola, and Ari. Member of River Valley Christian Fellowship. Enjoys playing sports with his children, participating in church events, and spending time with his large extended family.
Daniel Nottke, Licensed Funeral Director/ Embalmer
School: 2004 graduate of Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School; 2006 graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary ScienceCity of Residence: AshkumPersonal Information: lives in Ashkum with his girlfriend, Channing and dog, Swanson. Parishioner of Assumption of BVM Catholic Church. Member of the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus.
James O'Connell, Licensed Funeral Director
City of Residence: Bradley, ILSchool: 1975 Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science Personal Information: Veteran of the United States Air Force, served during the Vietnam War. Father of two, J.P. and Daniel; grandfather of 6; fiancé of Gloria LaGesse.
Mike McDorman, Associate
City of Residence: Bourbonnais, IllinoisVeteran of the United States Air ForcePersonal information: Retired Sheriff's Deputy for Kankakee County with 25 years of service.He and his wife, Susan, reside in Bourbonnais. They have three children, Alyssa, Seth, and Benjamin.Hobbies include: traveling, golfing, and staying fit.
Stacie Powers, Associate
City of Residence: Herscher, IllinoisGraduate of University of IllinoisCurrently working as the Bradley site's front office secretary at Bishop McNamara Catholic School.She and her husband, Bill, live in Herscher and have two sons, Ethan and Connor.
Paula Grob, Assistant Office Manager
City of Residence: Bonfield, IllinoisGraduate of Eastern Illinois UniversityMember of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Kankakee.Personal Information: Mother of three, Jacob, Garrett (Shannon), and Kenzie and two grandchildren, Arlo and Theodora.Enjoys playing card, pickle ball, doing yoga, volunteering at church and Courtyard Estates of Herscher, and walking her granddog, Linus. Loves to travel.