Company Profile
Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels, Cemeteries, and Cremation Services
Company Overview
Washburn-McReavy is a family-owned funeral, cremation, and cemetery provider with deep roots in the Twin Cities community. With multiple locations throughout the metro area, we are dedicated to serving families with compassion, dignity, and respect. Whether guiding loved ones through immediate needs or helping plan ahead, our experienced team is committed to providing meaningful, personalized care every step of the way. "In times of grief, we’re family. Local and trusted since 1857."
Company History
A Legacy of Service: The History of Washburn-McReavy
Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels is one of Minnesota’s oldest and largest independent funeral service providers. The company began in 1857—one year before Minnesota achieved statehood—when William P. Washburn opened Washburn Undertakers as part of a furniture business, a common pairing at the time. Eventually, the business shifted its focus exclusively to funeral service and became known as Washburn Mortuary.
In 1931, William Washburn honored the contributions of his nephew, Donald R. McReavy, by renaming the business Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels. When Donald passed away unexpectedly in 1949, his wife Lillian and their 17-year-old son William L. McReavy stepped in to lead the company. William continued his father’s vision of expanding funeral service across the Twin Cities and became a driving force in the company’s growth after graduating from the University of Minnesota.
William married his college sweetheart, Kathleen Hammer, and together they built both a family and a thriving business. He introduced the distinctive use of white hearses and coaches—an innovation at the time that remains a hallmark of the company today. Under William’s leadership, the company expanded strategically, acquiring and renovating chapels to maintain the high standards of care and professionalism that Washburn-McReavy is known for.
The company’s first major expansion came in 1963 with the addition of a northeast Minneapolis chapel, followed by a move across the Mississippi to acquire the Swanson Chapel in North Minneapolis. These sites introduced the now-iconic white column design seen in many locations. In 1981, Washburn-McReavy made headlines in the funeral service community by acquiring a large competitor, growing from five to eight chapels in a single move—unusual for a family-owned business at the time.
William’s children continued the legacy of involvement. His son, William W. McReavy, joined the company in 1984 as a fourth-generation family member. His daughter, Cynthia McReavy-Seitz, joined in the 1990s to provide administrative support as the business expanded further. In 2001, the company entered the cemetery space with the acquisition of Hillside Cemetery, and by 2005, it had added multiple cemeteries and memorial gardens, many with chapels on-site to offer added convenience and service to families.
Washburn-McReavy opened a state-of-the-art chapel at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in 2007, featuring advanced technology and a striking Veterans Memorial—the largest privately owned veterans monument in Minnesota. The company’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate care has remained constant through decades of change.
This past year, the company mourned the loss of longtime leader William McReavy Sr. His son, William McReavy Jr., now serves as CEO, continuing the family’s commitment to service. William Sr.’s grandsons—Cynthia’s sons—represent the fifth generation of McReavy leadership, ensuring the company’s values and traditions endure.
While much has changed since 1857, the company’s dedication to families and community remains at the heart of everything it does.
Benefits
Balanced service and on-call responsibilities
401(k) Retirement savings plan
Paid time off (PTO)