Michael Kuhn, the third-generation owner of Kuhn Funeral Homes, once dreamt of becoming a professional athlete. But that dream could not compete with the deep ties to his family’s business, which continues to expand nearly 90 years after it was founded. Kuhn discusses the newest location and how self-deprecation is an important part of the job.
Q: What drew you back to the area after finishing mortuary school at 25?
Honestly, I missed Berks County. You realize at a young age that once you graduate college, you need to establish roots. I wanted to establish roots in my hometown. This is where I want to be. My family business certainly drew me back because it was something I felt I wanted to do, and I’ve just always been comfortable in Berks County. It’s where I feel I belong.
Q: What inspired you to join your family’s business?
I’m close with my dad and was close with my grandmother, who lived above the funeral home on the second floor, so it just seemed natural for me to join the family business. Anytime I would come to the funeral home in grade school and high school, I would shovel the sidewalk on snowy days or cut the grass. Then, I would go upstairs and hang out with my grandmother. It always kind of felt like home. I did my internship there before becoming a licensed funeral director…I became a partial partner about 15 years ago, and now my father, Ed, and I are co-owners.
Q: Kuhn Funeral Homes has expanded to nine locations since its inception in 1937. What has made that success possible?
When you work with people that you love, it’s easy. Work culture is most important. We try to balance the death, grief and loss that makes funerals challenging with making our workplace fun and pleasant. For example, I try to take opportunities to make fun of myself…and to beat others to it. Others see that, and it keeps the whole environment lighter. As long as our team cares about each other, treats each other with dignity and respect and everyone’s empowered to strive for excellence and treat every family really well, it allows us to grow.
Q: What makes the newest location in Downtown Reading, Funeraria Kuhn, special?
We have an entire bilingual team whose primary language is Spanish. Having staff members who were born in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba gave us the confidence to start a Spanish-speaking funeral home. There are more Hispanic families in our community now than ever before, and they deserve to be taken care of in a loving and dignified way by people that can understand their culture as a community that is very family-oriented and respectful of the funeral process.
"I wanted to establish roots in my hometown. This is where I want to be."
Q: How do you tap into your love for sports in and outside of your role?
I really enjoy coaching. I’ve coached kids in sports since I was 15. Once my kids, who are 22, 20 and 18, aged out of me coaching them, I became the co-head coach of the Berks Catholic boys’ junior high basketball team. I also view myself as the coach of the team at work. My 22 year old decided to join the company, and now I get to coach him as a fourth-generation family member that is part of our team.
Learn More
Michael’s “Why.” Heavy experiences and decisions are an integral part of the job, but he shares that the appreciation from the families makes it all worthwhile.
100+ Decisions... ...need to be made when a family loses a loved one. Every Kuhn location is dedicated to walking you through them. Learn more at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.
