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History & Staff

Our Story

Learn our story, from the beginning and into the future.

Ever since we opened our gates we have approached life (and death) differently. While some just see the end of a loved one’s life as a time for grief and mourning, we prefer to think of it as a time for reflection, appreciation and even celebration. This is evident in everything we do, from the way we conduct our services to the amenities we choose to offer. We are not a burial ground. We are a close knit community dedicated to honoring, sharing and preserving the amazing and inspirational stories that are life.

 
 
107
years in business
 
 

Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc. was founded in 1912 by Harry and Harriet Kreidler who were originally from Pennsylvania. They moved to the Rio Grande Valley from the Chicago area, where they had been "undertakers", because Harry had become ill and needed a warmer, dryer climate. The only other undertaker in the valley at that time was Hinkley Mortuary in Brownsville. Documentation was found stating that Harriet was the first licensed female embalmer in the state of Illinois.

In 1912, Harry had started the Kreidler Undertaking Co. in the back room of the Western Union office in the second block of S. Main St. in McAllen. He made his own caskets and had a horse drawn hearse. Business picked up and he moved into his own building on the east side of the street. Not long after, traffic became rather heavy on Main, so he bought a large lot on the corner of S. Broadway and Austin Ave. and built a new funeral home (now the IBC Bank parking lot).

Maynard L. Kreidler (2nd generation) moved to McAllen in 1912 and started selling casualty insurance and opened a car battery business in a small building on the alley behind what was the Valley Mercantile building. Harry asked Maynard to help out occasionally and he began doing more and more until 1928 when Maynard, Harry, and Harriet entered into a partnership together.

The business prospered and in 1930 a branch was opened in Mission on N. Conway. It was later sold. In 1933 a branch was opened in Edinburg, but after WWII it was sold to the Episcopal Church.

H. M. Kreidler (3rd Generation) met and married Sue Colly Kreidler in college and after graduation, went to Landig Mortuary Science School in Houston. In 1949, they returned to McAllen and joined his father in the funeral business.

Maynard L. Kreidler died in 1957 and H. M. became President of the corporation. In 1961, he moved the funeral home to it's current location. He purchased the Buescher house as well as his mother's house to the south and another family house to the north (both torn down). John Kreidler (4th Generation) came to work in the business in 1972 and his two older children, William and Gretchen, came to work in 2002 and 2005 as the 5th Generation Kreidler's to work in the family business.

Learn the legacy.

Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc. was established in 1912, and serving families has always been our focus. We take pride in being able to guide people through some of their most difficult days. We take pride in maintaining a setting that allows people to find solace. Celebrating life is our mission. That’s never changed. And with pride, it never will.

Who We Are

Meet our staff. Members of the local community make everything that happens possible.Together, we make this place amazing.

John M.  Kreidler, CFSP

John M. Kreidler, CFSP

4th Generation Funeral Director
Kay  Kreidler

Kay Kreidler

Office Manager
William  Kreidler

William Kreidler

5th Generation Funeral Director
Joe Louis Sanchez, CFSP

Joe Louis Sanchez, CFSP

Funeral Director

Awards & Associations

2023

https://mcallenchamber.com/news/over-a-century-of-community-service-kreidler-funeral-home/

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