Cress News
Cress News is where you find out about the happenings in our neighborhoods, meet our staff members, or learn something new. Visit frequently, as we will bring new ideas and thoughts for you to consider. We also want you to know us better and to feel comfortable asking us your question. info@CressFuneralService.com
We at Cress are grateful to be immersed in a fine and wonderful county where individuals seek knowledge and inspiration; generously share talents and resources; build neighborhoods and communities. In building community we often find our greater purpose and acknowledge our need to be invested and united to one anther.
A community is a group of people united by the common objects of their love.
–St. Augustine, City of God
It is with this motivation that Cress is participating in several community events. Maybe we will see you there!
November, 2011
Decorated WWII vet Jack O’Donnell, survivor of Normandy invasion, dies at age 89
We are honored to serve the family of Jack O’Donnell, a genuine war hero, for whose courageous service we are forever grateful.
Please take a few minutes to read about Jack O’Donnell’s life in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Jack O’Donnell, who died Tuesday at age 89, wondered at surviving the Normandy invasion while all around him young men died. He survived, but he wasn’t really spared… Read more
Also, be sure to visit Jack O’Donnell’s obituary.
February, 2011
Rachel Bledsoe, Advance Planning Consultant for Cress Funeral & Cremation Service was invited to share on WIBA 1310 Ask the Expert program her knowledge of planning meaningful funerals.
To listen to a replay of the podcast click here.
October 2010
Rachel Bledsoe: Creatively facing life…and death
Rachel Bledsoe an advance planner for Cress was recently interviewed by Debra Illingworth Greene (a freelance writer and editor in the Madison area) for Neighbors. October 2010 (a publication of the Wisconsin State Journal). An excerpt of the article follows:
‘Rachel has a degree in theatre, but ended up in the funeral business after experiencing her grandmother’s death. “She had been battling cancer for years,” Rachel says. “The last time I saw her, her body was defeated by treatments. When she passed away I went in and saw her and it was just me and grandma in the funeral home and she looked beautiful and at peace. I will never forget what a gift that was — to see my grandma overwhelmed with peace. Something I started to think in the back of my head was, I wonder if I could give a gift like that.’”‘
‘By day she helps people plan funerals. At night she’s the artistic director for a cutting-edge theatre company. How does Rachel Bledsoe manage two jobs that are so diverse? Well, maybe they’re not so different after all.’
“When I’m sitting down to figure out a funeral service for someone it’s an opportunity for me to creatively express life and memories and living. And theatre does the same thing — it’s about the enjoyment of living, the range of emotions, the creative expression.” - Rachel Bledsoe
To read the complete articles please see the Wisconsin State Journal Neighbors October 2010 edition.
October 2010
Jessica Pharo attends Selected Conference in Orlando, Florida
Jessica (a Funeral Director at Cress) and her family attended the National Convention of Selected Independent Funeral Homes in Florida.
(Selected Independent Funeral Homes was founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians. We are a worldwide professional association of independent, locally-owned funeral homes. Our members operate under strict standards and strive to utilize best practices in offering families confidence and preserving their trust during times of need. )
The 92nd Annual Meeting was held Sep. 29 to Oct. 2 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa , Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Some of the conference topics included: Developing Relationships with Hospice-Clergy-Other Community Professionals/Aftercare Programs; Disney Institute: Disney’s Approach to Inspiring Creativity, Part 1 & 2; and many other topics.
Here Jessica is pictured with out going President of Selected Independent
Funeral Homes Tom Broussard of Beaumont, TX.
And of course no trip to Orlando 
would be complete without a visit to Walt Disney World.
Looks like Jessica and her family had a good time. 
September 2010
Capital Times Interview on Green Burial
In the September 7, 2010 issue of The Cap Times, reporter Steven Elbow wrote about a proposed green’ cemetery in Verona. Managing Director, Pat McNally was interviewed about Cress’ commitment to providing eco-friendly funerals, and our partnership with the Green Burial Council.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
Pat McNally, managing director for Cress Funeral and Cremation Service, which operates eight funeral homes in Dane County, confirms that there is demand for green burials and that it’s growing. 
Cress has for years tried to meet it by offering biodegradable products. One casket is crafted from sea grass, and they offer a cremation urn made of salt.
“We’re really pleased to hear there may be a green cemetery opening in the area because at this point people interested in it haven’t had a lot of options,”
McNally says funeral homes can arrange for burials in green cemeteries in other parts of the country, “but often they have to travel so far that they have to consider the environmental consequences of flying out to the east or driving. And also, it’s so far away it’s harder to visit.”
Cress has recently joined the Green Burial Council, a Santa Fe, N.M., organization formed five years ago to set standards for green burials and to certify that green burial products are as environmentally friendly as they claim to be.
For the full text, visit
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/environment/article_4659fde6-b229-11df-a452-001cc4c03286.html
August 2010
Sun Prairie Relay for Life 2010
The Cress Family sponsored the Monarch Butterfly release for the opening ceremony at the Sun Prairie Relay for Life. 
Walter Kubly, Eric Kubly, Claudia Murray, Sherry & Bill Cress, and Dave Gove all participated in the event. Sherry Cress is a 20 year survivor.
Claudia, Dave, and Sherry get ready to release the four dozen Monarchs.
June 2010
Stoughton McFarland Oregon Relay for Life
The Cress Family sponsored the opening ceremonies of the Stoughton McFarland Oregon Relay for Life and provided a Monarch Butterfly release at the closing ceremonies. Matt Cress and Pat McNally participated in the Fairest of the Fair contest to raise money for the relay.
Jessica Pharo and her husband Scott and their sons all relayed for life on the Cress Team.
Leigh Mills, of Channel 15 News, was the opening speaker and is picture here with Kennedy (a cancer survivor) and Sherry Cress (a 20 year survivor).
Sherry reads a moving poem at the release of the Monarchs and assists with the release.
This year’s
Relay raised over $136,000.00, one step closer to a cure!
June 2010
Catholic Charities Golf Tournament
Scott M. Kundinger, Operations Manager for Cress and Dan Fose, Vice-President participated in 14th Annual Catholic Charities Golf Tournament was held on June 21, 2010 at Blackhawk County Club.
May 2010
Stoughton Syttende Mai 2010
Bill & Sherry Cress helped out again this year at Stoughton’s Syttende Mai Festival. The festival celebrates Stoughton’s Norwegian Heritage, but more importantly serves as an opportunity for community organizations to fundraise for many community projects.
Sherry cooked brats for the Stoughton McFarland Oregon Relay for Life and the Cress Relay Team.
Bill worked the Lions Club brat stand helping raise money for all the Stoughton Lions Club Service Projects.
March 2010
Daffodil Days American Cancer Society
Bill Cress, Sherry Cress and Carey Cress Fose supported American Cancer Society during their March Cancer Awareness program by ordering and delivering hundreds of daffodils to HospiceCare, Inc. and many families in Dane County. American Cancer society is the nation-wide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.
August 2009
New Parking Lot Dedicated To Larry Burman
The new parking lot at the Cress funeral home in Stoughton was dedicated in the memory of beloved employee, Larry Burman. Larry’s wife, Pat Burman, family, friends, and the Cress Funeral Service staff gathered to remember Larry on Sunday, August 30, 2009. Among many, many other things, Larry was instrumental in the decision to pave the lot in concrete, so it was thought it fitting to memorialize him in this way. The Rev. Richard Halom officiated at the ceremony while Pat McNally, funeral director in Stoughton, made the arrangements.
July 2009
Sun Prairie Relay For Life
Sun Prairie Relay For Life where the Cress Team, Erik Kubly, Walter Kubly, Dave Gove, and Claudia Murray had fun while raising much needed funds to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment. Teams of people camped out at the high school taking turns walking or running around the track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length.
Cress Team: Erik Kubly, Walter Kubly, Dave Gove, and Claudia Murray
July 2009
Crematory Operator Certification Program
A crematory operator certification program was offered by instructors Andrew Johnson and David Gove from Cress Funeral Service, Sun Prairie in July, 2009 for any Wisconsin funeral directors. Cremation certification is a unique distinction given by CANA, Cremation Association of North America taught in Wisconsin by Andrew Johnson.
May 2009
Locks of Love Donation
Amanda Conway, a funeral director at Cress on Speedway Road location, recently donated over 20″ of her hair to the charitable organization Locks of Love, which provides hairpieces to children diagnosed with cancer. Amanda donated her hair in honor of her friend Katy, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007 at the age of 28. www.locksoflove.org
October 2008
“We are very pleased to be joining the Cress Family,” said Harvey Winn. “These two family businesses make for a very good union because we share the same core values of operating our funeral homes with the highest level of service and integrity. There is a great sense of satisfaction with joining forces with the Cress Family because this makes for a very natural and comfortable fit.”
October 2008
Implementing Eco-Friendly Practices
Bill Cress, President of Cress Funeral Service and Amanda Conway, Funeral Director at Cress, spoke at the 2008 National Selected Independent Funeral Homes Convention in Washington D.C. at a session entitled, “Beyond the Talk: Implementing Eco-Friendly Practices”. Together they highlighted their efforts to implement green burial options for families and how to change the environmental impact of the funeral home’s daily business operations.
September 2008
SilverWind White Dove Release
SilverWind came out to Riverside Cemetery in Stoughton to perform a Dove Release for a family served by Cress Funeral Service. What a beautiful thing to see 15 birds take flight together after the family released them. The son and daughter opened the doors to the beautiful holding pens of the Flock of Angels. Once the flock took flight, the Spirit Dove was released to join the Flock of Angels. They circle a couple of times above the crowd and then they fly home to the east side of Madison.
July 2008
Sherry Cress participates in Relay For Life
Sherry Cress, an 18 year survivor, participates in the Stoughton, Oregon and McFarland Relay for Life. She has been active in the relay since 1994. Cress Funeral Service sponsored the survivor walk and the magnificent Monarch Butterfly Release.
