To Our Community

Jul 05, 2008

Dear Families of Madison, Dane County, and surrounding communities,

Cress has served this community for over 150 years and we stand ready to help you now. Even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the safety and well-being of you, your family, and your friends has always been of the utmost importance to us. We will remain open and our experienced, caring staff will continue assisting families during this critical time.

Our heart goes out to those affected by the recent changes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and we extend our appreciation to the health care community for all they are doing now to protect us.

We want you to know everything we are doing to keep your safety top of mind while still helping you support friends and family during a time of loss. Please see below for important community updates and more information regarding our locations, service videography, and help planning funeral arrangements.

Community Updates as of Saturday, March 14, 2020:

· We are joining with the City of Madison and Dane County to follow the directives given from the Dane and Madison Public Health Offices.

· All Cress services will now be limited to immediate family only, including funeral homes, gravesites, and churches.

In this climate, we know there is a lot of uncertainty. We want you to know what we are doing to keep your safety top of mind and how you can still support friends and family during a time of loss by knowing the facts. We want to thank you in advance for putting your trust in Cress.

Visiting a Cress Location

While the COVID-19 virus has required all of us to be more mindful as we go through our regular activities, rest assured that our locations are clean and safe. Even before this crisis, we maintained health and safety measures designed to address a broad spectrum of viruses. Now this includes COVID-19. Our protocols cover everything from handwashing hygiene, cleaning product specifications, ventilation, equipment and common area cleaning procedures.

How Cress Helps You Support Friends and Family

Cress has implemented technologies for the convenience of families we serve. We have made recording of services at many of our locations available at no charge. You may view services on our website. You may also support families via guest books and obituaries on our website.

Funerals are important. Recognizing loss is a human instinct and it is important to recognize that we must facilitate beginning the healing process. Please make an extra effort to support those that have lost a loved one during this unusual time. Your support is more important than ever with the added stress of these extraordinary circumstances.

Making Funeral Arrangements

If a death has occurred, or will soon, we are very sorry for your loss. If you are unable to make it to one of our locations due to travel restrictions, health concerns or any other reason our caring staff can help you accomplish everything virtually. Every situation can and will be accommodated to ensure the arrangements for the care of your loved one and ensure you wishes are followed.

Thank You

Losing a friend or family member is never easy, and we are very aware that these unsettling times can amplify feelings of grief and anxiety. Pease know that we are here for anything else you may need to honor life, support loved ones, and begin the healing process.

The safety and well-being of you, your family, and your friends is of the utmost importance to us.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 608-238-3434.

Scott Kundinger

Director of Operations

Cress Funeral and Cremation Services

By Darlene Kohn 16 Mar, 2024
Today, there was a funeral. People cried. Tissues were crumpled and left on the tables. Flower petals fell to the floor. Now, the cleaning staff is making things tidy for the family who will be here tomorrow.
05 Jul, 2008
It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to one of our employees. Roger was our "go to guy" for everything whether day or night. We will miss him dearly, especially his great stories and cute eye twinkle. Rest easy, our friend. We love you.https://www4.funeralwebhost.com/crx/obituary/Roger-Head
05 Jul, 2008
Join us the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm for virtual grief sessions led by Kristen Ernst, MA, LPC, Owner, The Center for Hope and Healing. Please join by 5:50 pm.Cress is sponsoring Free Virtual Grief Sessions  to the families we have served, as well as to those in our communities who may be looking for support. At Cress we are here for you before, during, and after the loss of a loved one. You are not Alone.Join Zoom Meeting with the following link. Each monthly session will use the same link.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89619085856?pwd=US9YSkdyUjRYM1h2K1kzZlJQaFpkUT09
05 Jul, 2008
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service is pleased to share a compassionate and timely video by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, one of North America’s leading death educators and grief counselors, offering practical suggestions for people grieving the death of a loved one during this unique holiday season.Click here to watch the videoWe are living in a time of many challenges. Funeral options are limited, restrictions are keeping people apart, and we are all trying to cope with the unknowns lying ahead. Dr. Wolfelt offers a variety of insights to grieve, mourn, and still embrace hope in the coming months. A few takeaways include:Be tolerant of your limits both physically and mentally;Be willing to express your feelingsThink about, and discuss, wishes and needs regarding your time and traditions;Make use of alternative means to stay in touch with others; and,Where able, eliminate any unnecessary stress.“Allow yourself to be sappy,” Dr. Wolfelt says. Having paradoxical emotionality, being happy and sad at the same time, is a great sign of mental health.Dr. Wolfelt serves as the director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado.
05 Jul, 2008
Stoughton Victorian Holiday Weekend The Opening Gala is hosted by the Stoughton, Oregon & McFarland American Cancer Society Relay For Life at the Stoughton Cress Funeral Home. Just the beginning to a wonderful and fun-filled weekend in downtown Stoughton! Opening Gala is Friday, December 2, 2016 from 6pm – 10pm at the Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect, Stoughton Come and enjoy the sophisticated vintage music of Second Swing Around, a beautiful assortment of hors d’oeuvres as well as a wine and beer bar. The silent auction of themed baskets is sure to be jaw-dropping, and all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Stoughton, Oregon & McFarland. For a $5 suggested donation at the door, you will not want to miss this fun event! Then the weekend continues in downtown Stoughton where you take a step back in time to celebrate the holidays the old-fashioned way! A weekend full of family-friendly activities, entertainment and shopping is in store for this 23rd annual Victorian Holiday Weekend. Here is a sampling of what you and your family can do during the Victorian Holiday Weekend: Horse Drawn Carriage Rides! Santa’s Workshop, Arts and Crafts Show, Illuminated Fire Truck Parade, Breakfast with Santa, Performances of A Christmas Carol, Holiday Lights Tree Display, Carolers roaming Main Street, A Dickens of a Run & Walk 5K and 1 mile, bake sale, holiday gift shopping and so much more!
05 Jul, 2008
Moving Through Grief During a PandemicCress Funeral Service was chosen to be a part of a Wisconsin State Journal series titled, "Forward Madison". This series highlights businesses who had unique stories to share as they moved through the year and COVID restrictions. Below is the link to the first part of the series. We hope you enjoy our story.https://madison.com/cress-funeral-home/article_c4fd9310-a2d7-11eb-ac95-07193e07d482.htmlHere is a link to the second article in the two-part series.https://madison.com/cress-funeral-home/article_da43cbc2-a859-11eb-90f0-6b3e689d39c6.html
05 Jul, 2008
This December we honor your loved ones that we have had the privilege of caring for over the past year. 2020 has proven to be a year like no other. It is our sincere hope that this virtual service of remembrance will bring you peace and comfort.My name is Scott Kundinger and I am the Director of Operations for Cress. It is with humble gratitude that I am here to present this program of remembrance to you all.It is important to us at Cress to take time to remember your loved ones. Although we are unable to be together in person for this program, we hope that you find this time to be one filled with cherished memories and love. We know that the loss of a loved one is felt more during the holidays . Throughout this year, we’ve also learned that loss without the ability to connect with family and friends makes the loss sometimes greater. We dedicate our service to the memory of your loved ones and want you to know that they live on in our hearts forever.Please join us live on December 20, 2020 at 1:00 pm by pasting the link below to your browser. Feel free to upload a photo or share a story in the chat section of your loved one. The names of those that passed between August 11, 2019 and November 23, 2020 will be shared. Anyone is welcome to join and upload a photo to this service. The link will also be available following the service.Click Here to view the Service of RemembranceBeginning in March 2021, Cress will begin offering free virtual grief sessions for our family and anyone in the community who needs some support. Watch our website and like us on Facebook for information on this upcoming new program.Happy Holidays!Scott
More Posts
Share by: