After 73 years in historic chapel, Steuerle Funeral Home begins new chapter with celebratory service

Posted June 10, 2025 8:11 pm

Submitted by Steuerle Funeral Home

Rae Rupp-Srch, right, who served as Villa Park Village President from 1993 to 2005, was among those in attendance at the Steuerle Chapel “Service of Remembrance” on May 31. Courtesy of Lori Solyom/Steuerle Chapel

On Saturday, May 31, Villa Park witnessed the beginning of a new chapter in the “Steuerle story.”

The iconic Steuerle Chapel welcomed a full house for a celebratory “Service of Remembrance” to mark the 73-year-old funeral home’s transition from the northwest corner at Ardmore and Highland avenues to its new location.

Steuerle’s newly built facility faces the Ruggard Gazebo from the south side of the historic Illinois Prairie Path along Park Boulevard.

After a welcome from Steuerle Funeral Director Eric Shoesmith, Deacon Chris Cochran of nearby St. Alexander Catholic Church quipped that we were at a requiem for a pile of bricks.

He then commended owner Robert Van Staalduinen and Steuerle’s previous proprietor, Hank Ebeling III, Archie Price before him, and founder Lou Steuerle for their ministry — a calling from God to care for people. Cochran pointed out that we call Steuerle a funeral “home,” because it is not just a funeral business.

Van Staalduinen spoke about how deeply his own Christian faith infuses his work and service. He explained how the underlying condition of the original Steuerle Chapel necessitated the building of the new facility. Founder and owner of Knollcrest Funeral Home in Lombard, Van Staalduinen purchased Steuerle in 2020.

Ebeling was also present to share his appreciation of the continued legacy of which he was a part for nearly 25 years.

Knollcrest’s Steuerle Chapel funeral director Joshua Van Staalduinen opens the doors to the new Steuerle facility, welcoming those attending the May 31 “Service of Remembrance.” Courtesy of Lori Solyom/Steuerle Chapel

Robert’s son, funeral director Josh Van Staalduinen, shared his memories of growing up in the funeral ministry. He then invited the hundred-plus people in attendance to exit the building. Upon doing so, participants were handed a fresh white carnation.

Following a blessing by St. Alexander’s Deacon Matt Tretina and upon directions from the younger Van Staalduinen, the flowers were laid at the foundation of the soon to be retired chapel.

The crowd then processed north on Ardmore and west on Park to enter and tour the new home of Steuerle’s operations.

A lone bagpiper stands watch at the Steuerle Chapel “Service of Remembrance” after leading a procession from the soon-to-be-retired Villa Park funeral home on Ardmore Avenue to Steuerle’s new home along Park Boulevard. Courtesy of Lori Solyom/Steuerle Chapel

As this fresh chapter in the Steuerle Chapel legacy begins, construction and much of the interior decoration is complete at the new address. The spacious two-story facility is set to open later this summer.

For more information about Steuerle, visit SteuerleFH.com.

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