John Darst loves people and loves to help people, hence the reason he opened Darst Funeral Home on Russell Palmer Drive in 2012.
With the East Montgomery County Improvement District’s assistance, John was able to convert a condemned house into a thriving funeral home and crematory that provides services to people looking for a more personal, unique style of funeral service.
“EMCID made a difference when I was first starting Darst Funeral Home,” said John. “Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going. They provided me with a couple of loans and a grant to finish the initial construction and purchase equipment for the in-house crematory. EMCID steps in to help your business and encourages your dream. They believed in me from the beginning and provided funding that helped us get to where we are now.”
Starting his own funeral home was always in John’s heart, especially since he spent his entire life in the funeral and cemetery industry. His parents purchased a cemetery when he was two years old, and he grew up working with them to build the business.
When John first started building Darst Funeral home, he thought they would just rebuild the office, but needed more money to create John’s dream of building a comfortable, peaceful space for families to meet for funeral services. He also began building a beautiful garden where families could spend time.
“EMCID and many others’ assistance have made the difference of whether I would have to shut my doors or run a successful business,” said John. “My policy has always been to never tell anyone, ‘no.’ If a family is struggling financially, we will find a way to make services happen for them.”
In the beginning, John was the only employee. Now, he has 20 employees helping with day-to-day operations.
As John continued to build Darst Funeral Home, he added lighted paths, fountains, porch swings, audio/visual throughout the garden and facility, a gazebo and even a stone outdoor kitchen for families to enjoy in the garden.
Families have the option to hold the service inside or outside in the garden; they wanted to give grieving families a choice on how to remember their loved one.
He also installed a state-of-the-art, in-house crematory (rare for a funeral home) with the assistance of EMCID. Darst Funeral Home currently has two retorts – the cremation chambers.
In the past 12 months, Darst Funeral Home held 800 services and serves as the crematory for approximately 15 funeral homes around the area.
“I have been in the funeral industry for 50 years,” said John. “What makes it all worth it is helping people. I was approached by a woman who hugged me with tears in her eyes and said I saved her life. After her mother’s service, she felt suicidal, but it was our aftercare and handling of everything that truly made a difference. Our business is helping others during the difficult times in their lives and making it a special ceremony to remember.”