Directors Past and Present

A history of the family of Funeral Directors that have served the community for over 100 years



HENRY A. STEVENS (1881-1959) 

  • Born in Nova Scotia, Henry came to Great Barrington in 1918 and bought an interest in the furniture and funeral business of Edmund B. Culver. E.B. Culver Undertaker/Cabinet Marker opened in mid 1870’s on Dresser Avenue in Great Barrington. 
  • Henry bought the remainder of the business in January 1919. 
  • Became licensed as a funeral director in November 1901. 
  • Worked with his son Milton L. Stevens who took over following Henry’s death. 

 

MILTON L. STEVENS (1916-2000) 

  • Born in Worcester, MA moved to Great Barrington with his family as a child. 
  • Educated in local schools and was a 1939 graduate of Renourd School of Mortuary Science in New York City. 
  • Licensed as a funeral director March 1940. 
  • Married Edna (Coates) Stevens in 1941.
  • Served in the U.S. Army (1942-1945) in Europe with the 115 Station Medical Hospital in England during World War II. 
  • Began working at the funeral home with his father upon his return home. 
  • 1954 Stevens Funeral Home bought Searing Funeral Home in Stockbridge 
  • Stockbridge location was operational until the location was sold in 2000. 


KEVIN B. FINNERTY (1937-2008) 

  • Married Milton and Edna’s daughter, Laura Jane Stevens, in 1971. 
  • Shortly after they married Kevin began working for his father-in-law at the funeral home. 
  • At age 38 he changed careers and enrolled at The New England Institute of Applied Arts and Science. 
  • Graduated in 1977 
  • Kevin became a licensed funeral director in October 1977.
  • In 1980 he purchased the business from his father-in-law now known as Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, Inc.


MEGHAN L. FINNERTY (1978-) 

  • Born and raised in Great Barrington; educated in local schools 
  • Began working at the funeral home in June 1999.
  • Studied Mortuary Science at Hudson Valley Community College; graduated 2001.
  • Became licensed as a funeral director November 2001 (100 years after her great-grandfather. 
  • Worked with her father, Kevin, until his death in 2008.