Taking part in the ribbon cutting were, from left, Scott Wiley, Kosciusko Chamber; Doug Hanes, Kosciusko Chamber; Sue Crouse, Tony Ciriello, Dana Munson, Saucey’s Barnyard BBQ; Tricia Gall, Milford Clerk/Treasurer; Brenda Mishler, Grant Mishler, Ryan Mishler, State Senator, 9th Dist.; Patricia Mishler-Miller, Donald Miller, Crystal Miller, Daniel Blevins, Keith Ousley, Scott Allison, Kosciusko Chamber; Elle Deveraux, Kosciusko Chamber; Rob Parker, president/CEO Kosciusko Chamber. Photo by David Hazledine.

By DAVID HAZLEDINE
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Mishler Funeral Homes, 461 W. 900 N., Milford, held a ribbon-cutting celebration Friday, Aug. 13, to commemorate 75 years in business and the completion of a remodeling project and expansion of services, which now include two chapels, catered funeral dinners, a medical loan closet and a children’s room.

Taking part in the event was Indiana State Senator and Mishler Funeral Homes President Ryan Mishler as well as members of Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.

On Aug. 13, the funeral home also had a table of back-to-school supplies available and collected donations to provide local students with earphones for their school iPads.

Tony Ciriello, vice president of sales, explained the current Milford location, built in 1994, has undergone a “complete facelift,” including interior decoration as well as the reorganization of an original apartment area into an expanded lounge and children’s recreation room.

The renovation facilitated the inclusion of a new service: catered funeral dinners for up to 50 people.

Also, a medical loan closet, which includes canes, wheelchairs, crutches and more, is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Anyone may also donate medical equipment to the closet during those hours.

According to Ciriello, Mishler Funeral Homes is unique in that it also owns three monument companies. “People can come here from start to stone. We can take care of everything.”

Mishler, whose grandfather Wade Mishler started the business in 1946, noted the monument companies are located around northern Indiana and Michigan, and have recently completed work for a Chicago museum as well as war memorials around the Midwest. He added the industry is currently facing shortages in granite resulting both from the global coronavirus pandemic as well as from a lack of domestic workers.