Our History

Charles F. Dewhirst, SR., received his Funeral Director’s license in 1926. With a passion for personal commitment to his clients and a desire to make a real difference in an emotionally charged field of work, he founded the original Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home in 1949. Charles F. Dewhirst, Jr., his son and second generation funeral director, joined the Family Funeral Home in 1956.

Richard C. Dewhirst, his grandson, third generation funeral director and present owner, joined the Family Funeral Homes in 1981, thus continuing the personal commitment to extraordinary family care that was begun so many years ago.

The Dewhirst Family joined with Paul and Andrea Bekkenhuis, owners of The Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home of Andover in 1998 to form The Charles F. Dewhirst Andover Funeral Home.

In 1999, The Dewhirst Family joined with Mrs. Joan Emmert to include the Emmert and Dewhirst Funeral Home in the Prospect Hill section of Lawrence.

In 2008, The Dewhirst Family expanded their presence in the Merrimack Valley by purchasing the former Goundrey Funeral Home in Salem, New Hampshire and renaming it The Goundrey and Dewhirst Funeral and Cremation Service.

The Dewhirst team of professionals has endeavored to maintain the family owned quality, attention to detail and compassionate caring needed to care for the families they serve throughout the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire.

If you have experienced the loss of a family member or a friend, please contact us to receive the absolute best in compassionate Family Funeral Care.