Darien Crematory Proposal Withdrawn

DARIEN, IL — The owners of a Darien funeral home are withdrawing their plan to add a crematory, saying the decision was based on feedback at a city meeting last week. The city Planning and Zoning Commission had been considering whether to give Modell Funeral Home a special-use permit to allow the new operation.

Co-owner Andrew Brunsen thanked residents who attended the commission meeting last Wednesday. The city shared his message on its Facebook page late Monday afternoon.

"As was shared at the community meeting, all of us at Modell deeply value listening, understanding and supporting the families and community we serve," Brunsen said in the statement. "After further considering feedback from the community meeting, we have decided to withdraw our crematory petition at this time."

In the days before the meeting, residents expressed their concerns in emails to the city about the funeral home's plan to build an addition for the crematory. The funeral home is 7710 S. Cass Ave.

Resident Julia Krumplis asked the city to deny the special-use permit, saying gaseous emissions from the funeral home would be a source of pollution.

"The people of Darien have suffered and been poisoned by toxic air for over three decades," she said, citing the example of Sterigenics. "We have had enough toxic dangerous air. Please do not allow any additional commercial sources of air toxins."

Another resident Jeanne Peterson said she has lived and worked in Darien since 1972.

"I believe my family has been affected by Sterigenics and cannot support more pollutants being released into the air," Peterson said.