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Wilson Funeral Homes employee earns director license

BROOKSIDE — Jarrett and Jason Wilson, owners of Wilson Funeral Homes, announced that Erin Crummitt-Hough recently received her funeral director license.

This will enable her to work in every single area of funeral planning as well as embalming. The license is valid in the state of Ohio. She is the first female funeral director in the history of Wilson Funeral Homes, established in 1898.

“We are extremely proud of Erin’s accomplishment,” Jason Wilson said. “She worked very hard to achieve this milestone with four years of college, 12 months of embalming school and 12 months of an apprenticeship. She is a life-long resident of the Ohio Valley and comes from a great family. I am very pleased with the progress she has made. She has learned at a rapid rate and is performing above and beyond our expectations.”

Jerry Fiutem, general manager at Wilson, commented about Crummitt-Hough’s achievement: “We have always had very high hopes for Erin to succeed within our organization. She is very enthusiastic, works well with people, possesses great organizational skills and is simply a good person, which translates well with caring for our families in need. She represents the ‘next generation’ of our long list of loyal employees who will lead us into the ever-changing future. She has fit in perfectly with our ‘family’ here at Wilson Funeral Homes, and we are very fortunate to have her as an employee. She does a fantastic job meeting with the families and is very compassionate and caring. Erin is just a truly kind individual.”

Jarrett Wilson recalls when Crummitt-Hough was first hired.

“Jerry (Fiutem) recommended her to me, and she has become one of the best hires we have ever made,” he said. “It’s like a family here, and she is definitely a part of that family. We hope to have her for a very long time.”

Jason Wilson added similar sentiments about Crummitt-Hough.

“Our company stands for tradition, honesty, integrity and a genuine caring attitude directed toward the families we serve. Erin exemplifies these qualities, and she is a perfect fit with this organization. She adheres to the values that Wilson Funeral Homes have stood for over the 119 years we have been in business,” he said.

Crummitt-Hough is originally from Martins Ferry. She graduated from Martins Ferry High School and went on to Wheeling Jesuit University, where she earned her four-year degree in criminal justice.

Crummitt-Hough is no stranger to the funeral industry. Her family has owned and operated Crummitt and Sons Vault and Crematory Co. in Martins Ferry for nearly 70 years. Her father, Mike, and brother, Rick, have actually provided (and still do) their products and services to Wilson Funeral Homes. This is just another example regarding the “local” aspect of doing business among high-quality Ohio Valley businesses.

The exposure Crummitt-Hough had within the industry throughout her lifetime inspired her to take a new direction in her life. She decided to go back to school and enrolled at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. She graduated magna cum laude and earned the Champions Award for mortuary science excellence.

Crummitt-Hough resides in Wheeling with her husband, Mike, and two children — Brody, 8, and Ella, 6. They both attend school at Our Lady of Peace.

“I feel so fortunate to work with a group of such wonderful individuals,” Crummitt-Hough said. “Providing peace of mind and comfort to the families who have lost loved ones and are going through a difficult time puts an important perspective on what I have chosen to do for a living. It’s humbling and gratifying to help others.”

“Jarrett and I have not deviated from the tradition and focus of what Wilson Funeral Homes has stood for over the past 119 years. We needed to especially refocus the efforts of keeping this tradition as strong as ever since our Dad’s (Charlie Wilson) passing in April 2013. The unexpected loss put both of us in a ‘new’ situation, and we would hope that sound decisions such as surrounding ourselves with new employees like Erin as well as the loyal and respected existing employees would have made our father proud,” Jason Wilson explained.

Wilson Funeral Homes has four Ohio Valley locations, Brookside, Dillonvale, Tiltonsville and Mingo Junction. Visit www.wilsonfuneralhomes .com or call 740-635-0651 for more information.

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