History
McKeown Funeral Home was started in 1938, when Everett & Evelyn McKeown purchased the business and property from a Mr. Hulse. The McKeown’s continued the business by themselves until William F. Dunn joined them in 1968, when he returned from serving in the United States Army. William & Patricia Pearce Dunn then purchased the business and property from the McKeown’s in 1972. The Dunn name was added in 1978. The business has been at 210 S. Madison St. since 1943.
Bill Dunn had a dream and goal to build a new facility bearing the Dunn Family name. He wanted the facility to be accommodating for the people being served, comfortable, and homey. After many years of planning, the new Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory, 1801 S. Douglas Rd., Oswego, IL was opened on May 3, 2010, making it the 4th funeral home owned by the Dunn’s. (Gabel-Dunn Funeral Home, Ltd., Sheridan, IL, Gabel-Dunn Funeral Home, Ltd., Newark, IL and the two funeral homes in Oswego, IL.) The 10,000 sq. ft. building, of course, is totally ADA accessible, has a chapel seating capacity for over 240, large hospitality suite with a children’s area & kitchen, flower room with separate secured entrance. The facility truly has a family friendly environment. The Dunn family serves all faiths with traditional, non-traditional and cremation services. We offer pre-arrangements, preplanning & pre-financing for types of services.
Finding a property in Oswego for the new funeral home was very important to William & Patricia since Patricia’s heritage dates back to Daniel & Sarah Titsworth Pearce, original settlers of Oswego. Patricia’s dad grew up on a farm where Fox Bend Golf course is now located. The Dunn’s raised their three children (Bob, Eric and Tamara) in Oswego, their son Eric still lives in Oswego.
The Dunn’s have expanded the staff at the new funeral home from a part-time administrative assistant to full-time, five full time licensed funeral directors and a full time certified pre-planning consultant.
Patricia & William have been active in Oswego over the almost 52 years that they have been in Oswego. William served on the Village Board, was a firefighter with the Oswego Volunteer Fire Department, Coroner of Kendall County for over 16 years and is a member of the Oswego American Legion, Oswego Lions Club and St. Anne Church. William is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association and Cremation Association of North America. Patricia has served as Oswego Village Clerk, Executive Director of Oswego Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of Oswegoland Women’s Civic Club & Oswego American Legion Auxiliary & St. Anne Church and is on the board of the Oswego Senior Center.
Patricia & William look forward to serving the Oswego area for many years to come.