Funeral director and owner, Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels

Robbinsdale
Age: 67
Parish: St. Bartholomew, Wayzata
Spouse: Mary
Children: Hugh, 24; Clare, 21
Education: University of Minnesota
Number of years with company: 45

Dan Delmore takes pride in serving individuals and families with Christian care as director and owner of a funeral home — just one example of his “leading with faith.” He notes that funeral directors will “bury a CEO one day, and a person with no family and no personal funds the next,” and in all cases the service is a corporal work of mercy. Delmore serves people and the Church in other ways as well: as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and liturgy commission member in his parish, as a Catholic Cemeteries board member and board chairman of St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Maple Grove, and as a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Q Describe your business.

A Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel has been in operation for nearly 100 years. The original location is in Robbinsdale, with locations added over the years in St. Louis Park and Plymouth. It is a funeral home that serves all faiths, with a significant number of Catholic families.

Q Describe your position and role.

A I am one of 11 funeral directors on the staff. I began working for my father, Bob, for the first 15 years or so, and have been the president of the company for the remaining years. I oversee the operations and meet with families for funeral arrangements. I direct many services and interact with many parish staffs to facilitate funeral Masses.

Q What does “leading with faith” mean to you?

A Every one of us exhibits our faith every day, in every walk of life, often without realizing it. Funeral directors have a bit of a head start, for what is more central to our faith than talking about resurrection and eternal life? Catholic funeral directors are often asked to explain the rituals of our faith, what they mean and their importance in the Catholic burial rites. In business practice, at home and in parish life, it means to live your faith in your conduct and morals. It is also important for me to attempt to live my faith with joy and compassion for all.

Q How do you concretely apply your faith and Catholic values at work?

A I try to apply my faith each day in the way I treat people, those I serve and those I work with. Funeral directors need to show compassion to the grieving, gently guide them, keeping to a timeline. I coordinate with many different parishes with many variations of our one faith. I try to keep to the philosophy of the word “catholic,” translating to “universal.”

Q Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.

A On a number of occasions over the years, it has been helpful to have a strong knowledge of our faith traditions for funerals when dealing with families where some or many members have left the faith. They will question whether a Catholic funeral liturgy is needed or desired. Being able to explain what the Church does and why, and to explain in a welcoming way, has led to full rituals being held for a deserving soul. I have met with many people over the years who have made their wishes known with the expectation that those wishes would be relayed to their family when their day arrives.

Q Who or what has inspired you to bring your faith to the “marketplace?”

A My parents were very strong in their faith and provided a good foundation for their four children. I was raised in a very tight-knit, small Catholic parish, Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park. We lived close to church, and those of us who attended the parish school have been close all of our lives. We still gather for family members who have died, now at neighboring parishes, since ours merged with Our Lady of Grace. It is a great blessing to be able to assist them. I have also been fortunate to work with countless priests, deacons, pastoral ministers and musicians over the years. Many have taught me how to quietly rely on personal faith to serve.

Q In what specific ways have you experienced God’s presence in your workplace?

A Funeral homes can be extremely busy at times, with many services to conduct and little sign of slowing down. The process of arranging and conducting can become automatic. God has a way of reminding us of the importance of assisting each family. In the midst of the busiest times, a family will arrive who have the saddest of circumstances or need additional time and care. It is as though God is saying, “Remember to see this task through the eyes of the ones experiencing a great loss and profound sorrow. That is what you are called to do.”

Q What advice do you have for others who want to lead with faith?

A In a world that focuses on the immediate and self, realize that the rich traditions and history of our faith go back thousands of years. Our faith is based on prayers and sacraments that are direct signs of Christ becoming man and saving us. It is not about us, but about the lineage of saints that includes our parents, grandparents and millions who have gone before us. Think of our own actions and how we live our lives based on the knowledge that many have walked the same path before us, and others are certainly to follow.