By Barbara Scott
According to the Sesquicentennial book: “Caribou, Maine — The First 150 Years; 1859-2009, “Mockler Funeral Home is in its third generation of serving the people of Caribou and surrounding towns.” This year marks the 90-year anniversary of the family operated funeral home.
Aroostook Republican/Barb Scott
Mockler Funeral Home of Caribou, established by Murray Mockler in 1947, is observing its’ 90th anniversary this year. From left are Robert ‘Bob’ Mockler (son of Murray and Mary Mockler), David Mockler ( son of Robert and Thelma Mockler), long-time funeral home employee, Charles Barnes and Jim Mockler (also the son of Robert and Thelma Mockler). Robert, Jim and David Mockler are licensed funeral directors who attended the New England Institute, as did Murray Mockler.
Murray Mockler, graduated from the New England School of Anatomy and Embalming, located in Boston, and began his career in the funeral profession in 1920 when he partnered with Norman Currier in a storefront location on Sweden Street. The location was a combination of funeral services, furniture sales and livery stable, with Currier and Mockler each operating their respective business.
Jim Mockler, a third generation funeral director stated that the livery stable and funeral services were often located near each other due to the fact that it was mostly horse and carriage transportation and funerals were held at the home of the deceased. It wasn’t until sometime in the 1940s that funeral homes as we now know them to be, starting appearing.
The sesquicentennial book also noted when in 1947 Murray Mockler and his wife Mary opened their own business, “According to an article in the newspaper, the new home, located on Reservoir Street, is of modern and compact design — all new equipment and accessories needed in the profession are also part of the new funeral home.”
Upon his death in 1965, Mockler’s younger son, Robert ’Bob’ assumed ownership of the business. Robert’s son Jim joined the business in 1981 and son David in 1988. Robert, Jim and David all attended the New England Institute and are licensed funeral directors.
“Neither of us knew that we would go into this business,” said David Mockler, “we both worked at other things prior to making that decision.”
“It really isn’t because we grew up around this business,” said Jim Mockler, “I mean as kids, we didn’t play in these rooms; if there wasn’t a service taking place, sometimes we might have used them as a shortcut but that was all.”
The third generation funeral directors stated, “You must be ready to commit to this profession — you have to be available 24/7 and many times people don’t realize all the details we are responsible for.”
“When I started at the New England Institute,” said David Mockler, “we were the largest class to ever enter and by the end of the first quarter, 90 percent of the students were gone.”
Every business faces change and the two compassionate, quiet-mannered, young funeral directors agreed that things are changing fast in their business as well. The Mocklers stated that the option of cremation has increased recently with families choosing to hold memorial services, which in fact can be more complicated than a traditional service.
“We agree with whatever the wishes of the family are, of course,” said Jim Mockler, “but we try to make people understand that a funeral has a purpose in society; we want them to be aware that even though the deceased’s wishes were for no services, it is the remaining family and friends that benefit from calling hours and the funeral service. Of course it is ultimately up to the family and we do all we can to help them through this time.”
In the office at Mockler Funeral Home, among photographs of family members there is a receipt dated 1870, that shows payment of $23, covering the cost of a casket, plate and robe. Today a funeral is estimated to cost up to $7,500, depending on what the family wishes.
Jim Mocker said, “Over the years we have provided services to many, many families in this area, some of them numerous times and because we work so closely with these individuals, when it comes time to attend calling hours or a service, we open the door for them, and it’s like welcoming friends and family.”
