Contact: Carey Cress Fose
Phone: 608-238-3434
Email: cfose@cressfuneralservice.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Multifunctional Facility Design Meets Changing
Expectations of Families Memorializing Their Loved Ones
MADISON, Wis. (Thursday, February 7, 2013) — Funerals are no longer a one-size-fits-all service, with many families opting for an experience that uniquely celebrates the passions of their departed loved ones.
Cress Funeral and Cremation Service, which operates eight locations in Dane County, recognized that trend and spent three years designing a comfortable and adaptable facility that will meet the many differing needs of a modern remembrance service. “What a fantastic opportunity to continue our legacy of bringing families together to share special moments,” said Carey Cress Fose, Vice President of Cress Funeral and Cremation Service.
The new Cress Center, 6021 University Ave., Middleton, will be capable of hosting musical and multimedia tributes, catered luncheons and themed gatherings. It is equipped to host environmentally friendly cremations, funerals, reception services, educational events and social activities – all the types of events a neighborhood center needs to connect, remember and share the lives of those in its community.
“Cress has always encouraged community and kindness,” said Cress Fose. “Now we have a facility that will allow family and friends to gather and build strength.”
“The facility was crafted to offer families a selection of comfortable gathering spaces for them and their guests throughout the bereavement process. This takes the pressure off grieving families to open their homes to guests during a stressful time,” said Bill Cress, President of Cress Funeral and Cremation Service.
The Cress Center will feature a multipurpose Great Room for large events; intimate areas, such as the Wisconsin State Room, for reflection; reception spaces for catered functions and community education; and an outdoor fireplace and terrace for a peaceful setting. Within that framework, there is no limit to what a family can do to pay tribute or capture a moment in their family’s history.
“It may be a gathering, a chance to mingle, a chance to remember, a time to create a lasting memory celebrating their beloved’s favorite theme: a football game with food and beverage, a jazz ensemble, a terrace barbecue, an art exhibit or an Irish blessing,” said Carey Cress Fose.
Emerging technology has enabled families to share multimedia presentations that paint a rich picture of a person’s life, and the state-of-the-art Cress Center will be able to display those prominently. “We have enhanced our facility with audio-video-Internet technology, bringing our families closer to the experience,” Bill Cress said.
Responding to a need for environmental responsibility, Cress has invested in eco-friendly options with significant improvements to the cremation center. “For some families who choose cremation, it is important for them to care for their loved one not only through the visitation and memorial event, but also through the cremation process,” Carey Cress-Fose said. “The cremation areas are family rooms that allow for gathering, reflection and engagement in whatever way that is comforting and supportive of the healing process each person must move through. With a one-of-a-kind facility, Cress is able to support the families in their care.”
Construction on the Cress Center — which replaces a traditional funeral home on that site — has entered the final stages, and the facility will be available in late February. “There is virtually no part of the building that hasn’t been touched as part of this major renovation,” said Dan Fose, Vice President and Treasurer of Cress Funeral and Cremation Service. “The Cress Center will be a comfortable and adaptable setting to allow families to connect and share all of life’s special moments.”
Media are invited to tour the facility beginning next month. Visits must be scheduled in advance by emailing carey@cressfuneralservice.com or calling 608-238-3434.
About Cress Funeral and Cremation Service: Cress Funeral and Cremation Service is a family-owned company with eight locations in Dane County, and has a long legacy of helping and supporting those experiencing bereavement. Cress understands that a family needs someone to turn to in a moment’s notice — knowledgeable, trustworthy professionals who truly care, and have the ability and resources to offer exemplary services. Many things have changed since the business began in 1869, but what remains at Cress is a commitment to being there every step of the way for the people in our communities. For more about Cress, visit www.cressfuneralservice.com or call 608-238-3434.
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