Business

November 7, 2009

Two city family funeral homes merge

McLaughlin and Lisman have begun operating one business out of the M.J. McLaughlin Company.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – Two city families each with a long history in politics and the funeral business have merged.

The McLaughlins and the Lismans are now operating one funeral business out of the McLaughlin Funeral Home at 142 S. Washington St. The business will continue to be called the M.J. McLaughlin Company.

Katie McLaughlin, president of the company, on Friday announced the appointment of William W. Lisman as a licensed funeral director and vice-president of operations of the 111-year-old family-owned firm.

“This new union has allowed us to combine individual areas of expertise into one firm,” McLaughlin said. “We can now offer client families the best combination of facilities, professional vehicles and staff in the area.”

The Lisman Funeral Home was located just down the street from McLaughlin’s at 233 S. Washington St.

Lisman will join Katie McLaughlin’s husband, Thomas V. McLaughlin, and Kaitlin Keating Storz as licensed funeral directors in the business.

Lisman, a Wilkes-Barre native, is a graduate of Saint Nicholas High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from King’s College. He completed his studies in mortuary science at the New England Institute near Boston.

Lisman brings with him more than 30 years of professional experience in the operation of his family’s 92-year-old Lisman Funeral Home.

“Over the past two years, working more closely with Tommy and Katie McLaughlin, various discussions led to the conclusion that we would better serve our client families with a collaborative effort at the McLaughlin location,” Lisman said. “Through this merger, we have created a family legacy of more than 200 combined years.”

McLaughlin welcomed Lisman into the fold.

“Our families have had a long-standing relationship, and we have been friends for more than 20 years,” McLaughlin said. “The addition of (Lisman’s) expertise to our existing solid management team is of benefit to us and to our client families.”

The McLaughlin Company began in 1898 in downtown Wilkes-Barre and a livery service started in the East End section. M.J. McLaughlin founded the business, M.J. Jr. and R.J. followed in their father’s footsteps and then Thomas V. McLaughlin, former mayor of Wilkes-Barre, took over. When he died, his son, Thomas V. Jr., ran the business.

Lisman’s father, Walter, served as mayor of Wilkes-Barre from 1976 to 1980, when McLaughlin was elected. McLaughlin served two terms, from 1980 to 1988. The Lisman Funeral Home was established in 1917.

McLaughlin said the business has served more than 22,000 families over the years. The family claims to have brought the first automobile hearse to the area in 1919 and their facility – built in 1935 – was the first local building designed exclusively for funeral services.

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