About Us
About Us
Our Beginnings
Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes have been serving the local area for 3 generations. It began when Gilbert & Ruby Pils opened the doors of the Pils Memorial Home in Chenoa, IL, on April 1, 1939. They purchased the 11-room house located at the corner of Weir and Lincoln Streets and made their living quarters on the second floor. The main floor housed the funeral home. Gilbert and Ruby were married in September of 1938 and soon after began to remodel the house at its present location. They had 2 daughters, Sandra & Patricia. Gilbert was the son of Jacob and Matilda Pils of Chenoa, IL. He graduated from Chenoa High School in 1934. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University and was a graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago in March of 1937.
The 2nd Generation
In June of 1973, Gilbert and his son-in-law, Roger Duffy purchased the Cook Funeral Home in Fairbury, IL. It became Duffy-Pils Memorial Home. Roger was the son of Martin & Helen Duffy of Graymont, IL. He was a graduate of Pontiac Twp. High School, attended Illinois State University, and graduated from the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, CA. He married Patricia Pils in April of 1962. Roger & Patty had 2 sons, Douglas & Robert. The Duffys moved to Fairbury and made their home in the living quarters above the Memorial Home. Gilbert Pils died on October 14, 1978, and Ruby Pils died on April 17, 1992.
The 3rd Generation
In 1981 Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes of Fairbury & Chenoa purchased the Stiver Home for Funerals in Fairbury and the Colfax Home for Funerals located at the corner of North & Harrison Streets in Colfax, IL. Roger Duffy owned and operated the Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes until his death on October 15, 1991. Following his death, his son, Robert, returned to Fairbury and became a 3rd generation funeral director in the family-owned business. Robert graduated from Fairbury-Cropsey High School in 1984. He graduated from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL in 1988 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. He then entered the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL, and graduated in 1991. Robert currently lives above the funeral home in Fairbury with his wife, Debra, and their 3 children, Jacqueline, Alexander, and Elizabeth.
