New ownership at Lodi’s Donahue Funeral Home

After nearly three decades of running the Donahue Funeral Home in Downtown Lodi, Pat and Mary Donahue decided that it was time to retire and transfer ownership of the home to local mortician Mike Collins.

Collins has over 35 years of experience in the funeral industry. Prior to purchasing Donahue Funeral Home, he worked for Lodi Funeral Home for 17 years.

“It was just an opportunity for transition,” Collins said. “Pat and Mary were interested in semi-retiring and I was interested in ownership for myself and my family and so we were able to work it to where I was able to buy the funeral home in January.”

Collins’ family has been involved with the funeral business his entire life. His grandfather owned Sacramento Casket Company for at least 70 years and his great uncle also had a funeral home in Sacramento.

Now that he has taken ownership of Donahue Funeral Home, Collins plans to have some renovations done and is looking to modernize and expand the services provided. He also plans to add a 1,500square-foot reception facility.

Donahue Funeral Home is a full-service mortuary that provides traditional and cremation funeral services. The business also provides a chapel that seats up to 200 and several viewing parlors for evening services.

“As much or as little as the family feels is appropriate or whatever they like to have, we can do anything that they like to have done,” Collins said.

Collins said Donahue Funeral Home is available to serve anyone in the community regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or background.

The funeral home has a staff of three people including Collins, Spencer Herendeen, an apprentice embalmer, and Charlene Warnerdam, an administrator. The Donahues occasionally assist with families they’ve served in the past.

The funeral home is open seven days a week and are available 24 hours a day.

Collins said serving the community and being able to help families through difficult times is what he enjoys most about running a funeral home. The business also has it challenges, Collins said, including keeping costs manageable for families and being available to assist them at all times.

What is known as Donahue Funeral Home today was established in 1869 by Andrew Rutledge. Thomas L. Bawden purchased the business in 1907, with Oscar Wells coming on as a partner in 1909. Wells’ son, Harold, eventually took over the business.

In 1950, Russell Gierhart joined the business and it became known as Gierhart & Wells Funeral Home. The Donahues purchased the home in 1988 and the name became Gierhart-Wells & Donahue Funeral Home. In 2007, the Donahues dropped Gierhart-Wells from the name of the funeral home.

For more information about Donahue Funeral Home or to get assistance with a funeral call 209-3682444.