Bill Gay's 1920's Packard Hearse, Sewickley Cemetery event for the Cole family and extended family members. Growing up in the funeral business, surrounded by death and the emotions that accompany it, does little to prepare you for the loss of a parent. But it did bring our family closer together and we did and still do visit cousins regularly, which has been a blessing for all of us. After losing Dad, the question became What does Mom do with the business and the property? In 1977 Rick was fresh out of the United States Navy and preparing for college. Brian and Ronna were still at Quaker Valley High School. After much contemplation and many consultations with others, Mom jumped straight into the fire and followed the same path as Maria Marlatt, forty-seven (47) years earlier. Jeri Cole contacted the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors in pursuit of her own "Widow's License. There were phone calls and offers from other regional funeral directors, but once Jeri Cole made up her mind to do something, she did it, and usually, quite successfully. Frank Urso, one of Dad's closest friends (Frank was in the funeral home daily and lived locally) and a licensed funeral director himself, took on the task as staff funeral director and did so for the next near decade. Mom and Frank created an exceptional team to continue the "Distinctive Service" for which Cole Funeral Home was known. Frank passed in the mid-1980s, and Pat Boylan (of Boylan Funeral Home, Evans City) came on board as Mom's staff funeral director for a short period of time, but it was James (Jim) Hughes who carried the torch for the remaining decades at Cole's. Jim worked for Dad in the 1970s while studying at PIMS and became the staff funeral director and supervisor soon after Frank Urso passed. It was Jeri Cole, Jim Hughes, Bud Musgrave, and Chuck Hoffmaster who set the tone for Cole's moving forward. They were all outstanding individuals and knew the "Dick Cole Way" of supporting families. Mom managed the business for twenty-six (26) years, five more years than her husband did. In 2003 Mom succumbed to a relatively short battle with cancer. She was diagnosed on October 1st, 2003, and passed on November 20th, 2003, the day before Rick's forty-eighth birthday. It is emotional to even write that sentence. In remembering Mom we must include her trademark, that amazing Lion Belt Buckle, purchased at the Portico, a shop on Beaver Street in Sewickley. That buckle was the first thing you saw as you walked in the front door at Cole's, as she greeted you on the steps with that smile and... that lion staring right at you as it is below With Dick and Jeri Cole now gone and Jim Hughes at the helm of Cole's, the "Distinctive Service" continued. We, Rick, Brian, and Ronna, helped with various things from time to time, greeting families at the front Dick Cole's 817 "Akk-Akk Annie", England, 1945 door and helping to maintain and to support the property. But it was the Hughes family who carried it all forward from 2003 on. Jim Hughes was Dick Cole-trained after all! Jim, his wife, Dee, their son, Kris, and his wife, Kellie (three (3) licensed funeral directors within the Hughes family) did an amazing job with the Cole standards and traditions, enhancing them with their own traditions over the years. Jim retired on January 1, 2024. Kris, a tradesman (embalming) locally and Kellie, a freelance funeral director in the Pittsburgh area. Our parents were amazing individuals. They taught us how to work "eight (8) day weeks and twenty-five (25) hour days". Probably not a good thing, but it did help us to build and to enjoy very successful lives for ourselves and our families. As did the Sewickley community at large. The way we were all raised to open and hold doors for the person behind you, to say thank you when you should, to help others in need when you can, to be polite and respectful. And how fortunate were we to go through the Quaker Valley Public School system, with amazing teachers and coaches who really cared for all of us. All of this contributed greatly to how we live our lives today. We believe that Dick and Jeri Cole would be very proud of how far their legacies have carried on. It is not possible to mention all who were involved over the years but a few deserve honorable mentions for sure: All of our family members, our Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins who would come on a whim if Dad needed them; all of the various employees over the years, the limo, ambulance, and hearse drivers, and of course, the car washers, the Sgro family, Isabel Martin and family, Don Detwiler and family: the many want-to-be-funeral directors who apprenticed under Dick Cole (and became very good funeral directors themselves), the Hughes family, and Colleen Kelly Whalen and Bud Musgrave for their amazing attitudes, energy and support of Cole Funeral Home and Sewickley community. Just to name a few. We gratefully thank all of them from the bottom of our hearts and we thank our parents immensely for the blessed lives that they gave us. The property at 328 Beaver St. has recently been sold, after nearly 70-years of Cole ownership. It will go through a major renovation in the coming months. As we approach that 100th anniversary of Bill Gray's 1935 remodel, the building is old and failing and would need major attention to keep it alive. The funeral business is quite different today, as is the Sewickley Borough in general, in the 21st Century vs. the ways of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s (the years we grew up in the building): actual caskets, 3-4 day visitations, multiple limosines en-route to the cemetery on funerals, and flowers, Sargent Richard D. Cole, US Army Air Corps, 91st Bombardier Group flowers and more flowers. All of those traditions will carry on as the "Distinctive Service" of R.D. Cole Funeral Home continues as: Richard D. Cole Funeral Home, Ltd.: The Cole Funeral Home business was purchased by John P. Schwartzmiller ED. Although ownership of the funeral home business has changed, Jim Hughes remains on as supervisor while John, his family, and staff. oversee the day-to-day operations. John along with his family, wife Rachel Schwartzmiller. daughter Alexis Schwartzmiller-Coyle F.D., son Ben Schwartzmiller, and their staff Joshua Diulus FD, Colleen Kelley Whalen, and James Crable, have and will continue the long- standing tradition of the Cole family's funeral service to Sewickley and the surrounding communities. The Schwartzmiller's come from a family of tradition also, with a long-standing history and reputation of well-respected funeral service dating back to 1886, with Alexis and Ben being the 5th generation to continue that legacy. Many families have worked with John, Alexis, or Josh while arranging funeral services for their loved one. They truly enjoy helping and personally getting to know the families they serve while supporting them during one of their most difficult times. At the end of September, operations at 328 Beaver Street will transition, as the building as we know it will be transformed into a new development by the new property owner and Sewickley resident, Bob Lewis (Orbital Engineering). The funeral home business, Richard D. Cole Funeral Home, Ltd., will continue at their new location, 1316 4th Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108. All funerals that were pre-planned and funded prior to September will be honored in the same manner as they were arranged. The phone number 412-741-4334 will remain the same. John, his family, and staff will seamlessly continue to serve the many families. past, present and future from this location. The physical location may be changing but the compassion and "Distinctive Service" you have come to expect from Richard D. Cole Funeral Home, Ltd. will continue. COLE R.D. Cole Funeral Home today, not much has changed with exception to the front and backyard landscaping and sign. Nearly 70-Years of: "Distinctive Service" Gray-Cole Funeral Home, Circa 1950s Dick and Jeri Cole, 1973 Rick, Brian and Ronna Cole Jeri Cole and Her Lion Belt Buckle Bill Gay's 1920's Packard Hearse , Sewickley Cemetery event for the Cole family and extended family members . Growing up in the funeral business , surrounded by death and the emotions that accompany it , does little to prepare you for the loss of a parent . But it did bring our family closer together and we did and still do visit cousins regularly , which has been a blessing for all of us . After losing Dad , the question became What does Mom do with the business and the property ? In 1977 Rick was fresh out of the United States Navy and preparing for college . Brian and Ronna were still at Quaker Valley High School . After much contemplation and many consultations with others , Mom jumped straight into the fire and followed the same path as Maria Marlatt , forty - seven ( 47 ) years earlier . Jeri Cole contacted the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors in pursuit of her own " Widow's License . There were phone calls and offers from other regional funeral directors , but once Jeri Cole made up her mind to do something , she did it , and usually , quite successfully . Frank Urso , one of Dad's closest friends ( Frank was in the funeral home daily and lived locally ) and a licensed funeral director himself , took on the task as staff funeral director and did so for the next near decade . Mom and Frank created an exceptional team to continue the " Distinctive Service " for which Cole Funeral Home was known . Frank passed in the mid - 1980s , and Pat Boylan ( of Boylan Funeral Home , Evans City ) came on board as Mom's staff funeral director for a short period of time , but it was James ( Jim ) Hughes who carried the torch for the remaining decades at Cole's . Jim worked for Dad in the 1970s while studying at PIMS and became the staff funeral director and supervisor soon after Frank Urso passed . It was Jeri Cole , Jim Hughes , Bud Musgrave , and Chuck Hoffmaster who set the tone for Cole's moving forward . They were all outstanding individuals and knew the " Dick Cole Way " of supporting families . Mom managed the business for twenty - six ( 26 ) years , five more years than her husband did . In 2003 Mom succumbed to a relatively short battle with cancer . She was diagnosed on October 1st , 2003 , and passed on November 20th , 2003 , the day before Rick's forty - eighth birthday . It is emotional to even write that sentence . In remembering Mom we must include her trademark , that amazing Lion Belt Buckle , purchased at the Portico , a shop on Beaver Street in Sewickley . That buckle was the first thing you saw as you walked in the front door at Cole's , as she greeted you on the steps with that smile and ... that lion staring right at you as it is below With Dick and Jeri Cole now gone and Jim Hughes at the helm of Cole's , the " Distinctive Service " continued . We , Rick , Brian , and Ronna , helped with various things from time to time , greeting families at the front Dick Cole's 817 " Akk - Akk Annie " , England , 1945 door and helping to maintain and to support the property . But it was the Hughes family who carried it all forward from 2003 on . Jim Hughes was Dick Cole - trained after all ! Jim , his wife , Dee , their son , Kris , and his wife , Kellie ( three ( 3 ) licensed funeral directors within the Hughes family ) did an amazing job with the Cole standards and traditions , enhancing them with their own traditions over the years . Jim retired on January 1 , 2024 . Kris , a tradesman ( embalming ) locally and Kellie , a freelance funeral director in the Pittsburgh area . Our parents were amazing individuals . They taught us how to work " eight ( 8 ) day weeks and twenty - five ( 25 ) hour days " . Probably not a good thing , but it did help us to build and to enjoy very successful lives for ourselves and our families . As did the Sewickley community at large . The way we were all raised to open and hold doors for the person behind you , to say thank you when you should , to help others in need when you can , to be polite and respectful . And how fortunate were we to go through the Quaker Valley Public School system , with amazing teachers and coaches who really cared for all of us . All of this contributed greatly to how we live our lives today . We believe that Dick and Jeri Cole would be very proud of how far their legacies have carried on . It is not possible to mention all who were involved over the years but a few deserve honorable mentions for sure : All of our family members , our Grandparents , Aunts , Uncles , and Cousins who would come on a whim if Dad needed them ; all of the various employees over the years , the limo , ambulance , and hearse drivers , and of course , the car washers , the Sgro family , Isabel Martin and family , Don Detwiler and family : the many want - to - be - funeral directors who apprenticed under Dick Cole ( and became very good funeral directors themselves ) , the Hughes family , and Colleen Kelly Whalen and Bud Musgrave for their amazing attitudes , energy and support of Cole Funeral Home and Sewickley community . Just to name a few . We gratefully thank all of them from the bottom of our hearts and we thank our parents immensely for the blessed lives that they gave us . The property at 328 Beaver St. has recently been sold , after nearly 70 - years of Cole ownership . It will go through a major renovation in the coming months . As we approach that 100th anniversary of Bill Gray's 1935 remodel , the building is old and failing and would need major attention to keep it alive . The funeral business is quite different today , as is the Sewickley Borough in general , in the 21st Century vs. the ways of the 1950s , 60s , 70s and 80s ( the years we grew up in the building ) : actual caskets , 3-4 day visitations , multiple limosines en - route to the cemetery on funerals , and flowers , Sargent Richard D. Cole , US Army Air Corps , 91st Bombardier Group flowers and more flowers . All of those traditions will carry on as the " Distinctive Service " of R.D. Cole Funeral Home continues as : Richard D. Cole Funeral Home , Ltd .: The Cole Funeral Home business was purchased by John P. Schwartzmiller ED . Although ownership of the funeral home business has changed , Jim Hughes remains on as supervisor while John , his family , and staff . oversee the day - to - day operations . John along with his family , wife Rachel Schwartzmiller . daughter Alexis Schwartzmiller - Coyle F.D. , son Ben Schwartzmiller , and their staff Joshua Diulus FD , Colleen Kelley Whalen , and James Crable , have and will continue the long- standing tradition of the Cole family's funeral service to Sewickley and the surrounding communities . The Schwartzmiller's come from a family of tradition also , with a long - standing history and reputation of well - respected funeral service dating back to 1886 , with Alexis and Ben being the 5th generation to continue that legacy . Many families have worked with John , Alexis , or Josh while arranging funeral services for their loved one . They truly enjoy helping and personally getting to know the families they serve while supporting them during one of their most difficult times . At the end of September , operations at 328 Beaver Street will transition , as the building as we know it will be transformed into a new development by the new property owner and Sewickley resident , Bob Lewis ( Orbital Engineering ) . The funeral home business , Richard D. Cole Funeral Home , Ltd. , will continue at their new location , 1316 4th Avenue , Coraopolis , PA 15108. All funerals that were pre - planned and funded prior to September will be honored in the same manner as they were arranged . The phone number 412-741-4334 will remain the same . John , his family , and staff will seamlessly continue to serve the many families . past , present and future from this location . The physical location may be changing but the compassion and " Distinctive Service " you have come to expect from Richard D. Cole Funeral Home , Ltd. will continue . COLE R.D. Cole Funeral Home today , not much has changed with exception to the front and backyard landscaping and sign . Nearly 70 - Years of : " Distinctive Service " Gray - Cole Funeral Home , Circa 1950s Dick and Jeri Cole , 1973 Rick , Brian and Ronna Cole Jeri Cole and Her Lion Belt Buckle