About Us

Our History

Although the town of Albany has seen several “undertaking establishments” since its founding in 1833, our history begins with the parlors of Harry Garland. Dunkirk native Harry Garland was Albany’s undertaker for 57 years. He was operating from the corner of Water and Cedar by 1920. He ran a successful business there with his wife, Gertrude (the first female embalmer in Delaware County), and sons Donovan & Murray, until selling to Edison M. Rust of Ridgeville in 1944. The home remains a private residence to this day.

The Harry Garland & Sons funeral parlor

Rust Funeral Home, later known as Parson-Rust Funeral Home

Not long after the purchase, Mr. Rust relocated to our current location, operating under the name of Rust Funeral Home. He and his wife, Mildred, both licensed funeral directors, operated the funeral home and 24-hour ambulance service in addition to answering the emergency fire phone. It was also their residence; together they raised two daughters there, Marilyn and Judy.

Health concerns contributed to the sale of the business in 1975 to Muncie funeral home owner E. Kenneth Parson II. The name was changed to Parson-Rust Funeral Home and was operated as a branch location for several years. In 1996, the funeral home was razed, giving way to a brand new contemporary building designed specifically for serving families in their time of need.

In 1996, the old funeral home structure was razed, giving way to a brand new contemporary building designed specifically for serving families in their time of need.  On August 21, 2001, the business was sold to longtime employee and funeral director Chad Anthony Meacham.  After five years the business became known as Meacham Funeral Service. 

Meacham Funeral Service