OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen
Morse Funeral Home has moved down the road to 19 E. Main Street in Brocton. The new site will be open June 1.
BROCTON — Not many businesses still occupy the same home as they began with after nearly a century. Fortunately for one of Brocton’s longest operating businesses, Morse Funeral Home, its very first move will not be much of an inconvenience.
After 98 years, Morse Funeral Home is moving from 51 Highland Ave., its original home, to a new location at 19 E. Main Street in the heart of the Brocton business district.
“This just worked out perfect for us,” said Daniel DiStasio, owner and operator of Morse Funeral Home.
Morse Funeral Home first opened in 1927 on Highland Avenue under the direction of Ted Morse, who had just received his license as a Funeral Director. Kenneth Merle, of Attica, NY, purchased Morse Funeral Home from Ted Morse in 1968 and elected to continue to operate the business under its original name.
DiStasio, a licensed Funeral Director, took over the business on Nov. 1, 2023 and also kept the original name. DiStasio also owns and operates DiStasio Funeral Home in South Dayton. While DiStasio took over the business in Brocton, he did not purchase the building itself. Plans to move locations were set in motion when DiStasio learned of the owner’s desire to sell the building.
Morse Funeral Home will now be taking over the space formerly occupied by Sweet Creams, an ice cream parlor that closed for the season after Halloween and elected to sell rather than re-open this year. Initially, some members of the community were disappointed to see the ice cream parlor close, only to find out it would be replaced by a funeral home – a feeling which DiStasio held no ill will for.
“They were upset because they would rather have an ice cream parlor, and I would too,” DiStasio joked. He later explained, however, that if he had not found a place to move to, Morse Funeral Home would have likely been forced to move out of the village, as the Highland Avenue property was up for sale.
“I know that not everybody wants to see a funeral home, especially younger people because they don’t think of death. In the community, the older generation still needs a place to go, and eventually, the younger people will too,” DiStasio said. “There’s a place that’s still in town, and in two years, it will be 100 years old.”
Renovations of the space have been underway following a Planning Board meeting on May 8, when Morse Funeral Home was given the green light to move forward with the move under 10 conditions, including a favorable response from the Chautauqua County Planning Board and no issues with by the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
The move allows for Morse Funeral Home to occupy a modern facility with more ability to support death care services, such as pre-needed trusts, calling hours, burials, cremation and memorial monuments. A private space for grieving will also be provided now at the new facility, as well as employee office space. New furniture and carpets will be installed, as well.
“He is doing a phenomenal job down there, updating the inside. It’s beautiful,” Brocton Mayor Craig Miller said.
Among the conditions was the requirement for signage that will not distract drivers or cause a nuisance to neighbors. Most notably, the Planning Board was concerned with parking. Customers and employees are urged to park behind the business or in the driveway. DiStasio noted there are 10 parking spaces behind the building. Access to the parking lot of the nearby Tri-Church Parish was also granted through favorable conversations.
Miller said the parking issue will be “greatly improved.” At the previous location, whenever a funeral service was held, guests would park along the sides of Highland Ave., which would make the road difficult to navigate.
“It was very challenging to get any vehicle through there,” Miller said. “Now there’s tons of parking. There won’t be a parking issue. Traffic can flow safely.”
Construction of the interior of the building is set to wrap up this month, in time for an opening date of June 1. For more information, visit morsefh.com or call (716) 792-4323.
