About Willow & Stone
A family caring for families, for three generations
Since 1952, we have believed that a funeral is not an ending to be managed, but a life to be honored. That belief still guides everything we do.
Our story
It began with a carpenter, a chapel, and a promise
In 1952, cabinetmaker Silas Willow built a simple chapel at the edge of Cedar Hollow after helping too many neighbors bury loved ones without anywhere gentle to gather. He named it for the weeping willow behind the property and the river stones that marked the old graves — living grief and lasting memory, side by side.
Silas made a promise that has become our family creed: that no one in our valley would ever have to grieve alone, or feel rushed, or wonder what things cost. His granddaughter Clara leads Willow & Stone today, alongside a team chosen for their kindness first.
Three generations later, the willow still stands, and the promise still holds.
“Grief is love with nowhere to go. Our work is simply to give it a home.”
Silas Willow, founder
What we stand for
The values behind every farewell
Compassion first
Before we are planners or professionals, we are neighbors. We meet grief with patience and warmth, never a script.
Honoring every story
No two lives are alike, so no two farewells should be. We build each service around who your loved one truly was.
Honest & transparent
Clear pricing, unhurried choices, and no pressure — ever. You will always know exactly what you are choosing and why.
Present for the long road
Our care does not end after the service. We walk with families through the quiet months of grief that follow.
Our people
The faces you'll meet
Every member of our team lives in the community we serve. When you call, you reach a neighbor — not a call center.
Clara Willow-Bennett
Owner & Funeral Director
Third-generation director who grew up in the rooms she now tends. Clara believes a good funeral is simply the truth, told gently.
Marcus Stone
Funeral Director
A former hospice chaplain, Marcus is the calm voice families reach in the middle of the night.
Priya Anand
Family Care Coordinator
Priya handles the hundred small details — paperwork, flowers, timing — so your family can be present.
Daniel Okafor
Celebrant & Grief Companion
Daniel crafts personal ceremonies and leads our monthly remembrance circles.
We would be honored to help your family
Sit with us over coffee, ask every question, and take all the time you need. There is never any obligation.