Ivy Tech Community College Northwest Mortuary Science Program and Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home have joined together to support the local families affected by the recent discoveries at Serenity Gardens Funeral Home in Gary.
On May 26th, police and the Lake County Coroner removed four bodies from the abandoned funeral home on the 900 block of East 21st Avenue in Gary, Indiana believed to have been there since 2006. The remains were found by a pastor after a church bought the property in a tax sale.
Second year students in the MORT 207: Embalming Practicum I at the College worked alongside Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home, locations in Schererville and Hammond, to support the bereaved families. Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home extended their services to all families involved. Thus far, the funeral home completed services for two of the families at no charge.
The Mortuary Science program at Ivy Tech Community College Northwest is a two-year program that trains men and women in becoming funeral directors. The program is housed out of the East Chicago campus. “The benefit our students have in the program is getting ‘real-life’ experiences when dealing with death and grieving families,” adds program chair and dean, Rick Soria.
"This is a rare occurrence and it is important that the students learn the repercussions of their actions, good and bad. We as funeral directors take great pride in what we do every day for our families and it is a shame that someone can take the trust people have in us so lightly”, states John Pruzin, Sr. owner of Solan-Pruzin.
Pruzin adds, "We came forward to help these families through this difficult time. We hope that our small part will give these families some closure. It is important to us to reassure the families that it is our duty, to care for our families. It is the right thing to do for these families.” As a result, this unfortunate situation served as a lesson to upcoming funeral directors about what it means to be a funeral director.
MORT 207: Embalming Practicum I is a second year course where students are paired with local funeral homes to gain experience in the art of embalming. Mortuary students enroll in two semesters of practicum. Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home supports the mission of Ivy Tech. Pruzin sits on the mortuary program’s board. Solan-Pruzin Funeral Homes serves as a practicum site allowing students to serve two semesters of hands-on experience in embalming and restorative art. “It is unfortunate that funeral directors breach the trust of their community but it is refreshing to see funeral homes, like Solan-Pruzin, step up and make the wrong right”, adds adjunct professor Raquel Santos. Santos also serves as a part-time funeral director with Solan-Pruzin when she is not assisting in overseeing the program’s embalming labs.
A framed plaque is posted in the mortuary science classroom as a reminder to students. The plaque reads, “REMEMBER….This preparation room becomes “sacred” when a family entrusts us with one of their most precious possessions. Keep faith with them by conducting “yourself” as though the family were present. The person is dear to them…..and should be treated reverently.” Author unknown.
For more information about the mortuary science program please contact Rick Soria or Raquel Santos at (219) 392-3600.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.