Cox-Smith Funeral & Cremation opens its doors in Grinnell

by J.O. Parker
 
   It’s a dream come true for a new Grinnell business owner.
  After more than a year of construction, Sarah Cox-Smith is pleased to announce that her business, Cox-Smith Funeral & Cremation, is opening as early as this week.
   “I was looking for a change and an opportunity to grow,” said Cox-Smith of opening the new business. “I wanted to provide more options for the Grinnell Community and surrounding area.”
Located at 135 1st Avenue West, the building features a large naturally lit chapel, large hallways that are ADA compliant, restrooms, a family room, front reception area and large paved parking area. 
   “We wanted to make sure the hallways were wide-open for people to move about,” said Cox-Smith. 
   The new building also features a large gathering space with large windows and seating for up to 100 people. The room can be used for a luncheon following a service or possibly for a community event. The gathering space can be accessed from the funeral home or through a separate entry door.
   The chapel features two televisions and there is also a television in the gathering space.
   The funeral home offers funeral and memorial services, cremation services, caskets with numerous options, urns, vaults, monuments and jewelry. 
   “The jewelry could include a fingerprint, cremated remains or strands of hair from the deceased,” said Cox-Smith.
    Cox-Smith, who has lived in Grinnell for 30 years, is a 1994 graduate of Grinnell High School and a graduate of Marshalltown Community College. She attended Worsham College for Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Ill., graduating in 1998.
     After interning at Powel Funeral Home in Williamsburg, Cox-Smith returned to Grinnell. She joined the staff at Smith Funeral Home in 2001 and remained there until 2018.
    She and her husband, Chad, purchased the home and four acres where the new funeral home sits from the Edgington Estate in April 2019.
     Construction on the building began in November 2019. 
    The old two-story home on the estate is being converted into the family room, embalming room, casket and vault room, offices and an upstairs apartment.
      There is also a coffee bar that will serve hot and cold beverages for families and their guests.
      Funerals and memorial services will be available seven days a week.
Chad, who calls himself husband, secretary and handyman, designed the floor plans of the new building.
Future plans call for development of the rest of the property into themed gardens. Some of the furnishings in the building came from the former Grinnell Steak House, Spaulding Mansion and were passed down from family.
      “I really wanted a funeral to be a celebration of life and provide the family a comfortable place to gather and reflect,” said Cox-Smith. “I have received a lot of support and encouragement through this process.”
        “We are here to serve the community,” added Chad.
        An open house is planned for Sunday, Jan. 10, from 2 – 4 p.m.
        For more information, contact Cox-Smith via email at: [email protected] or via phone at: 641-236-5580. A website will soon be in place at: www.coxsmithfuneralhome.com.