History & Staff
Staff members of Schmaedeke Funeral Home are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are as important to us as they are to your family.
Our journey began back in 1932, when Orville and Martha Schmaedeke set out to serve the needs of grieving families with a distinct “Vision of Service.” Together with business partner Eugene Harris, they opened the Harris-Schmaedeke Funeral Home in November of 1936, located in what is now the renowned Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet, Illinois.
In 1938, Martha and Orville opened the Schmaedeke Funeral Home in their own Orland Park home, where they converted their dining and living rooms into visitation spaces whenever a neighbor was in need.
By December of 1959, the Schmaedeke family established their flagship location at 10701 South Harlem Ave. in Worth, Illinois. Their son Richard joined the family business in 1963, and alongside his wife Janeen, carried on the Schmaedeke name and service for over 30 years. In 2014, their daughter Kara became the third generation of extended family to operate the funeral home, continuing to serve families with care and compassion.
As the journey continued, the legacy of service was entrusted to Phillip A. Maher, a seasoned funeral director with over 30 years in the industry. With his leadership, the ownership of Schmaedeke Funeral Home transitioned into new hands, honoring the tradition built by the Schmaedeke family. While the Worth location has since closed its doors, Phillip A. Maher is proud to bring the Schmaedeke name and its long-standing reputation for exceptional service to Palos Hills—continuing to serve the amazing community with the same compassion, dignity, and care that has defined the Schmaedeke legacy for generations.