Jim Farkas
Funeral Director
Jim is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Illinois with over 18 years of experience. He was born and raised in Joliet. He graduated from Joliet West High School, class of 2003, and Worsham College of Mortuary Science, class of 2007. He began his career working at a local family firm for 5 years before pursuing a career with a corporation out of Chicago, working as a Funeral Director and Manager. He left to pursue his dreams and is now the proud owner of Farkas Funeral Home on the corner of Jefferson and Essington in Joliet, IL
Jim is a family man and believes there is nothing more important than family. He has a wife who works side by side with him operating the Funeral Home, and 3 beautiful children, Chase, Jack, and Charlee.
Jim is a member of the Will County Funeral Director Association, Joliet Chamber of Commerce, and the Moran A.C. He is a past board member with St. Joseph Pony Baseball (Treasurer), and currently coaches his son's team for St. Joe's Baseball.
Jim Farkas
Funeral Director
Jim is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Illinois with over 18 years of experience. He was born and raised in Joliet. He graduated from Joliet West High School, class of 2003, and Worsham College of Mortuary Science, class of 2007. He began his career working at a local family firm for 5 years before pursuing a career with a corporation out of Chicago, working as a Funeral Director and Manager. He left to pursue his dreams and is now the proud owner of Farkas Funeral Home on the corner of Jefferson and Essington in Joliet, IL
Jim is a family man and believes there is nothing more important than family. He has a wife who works side by side with him operating the Funeral Home, and 3 beautiful children, Chase, Jack, and Charlee.
Jim is a member of the Will County Funeral Director Association, Joliet Chamber of Commerce, and the Moran A.C. He is a past board member with St. Joseph Pony Baseball (Treasurer), and currently coaches his son's team for St. Joe's Baseball.
Theresa Farkas
Office Manager
Theresa is the office manager at Farkas Funeral Home. She and her husband Jim are dedicated to working together to provide families with personable and caring service.
Theresa Farkas
Office Manager
Theresa is the office manager at Farkas Funeral Home. She and her husband Jim are dedicated to working together to provide families with personable and caring service.
Richard J. Tapella
Funeral Director
Richard has been a licensed Funeral Director servicing our community since 1974. Rich’s family established Tapella Family Funeral Service in 1948, and it cultivated his interest in the funeral profession. Rich attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and graduated with the Albert E. Worsham Memorial Award for the Highest GPA of his class. In 1985, Rich established Haley-Tapella Funeral Home LTD and merged the two well-known family funeral businesses operating at the Haley Funeral Home located on Center Street in Joliet. In 1989, Rich purchased Westwood Memorial Chapel (now known as Farkas Funeral Home) and was principal owner until 2002. Rich’s funeral service management experience expanded in 2002, when he became Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the 21 diocesan cemeteries for the Diocese of Joliet. Rich’s career has come full-circle, and he is proud to have served and will continue to serve many families in their time of need. Rich is a family man; He and his wife Lynn are proud parents of Bryan and his wife Theresa and granddaughter, Arya. He is currently a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and has been involved in several local organizations over the years. He has been the organizer and facilitator of numerous funeral service continuing education seminars and clergy.
Richard J. Tapella
Funeral Director
Richard has been a licensed Funeral Director servicing our community since 1974. Rich’s family established Tapella Family Funeral Service in 1948, and it cultivated his interest in the funeral profession. Rich attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and graduated with the Albert E. Worsham Memorial Award for the Highest GPA of his class. In 1985, Rich established Haley-Tapella Funeral Home LTD and merged the two well-known family funeral businesses operating at the Haley Funeral Home located on Center Street in Joliet. In 1989, Rich purchased Westwood Memorial Chapel (now known as Farkas Funeral Home) and was principal owner until 2002. Rich’s funeral service management experience expanded in 2002, when he became Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the 21 diocesan cemeteries for the Diocese of Joliet. Rich’s career has come full-circle, and he is proud to have served and will continue to serve many families in their time of need. Rich is a family man; He and his wife Lynn are proud parents of Bryan and his wife Theresa and granddaughter, Arya. He is currently a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and has been involved in several local organizations over the years. He has been the organizer and facilitator of numerous funeral service continuing education seminars and clergy.
Kelly Unruh
Family Service Counselor
Kelly is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the States of Kansas and Illinois and has been involved in funeral service for the past 34 years. Previous to joining the staff of the Farkas Funeral Home, he was affiliated with Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. of Broadview, IL. During his tenure with Wilbert, Kelly was involved numerous times with the interment of deceased veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. Most recently he arranged the donation, construction and personalization of The Wilbert Bronze®burial vault for the interment of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon at a special memorial service held on September 12, 2002, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Building upon his passion for funeral service, knowledge of the profession, and his deep desire to help families, Kelly joined the staff of the Farkas Funeral Home in September of 2018 as the Aftercare and Family Service Counselor. Kelly and his wife Laura currently reside in Plainfield, IL.
Kelly Unruh
Family Service Counselor
Kelly is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the States of Kansas and Illinois and has been involved in funeral service for the past 34 years. Previous to joining the staff of the Farkas Funeral Home, he was affiliated with Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. of Broadview, IL. During his tenure with Wilbert, Kelly was involved numerous times with the interment of deceased veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. Most recently he arranged the donation, construction and personalization of The Wilbert Bronze®burial vault for the interment of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon at a special memorial service held on September 12, 2002, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Building upon his passion for funeral service, knowledge of the profession, and his deep desire to help families, Kelly joined the staff of the Farkas Funeral Home in September of 2018 as the Aftercare and Family Service Counselor. Kelly and his wife Laura currently reside in Plainfield, IL.
Sarah Carlyle
Receptionist
Sarah has been with Farkas Funeral Home since 2019. She has three children and many rescue pets. Sarah regularly volunteers at her church and the American Italian Cultural Society. In her free time, Sarah loves to spend her time outdoors exploring new hiking trails, gardening, and rescuing wild animals that have been injured. She is dedicated to helping families in their time of grief and will be there to assist anyone with the utmost compassion.
Sarah Carlyle
Receptionist
Sarah has been with Farkas Funeral Home since 2019. She has three children and many rescue pets. Sarah regularly volunteers at her church and the American Italian Cultural Society. In her free time, Sarah loves to spend her time outdoors exploring new hiking trails, gardening, and rescuing wild animals that have been injured. She is dedicated to helping families in their time of grief and will be there to assist anyone with the utmost compassion.
