History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
The Jardine History
Jardine Funeral Home is a third generation, family-owned,
full service funeral home. It was established in 1953 by Millar Jardine, who
was the first generation. Millar was a "depression child" that spent
almost all of his time nurturing the business, which barely made it in the
beginning due to Strongsville's very low population in 1953. His persistence
and dedication to Strongsville and to the business was so apparent, that his
two sons, Jim and George, felt it was only natural to start in the family
business at ages thirteen and fifteen. For years, Millar and his boys offered
the Strongsville community an ambulance service and funeral services.
As the Jardine dedication to Strongsville grew along
with the Strongsville population, George headed off to Pittsburg College of
Mortuary Science, so that he could follow in his Dad's footsteps. In 1971,
George married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Kaminski and they began to
start a family. In 1972, George graduated college and became a licensed funeral
director. After college, George Jardine returned to Strongsville and has been
known as the face of the second generation and owner-operator of the
community's local funeral home. His involvement in the business and in the city
of Strongsville can best be described as dedicated and consistent. George and Sandra raised their 2 children in
Strongsville - Jason and Joni. The Jardine Family was growing in Strongsville
and they were all involved in the community and its events, its schooling, and
its sports.
As time went on, Jason determined that he too, was going
to continue to serve the Strongsville community and he went off to Cincinnati
College of Mortuary Science and became a licensed funeral director in 1996. In
the next year, Jason married his high school sweetheart, Crystal, and they
began to start their family in Strongsville. Jason and Crystal are the proud
parents of 3 children- Jake, Julia, and Jesse. During the time of continuing to
serve the community and raising children, Jason and Crystal continued their
education and both received graduate degrees from Case Western Reserve
University Weatherhead School of Management. Crystal, too, saw the importance
of taking care of the Strongsville community, so she continued on to get her
funeral directors license, which she received in April 2012.
In 2006, the Jardine Funeral Home made a move down the
street to our new facility located at 15822 Pearl Road.
We felt it was time for a change and in order to be
better caretakers for the Strongsville citizens, we built a home that is more
inviting and comfortable for them.
As George starts to focus on slowing his involvement in
the business, Jason Jardine, the third generation, has initiated the slogan
"Keeping The Tradition" in efforts in upholding a 55 year old,
three generation, family-owned reputation.
Our Valued Staff at Jardine's
George Jardine, Funeral Director
My name is George Jardine, second generation of Jardine Funeral Home. My father, Millar Jardine, started the funeral home in 1953. In 1972, I received my funeral directors license and since then I have been serving the community. Over my forty year career, I have been present at monthly and annual events throughout Strongsville and its local organizations.
Jason Jardine, Funeral Director
My name is Jason Jardine. I have lived in Strongsville my whole life except for some of my college years. I have been licensed and dedicated to the family business for sixteen years now and I am heavily involved in the succession planning along with plans for the future success of my family business. The move to our new, state of the art facility was due largely in part to my awareness of the changing funeral industry. Because of the changes the funeral industry is faced with, I am continually trying to make sure that we adapt to those changes and have programs and services to offer families. I truly enjoy honoring the Veterans in our area. The stories and experiences they share with me and everyone in our office are priceless.
Crystal Jardine, Funeral Director
My name is Crystal Jardine and I am a newly licensed funeral director as of April 2012. I have lived in Strongsville since I was 5 and am a graduate of Strongsville High School. I obtained my bachelors degree in Business from Baldwin Wallace College and earned my MBA in Accounting from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management. Jason and I are the proud parents of 3 children - Jake, Julia and Jesse. It's an honor to help families through such a difficult time.
Karen Pickens, Funeral Director
My name is Karen Pickens and I am a newly licensed funeral director and embalmer at Jardine Funeral Home. I started my career as a funeral director and an embalmer at Jardine's two years ago. I grew up in Findlay, Ohio and relocated to Strongsville after graduating college. I attended classes at The University of Cincinnati as well as Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. I obtained a bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science and an associate's degree in Applied Science. I look forward to continuing and developing my career at Jardine Funeral Home.
Bernie Leatherman
My name is Bernie Leatherman and I was born in Wadsworth, Ohio. I graduated from Medina High School. For about 18 years, I worked in the printing industry and then decided to make a career change. My career change was into the death care industry where I worked at a crematory in the shipping division. Being more intrigued by this industry, I pursued a career at Jardine Funeral Home where I have been for over 5 years.
Tom Brubeck
My name is Tom Brubeck and I have been a member of the Jardine Staff for ten years. As a Strongsville resident for the past 36 years, Charter member of St. John Neumann Parish, Former Councilman, and licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker in Strongsville, I am very familiar with many of the people who utilize our services.
I am the senior member (age-wise) of our highly qualified Staff. Having lost both of my parents,as well as all three of my siblings, I have an acute awareness of the emotional loss of a loved one.
Often I am the first person of the Jardine Funeral Home Team to meet with the family of a deceased person.This occurs at their home, hospital, nursing home, or hospice facility.Unlike many other funeral homes, Jardine's has chosen not to outsource this very important segment of our services, but entrusts that to me. The sensitivity that I provide at this difficult time is then perpetuated by me when the family comes to the funeral home for visitations.
Caring and Compassion are the most important contributions I make to the families we are proud to serve.
Debbie Patton, Apprentice
My name is Debbie Patton and I joined the staff of Jardine Funeral Home in 2011 as an apprentice. I graduated from Magnificat High School and John Carroll University with a degree in Religious Studies. I am a Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister in the Diocese of Cleveland. My professional background includes serving as a pastoral minister at St. Brendan Parish in North Olmsted, where my passion was working with the sick, homebound and elderly members of our community. In 2006, I left professional ministry to be a full-time mom. I have remained active as a volunteer at my parish and am a volunteer for Hospice of the Western Reserve. Having experienced loss and grief in my own life, I feel it is a great responsibility to assist families with the same kindness, sensitivity and care that my family experienced at our time of need and I am happy to have that opportunity here at Jardine's.