By Maureen Werther
Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home, a long-time, family owned and operated business at 21 Midline Road in Ballston Lake, has completed an expansion to its entryway and greeting area.
Director Kathleen Lowes Sanvidge purchased the business and property from brothers Harold and Frank Townley four years ago and recently received her certification from the state as a certified woman-owned business, the only female funeral director in the state to hold this designation.
Her decision to expand upon the existing structure was motivated by a desire to add to the comfort of her clients. It is the second expansion Sanvidge has made since purchasing the business and she is planning additional updates and renovations.
“We’ve expanded the front porch and added a much-needed covered entryway that people can pull up to in their cars. They can also be sheltered by the roofed-in porch,” said Lowes Sanvidge.
Lowes Sanvidge hired local contractor, Schrader and Co. Construction Services of Burnt Hills, to do the work.
An open house was held June 24.
Lowes Sanvidge has worked for 25 years as a funeral director, first becoming interested in the profession as a Shenendehowa senior during an internship at Ellis Hospital. While she was there, she had the opportunity to observe people in the funeral industry and see the type of services they perform.
Owning her own business has meant being able to do the work she feels she was meant to be doing, offering compassionate care to clients.