Decades of Service. A Lifetime of Tradition.
It was the autumn of 1947, and America was just returning to normal after World War II. Like many men of his generation, Robert T. Lane, Sr. was looking forward to building a new life, and a new era of prosperity. In pursuit of those goals, he moved his family to Niagara Falls from Pennsylvania, purchased a home in the LaSalle section of the city, and established his funeral home.
Over the years, as more and more local families trusted the Lanes with their funeral arrangements, the chapel was renovated. Additions were made, parking was expanded, and the facilities were continually updated. In December of 1999, the firm merged with the Cooper Funeral Home, to serve the growing needs of the community.
Today the Lane Funeral Home is operated by Robert’s two sons, Merrell A. Lane and Robert T. Lane, Jr. They have adopted their father’s mission and purpose: to assist families through their times of bereavement and sorrow with attention, compassion, and dignity.
Our Professional Staff – Here to Help
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Merrell A. LanePresident and Funeral Director
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Merrell is very involved in supporting the community and the
funeral profession through his involvement in civic activities.
A veteran of the Army 1st Cavalry in Vietnam, he has been a licensed
funeral director since 1968. Merrell is chairman of the Niagara Military
Affairs Council, which was instrumental in keeping the Niagara Air
Reserve Station open in the round of base closures in 2005. He served
four years as President of the Niagara Falls Kiwanis Club, and has been
a member of the Salvation Army Board of Directors since 1985.
His professional accomplishments include former Treasurer of the
Niagara County Funeral Directors Association, former President of the
Erie Niagara Funeral Directors and former Regional Governor of the New
York State Funeral Directors Association. He has been honored with
the Good Neighbor Award in 1996, the Chamber of Commerce Kenneth F.
Ford Award in 1999, the Bob Laurrie Community Service Award in 2002,
the Niagara County Rotary Club Paul Harris Award in 2003 the Leadership
of Niagara Award in 2005 and the Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce Community
Service award in 2006. Mr. Lane is a member of and elder at Bacon
Memorial Presbyterian Church. -
Robert T. Lane, Jr.Vice President and Funeral Director
Robert is a 1967 graduate of LaSalle High School, and holds an associates
degree in Business Administration from Niagara Community College along with
a Bachelors degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota.
He has spent most of his life working in the funeral profession. He is a
member of the LaSalle Business and Professional Association, the Niagara Alumni
Hockey Association and an active member of the “Canine Helpers,” a service
dog-training center. He is a 6 Gallon blood donor for the American Red Cross. -
Rosemary E. Messer StrassburgFuneral Director
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Rosemary is a graduate of LaSalle High School and the Simmons Institute of
Funeral Service. She has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1992. She
is President of the Niagara County Funeral Directors Group and a member of
several professional funeral associations and societies. Her interests include
devoting her time to religious education at the Prince of Peace Roman Catholic
Church, painting, gardening and
involvement with the Aquarium Society. -
Gary D. StrassburgFuneral Director
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A graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School and Hudson Valley Community College,
Gary has been involved in the funeral profession for over 27 years. He is a member
of the Order of Eastern Star, Flagler Chapter #582 and is a Past Master and Treasurer
of the Niagara River Lodge #785. He is active with the Niagara County Funeral
Directors Group as well as funeral directors associations on the state and national
level. He devotes himself to assisting families in sorrow, and helping them arrange
funeral services that are memorable, dignified and appropriate.
