Lawrence Mandel

Specialties

Funeral and Memorial Services, Flameless and Traditional Cremation

Design and Manufacturing Cemetery granite and bronze grave markers.

Re-​sale and Brokerage of Cemetery Property (all Jewish Cemeteries)

Officiating services for funerals, memorial services, grave marker dedication.

Interfaith Officiant for all Lifecycle Events and Milestones

(Interfaith Weddings, LGBT Weddings, Baby-​Namings and Mezuzah House Dedications)

Pre-​planning and Pre-​Funding of Funeral/​Memorial/​Cremation services through Homesteaders Funeral Funding.

Funerals in conjunction with Mitzvah Memorial Funerals

History

Established in 2014.

Lawrence M. Mandel is the first 4^th generation Jewish Funeral Director in Chicago. He is the great-​grandson of the late Jewish Chicago funeral pioneer Samuel Gratch, who came from Russia and opened Gratch Undertaking, Division St just east of Western Avenue around 1906. Molly Gratch (daugter) married Arthur Mandel and the start of the Gratch-​Mandel Memorial Chapel was off to a great start serving the Jewish community on the Northwest side of Chicago. 1951 Gratch-​Mandel, along with son Eugene Mandel joined Piser Memorial Chapels. Piser then grew to become «the most often selected funeral service» in Chicagoland. Larry Mandel joined Piser in 1980, as the first 4^th generation funeral director. 33 years later, after a national funeral corporation squashed the family business, Larry retired from Piser. The corporation ceased to follow a plan to comfort the new Jewish community of the day. Anxious to continue in funeral service, Larry formed Lawrence Mandel, Funeral Director Concierge.

Meet the Business Owner

Lawrence M.

Business Owner

Larry Mandel become a funeral director, just like his father Eugene, and his father Arthur and his father-​in-​law Samuel Gratch had become. Gratch-​Mandel from Dcivision Street joined Piser Memorial Chapels in 1951. 1960 Eugene Mandel built the Piser Chapel in Skokie. 1980 Larry came to work at Piser continuing on as the 4^th generation of Mandels serving the Jewish community. In 2013, the corporation that purchased Piser ceased to continue to serve the Jewish community as was the case and so Larry retired to form Lawrence Mandel, Funeral Director Concierge. a division of Open Spaces Lifecycle Services. Larry has affiliated with Mitzvah Memorial Funerals for funeral development. «It is my goal to continue on taking families by the hand in developing and conducting thoughtful and memorable funeral services for their families.» As I am a Jewish Parachaplain, as well as Interfaith Officiant I can provide personal officiating services for most lifecycle milestones including weddings.