Mueller Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service announced today it was chosen as a finalist for a Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Deubener Award in the Family-Owned Business category.

“We knew we were taking a risk when we built a bar into a funeral home,” said Mueller. “But we wanted to create an environment where people would feel comfortable. We’re committed to transforming our business and the industry and improving the experience people have with us.”

And Mueller is seeing a return on his investment. At his White Bear Lake location, the business has seen a 30 percent increase in requests for services over the previous year with many families citing the remodeled facility as the deciding factor.

In addition to the new funeral and reception space, Mueller has developed other non-traditional programs and services to help people better manage and cope with the death of a loved one. The funeral home launched the Grief Compass TM program to help navigate grief in the year following a loss, and Mueller recently wrote a book called “What to Know Before You Go” that provides answers to the most pertinent questions when planning a funeral. “Our world is changing as are the needs of the families we serve,” said Mueller. “Our goal is to listen to our clients and change our approach so that we always meet and exceed their expectations.”