Our History
McCune Garden Chapel's involvement in community affairs and activity goes back to 1937 when Del McCune and his wife, Elizabeth, moved and purchased the local mortuary, known then as the Stewart Funeral Home.
Del McCune was born on September 2, 1911 in Sioux City, Iowa, but moved to and grew up in Anderson, Del attended the San Francisco College Of Embalming and graduated with a degree as a Funeral Director and embalmer. After Graduation, Del worked at Funeral Homes in Redding, Oroville and Chico. While employed at a Funeral Home in Chico, he met Elizabeth Gabel, and they were married in April, 1937, shortly before moving to Vacaville.
In July, 1938, Vacaville’s Stewart Funeral Home was purchased by Del and his wife and was renamed Stewart-McCune Funeral Home. Vacaville, at that time, boasted a population of 1,500 residents. The Stewart-McCune Funeral Home was also located on Main Street, as is the current facility.
Del’s father owned and operated the Solano Ice and Soda Works, an ice and beverage distribution company, giving Dell other interests in the Vacaville business community. This location was vacated in 1954 when a new current facility was opened to the public.
By 1942, the McCune Funeral Home had become well-established in the business community of Vacaville and the surrounding communities, providing the best of care and service to those that were in need of funeral services.
Del and his wife, Elizabeth, had one daughter, Barbara Ann.. Barbara grew up in Vacaville and graduated from school in 1960. Attending Dominican College in San Rafael, Barbara graduated with a BA in Art and Elementary education. Barbara worked as a teacher with the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. The family home, adjacent to the current facility location, now houses a floral shop in the front part of the building.
The McCune Garden Chapel Funeral operation was further broadened in 1972 when McCune Garden Chapel expanded into outlying areas of the community by purchasing the Milton Carpenter Funeral Home in Dixon.
Del was very involved in community activities, serving as the county Coroner, operated a 24-hour ambulance service in addition being a Funeral Director and Embalmer. Del and his father were also two of the original thirty-three charter members of the Vacaville Rotary International. In 1984, Del received one of Rotary’s highest awards, the designation as a Paul Harris Fellow, which symbolizes Rotary’s commitment to world harmony.
Del passed away in July, 1993. but the caring, standards of service and respect that Del established in his 55 years of death care activities are today carried on in the same tradition and compassion that Del showed when he was alive.
At Del's death, McCune Garden Chapel passed to Barbara. Barbara is the principal owner of McCune Garden Chapel and continues to run the family business with the highest respect and regard to the funeral needs and wishes of the Vacaville and surrounding communities. Barbara and the professional staff of McCune Garden Chapel are dedicated to providing help, dignity, understanding and support in a family’s time of need.
Our Staff's Commitment to You
Staff members of McCune Garden Chapel & Milton Carpenter Funeral Home are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.
