ASHVILLE — The Gibbons Funeral Homes in Ashville and Coalport have closed their doors.

The homes closed upon the April 1 retirement of owner and funeral director Dan Gibbons.

Gibbons said he notified people in November about the closing but said it was a difficult decision to make, as the business had been in his family for nearly 100 years.

“Yes, it was difficult, but we can’t do this forever,” Gibbons said.

His grandfather Walter Gibbons started the Ashville home in 1926. His father, Donald J. Gibbons, took over in 1953. Dan and his brother Fred, who also retired on April 1, joined the business in the mid-1970s and took over operations at Ashville and Coalport, which opened in 1981, after the passing of their father.

Fred purchased a funeral home in Gallitzin in 1987 and just sold that funeral home to John Paul Houser, funeral director for The Askew-Houser Funeral Homes Inc. in Ebensburg and Nanty Glo.

Gibbons said all those who had made pre-arrangements with him are being taken care of. He has referred people to the Moriconi Funeral Home in Northern Cambria, but they are free to go to the funeral home of their choice.

Brian Moriconi, funeral director at the Moriconi Funeral Home, said he worked under Dan for five years when he began his career as a funeral director in the mid-1980s.

“Dan was an excellent teacher and mentor for me during those years and helped me gain invaluable experience in the business. Throughout the years, both Dan and Fred have operated firms with dedication to the families in our communities during the most difficult of times. It has been my distinct pleasure to count them as friends and colleagues in business, and never as competitors,” Moriconi said. “Our industry calls on us to make many sacrifices, and I wish them good health and many years enjoying retirement.”

Gibbons and his wife, Flora, own the buildings in Ashville and Coalport.

“I am not sure what we are going to do with them, but I hope another funeral home will take them over, that would be the ideal situation,” Gibbons said.

Gibbons said his retirement plans call for relaxing and spending more time hunting and fishing.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.