Funeral home in Streator under new management

Corey Schultz wants to restore the trust of Streator residents in funeral homes.

Schultz, a Streator native funeral director who last worked for Schultz Wilbert Vault Co., is taking control of Hagi-Baker Funeral Home, 205 High St., and changing the business name to just Hagi Funeral Home.

The funeral home's previous director Bryan Baker was evicted from Hagi-Baker Funeral Home in January.

Baker's news came recently after former Elias Funeral Home director B.J. Elias was charged on 14 counts of theft and violating the Illinois Funeral Funds Act.

Given those factors, Schultz acknowledges this is a tumultuous time to be running a funeral home in Streator.

“We’re going to keep running things and hopefully right the ship,” Schultz said. “It’s going to be a lot but we’re trying to earn back the trust of the community.”

Schultz worked for Calvert, Johnson and Froelich Funeral Homes in Toluca for 17 years, shortly taking over Hagi Funeral Home after John Kerestes’ death in 2013.

John’s son, Kyle, still owns the funeral home and Schultz is running it.

“We want people to know that the funeral home is here and running,” Schultz said. “We will honor all pre-need agreements that were written under Mr. Baker. ”

“Anybody that wants to come in and check on their pre-need funeral funds can come talk to me. We will take the time to verify that everything is where it needs to be.”

For more information, go to hagifuneral.com or call 815-672-2420.