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Prior to the founding of our Firm, Leonard J. Ruck worked for the
firms of Snowden & McCasland and the George Ruth Funeral Home
located on Harford Avenue, where he began his career as a chauffeur.
When he married Margaret L. Finnegan in 1918, he moved with her
into her Mother and Step-Father’s home at 6405 Sefton Avenue,
located in the Northeast section of Baltimore City. At that time,
Harford Road ended at Hamilton Avenue where a “Jerk Water”
car occasionally came to take passengers farther north on “The
Harford Road”.
After his marriage, he began to serve his apprenticeship with the
Ruth Funeral Home and quickly realized that his work would be his
life’s calling. In 1924 Leonard J. Ruck completed the necessary
requirements for licensure and became a Funeral Director and Embalmer.
That same year, 1924, Leonard J. Ruck opened the first Ruck Funeral
Home, in the living room of his Mother and Father-In-Law’s
home! As business grew, our founder realized that a larger facility
would be needed. He purchased a three story frame and stucco building
on the North West corner of Harford Road and Echodale Avenue, and
moved it across the street! While the original frame and stucco
building is gone, we continue to operate from a modern facility
at this location that was constructed in 1950 and doubled in size
in 1960. In 1963 an office extension and additional parking was
added on the side of the original funeral home.
Leonard J. Ruck and his wife Margaret, who also became licensed
as a Funeral Director were followed into the profession by their
four children: Leonard F. “Fran” Ruck, who died June
25, 1983; Eugene A. “Gene” Ruck, who died August 28,
1964; Margaret M. “Mary” Giordanetti, who died December
14, 1990; and Bernard C. “Bernie” Ruck, who died October
25, 2001. Bernard Ruck served as our President until his retirement
on March 31, 1995. Our Founder died February 3, 1962. His wife Margaret
died June 11, 1972. Oil portraits of our Founder and his wife are
located in the two reception rooms at our Harford Road location.
Michael J. “Mike” Ruck (son of Eugene & Bonney Ruck),
a third generation member of the Ruck Family now serves as President
of our firms. “Mike” Ruck Jr., (Son of Michael &
Wendy Ruck), the fourth generation of the Ruck Family to enter funeral
service is Sr. Vice-President of our firms.
In July 1974, our area of service was expanded by the purchase of
the John J. Duda Funeral Home of Dundalk. Incorporated as Duda-Ruck
Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., this facility underwent a major expansion
and renovation shortly after its purchase.
In November 1978, another opportunity presented itself to our firm
and the Wm. Cook-Brooks Funeral Home, Inc. was purchased. Incorporated
as Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., this facility underwent major
renovations that provided additional visitation facilities, needed
redecoration's and expanded parking areas.
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Since 1924 the Ruck family has provided the highest quality of service,
professionalism and care to the families of Baltimore and surrounding
areas, who have entrusted us with their loved ones. Leonard J. Ruck,
who founded the Ruck Funeral Homes over 80 years ago, had as his
philosophy a desire to be of service to the members of his community
in their time of need. That philosophy still guides the Ruck Family
and their staff at their three locations, Hamilton, Dundalk and
Towson, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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The Ruck Funeral Homes are members of the National Funeral Directors
Association, Maryland State Funeral Directors Association &
Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Unlike other professional organizations,
membership in SIFH is by invitation only – offered exclusively
to those firms that are dedicated to the highest ethical standards.
This means you can expect more: a wide range of services to fit
every budget; detailed price information for every service we offer;
respect for all faiths, creeds, customs and traditions; a fully
qualified staff; and above all, our commitment to providing the
very best in personal service to the families of our community.
It’s
the standard of service you deserve.
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In recent years, there has been an alarming trend toward consolidation
in the funeral industry. Many neighborhood funeral homes thought
to be locally owned, are often owned by a national, publicly-traded
corporation. This can lead to more standardized but perhaps less
personal service from a business that may be more dependent upon
and responsible to the investment community than the local community.
Unlike funeral homes that are part of large corporations, independent
funeral homes are owned by people who are part of their communities.
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