FLAGLER MEMORIAL GARDENS :
Hard work , Partnership and Community Service
From land ownership to sacred land , the Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Flagler Memorial Gardens counts its history back to the early 1900s in Flagler County , according to longtime general manager Allen Whetsell . An extension of the Craig family ’ s funeral home operation in St . Augustine dating back to the late 1800s , the Bunnell location moved to its current home on Old Kings Road somewhere in the 1940-50s . Its permanent home is now on land deeded in 1923 and once known as the “ Hope Cemetery .” A number of the county ’ s founding fathers are laid to rest in what is now the Flagler Memorial Gardens along with prominent families of today including the Wicklines , Pellicers , Durrances , Tanners and Espositos .
Becoming Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens in the 1960s , the Craig family sold the business in 1994 to the third largest funeral corporation in America , later changing hands to an independent owner in 2004 before becoming part of the Dignity Memorial family in 2017 .
“ We have never changed our core values . Families come first ,” said Whetsell , calling service a vocation .
Joining the Craig Flagler Palms family in 2000 , Whetsell saw a place where his management skills and nurturing character could play key roles in the facility ’ s growth .
Recruiting co-worker and friend Sal Passalaqua in 2006 for the Flagler County location from south Florida , the pair set about creating a long-term plan to stay ahead of Flagler County ’ s growth .
Over the years they have facilitated an expansion of the 3,000 square foot funeral home to more than 11,000 square feet of space , allowing for both upscale and modest functions , the addition of a crematory , the multiphase addition of mausoleums , and the recent acquisition of seven acres adjoining the current property to increase the garden space for future generations of family planning .
By investing in the business and the community , Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home has grown the number of individuals served from 125 in 2000 to more than 400 per year in 2020 . Passalaqua , area manager for both Flagler and Volusia counties , says it is a result of caring staff and attention to detail that families have entrusted them with their loved ones generation after generation .
“ We work very well together ,” said Passalaqua . “ He ’ s been my mentor and I ’ ve learned a lot from him about community service , which helped us build the business and establish those long relationships which we have with families .”
Allen Whetsell , left andSal Passalaqua
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