IN North Allegheny Spring 2016 | Page 57

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT Thoma Funeral Home SERVING WEXFORD FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS B efore Wexford became the bustling model of suburbia that it is today, it was just a small, quiet locale north of the city with a few stores and a rural flair. It was the perfect place to establish a funeral home, thought George Thoma, and, in 1958, he did just that. Thoma Funeral Home, for a time, was the only funeral home serving Wexford and earned a reputation of serving families with compassion, dignity and respect in their time of need. George Thoma passed away in 2008, but his legacy lives on through his daughter, Margaret “Peggy” Thoma, who earned her funeral director’s license in 1997. Peggy worked alongside her father from the early 1990s as his assistant. And while she acquired all of the technical skills and expertise required of her profession, Peggy said that it is the dedication to families and helping them in their time of grief that is the most important part of what Thoma Funeral Home has to offer. “Our main point of focus is to help families through difficult times; that’s why my father started the business, and that’s what I continue to believe,” she says. “If we can help make the loss of a loved one less painful for people, that’s what we do. The families are my main concern.” That kind of understanding and willingness to go above and beyond can only come from the experience passed down over generations, and Peggy has that and more. She not only owns the funeral home, but she is the sixth licensed funeral director and the first and only female in her family to be in the vocation. As an independent funeral home, Thoma offers all of the services one would expect — traditional and cremation services. Regardless of denomination or beliefs, every family and their wishes are respected, whether it’s a more traditional funeral or a celebration of life for their loved one. “We take a particular interest in veterans,” Peggy said. “My father was a World War II Army veteran. Because of his service and sacrifice, I want to ensure that all veterans and their families receive any benefits to which they are entitled.” Thoma Funeral Home also has a history of helping families who have lost children, and in comforting those families through excruciating times of loss. “The most important thing about me is that I want to help,” Peggy said. “I take a personal interest in every family. That’s why I’m here.” Outside of the family business, Peggy Thoma said that she is an advocate of TRY, a North Hills-based nonprofit organization. She also is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Funeral Directors Associations. For more information on the George A. Thoma Funeral Home, go to thomafuneralhome.com, where you can see all of the services offered and current obituaries. You can also call at 724.935.3400. It is located at 10418 Perry Highway in Wexford. Margaret “Peggy” Thoma, Owner/ Supervisor Sarah Czajkowski, Funeral Director North Allegheny | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 55