Grisell Funeral Homes - Wheeling

General information

We often wonder if Simeon Grisell had planned on founding a six-generation family business when he began serving the folks of Rocky Run, Wetzel County as Quaker Minister and cabinetmaker. Caskets were made to order in 1847. The local cabinetmaker already contracted to build the custom casket gradually assumed the role of funeral director. Simeon Grisell left West Virginia and moved to Nebraska, but his son E. Chalmer Grisell, the second generation, returned to Moundsville in 1891. He graduated from Clark College of Embalming in Springfield, OH, and was only the 58th man to be licensed as a funeral director in West Virginia. It was E. Chalmer Grisell who first introduced the art of embalming to the local community. He opened his office in a small, two-story garage building on Thirteenth St., west of Lafayette Avenue. The original bill of sale for his first supplies was dated August 11, 1891. E. Chalmer’s first call in Moundsville was September 30, 1891. In 1894 he moved the funeral home into its second location on Lafayette Avenue. This building was torn down as a part of West Virginia State Route 2 relocation.

By 1919, E. Chalmer's son Elmer Grisell had already graduated from the Columbus College of Embalming and had joined his father in the business. After the death of E. Chalmer, Elmer moved the business to 805 Fifth St. where it remained until 1980. Elmer purchased the first automobile funeral car for the Ohio Valley. Funeral Directors from Wheeling and St. Clairsville would often borrow the vehicle. Before that time, the Horse-Drawn hearse was used, similar to the one on display and still available to those served by Grisell Funeral Home.

In the 1920's and 1930's, the Fifth St. location was the home the Elmer Grisell Family. During these decades most visitations and funeral were held in the home of the deceased. However, should the family prefer to have services in the Grisell Funeral Home, the family living room was used. During the late 1930's, Elwood G. and Curtis E. Grisell graduated from the Cleveland College of Embalming. Each joined Elmer in the family business-Elwood in 1935 and Curtis in 1938.

By 1940, the "Funeral Home" as we know it today was used more and more frequently for services, and the first floor of the Fifth St. location was completely remodeled into a modern funeral home. By 1950 more room was needed and the second floor apartment was converted into additional visitation rooms and coffee lounge. In 1962, the adjoining parking lot was added, and in 1964 the entire building was enlarged and redecorated. Elmer Grisell remained active in the business until his death in 1959. In 1963 Sidney E. Grisell, of the fifth generation, graduated from The Pittsburgh Institute Of Mortuary Science. He joined his father, Elwood and Uncle Curtis until their retirements in the late 1970's. Curtis Grisell passed away on May 12, 1991 and his brother Elwood G. Grisell passed away on August 11, 2002. It was Sidney who moved the business into its present location of 400 Jefferson Ave. Moundsville in 1980. Under his leadership the Grisell Family has branched into the communities of Bellaire OH, New Martinsville, WV, Clarington, OH and Sardis, OH.

The venture into Bellaire, OH and into the surrounding communities of Shadyside, Neffs, St. Joe and Key Ridge began with the purchase of the former Dunaway Funeral Home located on the corner of Belmont and 37th St. Bellaire. This merger took place on May 12, 1983. Grisell's remained at this location until the building was sold to the Salvation Army in 1988. The funeral home then moved into its present location at 400 33rd St. in Bellaire. This former supermarket building was remodeled into a modern and spacious funeral home. The home offers convenient on-site parking, large visitation chapels, and lounge area, all on one floor, which make the facility easily accessible for the handicapped.

The move into New Martinsville brought the family business full circle and back to its original roots in Wetzel County over one hundred and fifty years ago. The location on WV State Route 2 was purchased from Eleanor Ratcliffe in what was the Ratcliffe Funeral Home, formerly the Wharton and Ellis Funeral Home. This occurred in April of 1982. In June of 1996 the Wells Funeral Home, located on Maple Ave in New Matinsville was purchased from the retiring Joseph and Annalee Wells and their son J. Bradford Wells. This location was closed in February 2003.

In the spring of 2004, we opened the doors to our new facility in New Martinsville. This new facility has a home like feel to it, with a large greeting area complete with a fireplace and sitting area. It has three spacious visitation rooms combined with a family room, allowing plenty of space for visitors and friends. There is a lounge for refreshments and relaxation, an area for children to read, color and watch T.V. The funeral home is completely handicapped accessible and is conveniently located on RT. 2 with easy access to a large parking lot.

The Grisell Funeral Homes expanded into Monroe County in March of 2001 with the purchase of the Rush Funeral Homes in Clarington, OH and Sardis, OH. James Rush established the Rush Funeral Home in 1904 in Sardis, OH. Vernon B. and Sophia Rush founded the Clarington Facility in 1934. In 1967 Vernon J. "Butch" Rush joined his father in the business. Butch died in 2008.

In 2012 the Grisell Family purchased the old Sisson Nisson building in Bethlehem. They began demolition and construction in February of 2013 on their sixth facility. The Grisell family will soon be serving Wheeling/Bethlehem area families in their time of need.

Presently there are two active generations in the business; Sidney Grisell is the CEO of Grisell Funeral Homes, his daughter Connie E. Grisell is the President and is the first licensed woman in the Grisell family-owned business, son Elliott is the Acting Secretary.