About Us

Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services has a deep-rooted history of serving Peterborough and neighboring towns. The home was established in the 1850s by Peterborough resident Owen Wiley. Over the next five decades, the business was compassionately managed by three local figures: Owen Wiley, Winslow Kyes, and Carl Foster.

In the early 1900s, Carl Foster transferred ownership to Charles W. Jellison, whose name the funeral home still bears. Known for his gentle nature and active community involvement, Charles purchased the former parsonage from the Union Congregational Church in the 1920s, creating the home’s current site. After converting the parsonage into a funeral home, he and his family lived in the upstairs levels. Charles continued to manage the business until his passing in 1942, after which his wife, fondly called "Mother Ann" by locals, operated it for four more years. The home briefly passed to Frank Faery before being sold to Arthur Wheeler in 1951.

Arthur Wheeler, his wife Marjorie, and their daughter resided above the funeral home, dedicating themselves to supporting families throughout the area. Alongside running the funeral services, the Wheelers also provided an ambulance service to the town until the early 1970s and were entrusted with sounding the town's fire alarm for volunteer firefighters.

In November 1982, Arthur transferred ownership to funeral director Daniel L. Keaveny, who, with his wife Audrey White, also made their home on the premises. Dan expanded community outreach efforts and offered tours of the facility to various groups, including teens, seniors, and church congregations, to provide insight into the services offered. He also provided educational tours for Home Health Care and Hospice trainees.

In October 2012, Dan sold the business to Julie Thibault, who had been part of Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services since 2003. A ConVal High School alumna with a degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce University, Julie has experience in social work and publishing. Now a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in New Hampshire, she lives in Peterborough with her husband Paul and their two children, Ryan and Rebecca.