PHOTO BY DONNA MUELLER
The bond between father and son is one that is incredibly significant. What makes it even more so is the ability for the two to work together every day, helping members of their community during their greatest times of need. That’s how it is for father and son duo Bill and Billy Flooks of Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, Inc. in Pleasantville. A major facet of the community for almost 100 years, Beecher-Flooks has been in the Flooks family since 2004.
Founded in 1928 by Sam Beecher, Beecher Flooks is still an independently owned and operated funeral home. From the start, Beecher set his standards high, helping to create a strong bond with families–a tradition that continues today and one that sets Beecher Flooks apart from others. Bill Flooks grew up in the industry as his father was also a NYS licensed funeral director for 38 years, until his passing in 1988. Bill has over 40 years of experience and attributes his father for teaching him many valuable aspects of life and funeral services. In 2004, Bill purchased Beecher-Funeral and became only its third owner. In 2009, Bill’s son Billy joined as a licensed funeral director, becoming the third generation in the Flooks family. Speaking with father and son, it’s clear they have a passion for the business, helping their community and love being able to work alongside one another.
One family taking care of another in their greatest time of need is really what it’s all about at Beecher Flooks. As Bill says, “It’s great having my son there–it really carries on the family concept of the business which I think is important. Our family helping your family.” The two have a great working dynamic which makes things run smoothly. “It really works well – he really gets the business. I learned from my father and he learned from me. He knows what it takes to help people–having ties to the community and having him there day and out to fall back on”, says Bill.
Billy echoes these sentiments when it comes to working with his father. “Working alongside my father each day has been an incredibly rewarding experience. We share a built-in trust that allows us to make decisions efficiently, grounded in our shared values and strong work ethic. Through his many years of experience, he has taught me not only the intricacies of our profession but also what it takes to lead and sustain a successful business. One of the ongoing challenges is learning how to separate work from home life, but we are intentional about creating those boundaries. It is my hope that one day I will be able to carry on his legacy–not only within the funeral home, but also in serving and supporting our community.”
Being located in the heart of the Pleasantville village is quite important to the duo as well. Bill is currently the President of the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce and member of the Lions Club and Billy lives in town with his family. “When I first bought the business, I knew I needed to be involved with the community. It’s nice already knowing members of the community so that the first time they have to talk to you isn’t at their worst time. Pleasantville is such a good community, and the people are nice and have a great respect for what we do–since it can be difficult at those times. It’s a good segue for meeting people in community”, says Bill.
Living in the same place in which you serve the community can be very rewarding. Says Billy, “Living and working in the same community is both a privilege and a profound responsibility. I’m not simply serving clients – I’m caring for my neighbors and friends. We were welcomed into Pleasantville with open arms, and we couldn’t be more grateful to be part of such an incredible village. Living here brings a heightened sense of accountability. My reputation extends far beyond business hours; it’s reflected in how I show up at community events and in everyday moments – whether at the grocery store or school drop-off. Being deeply rooted in the same community we serve allows for meaningful, long-term relationships to grow.” And that is what is at the heart of what the Beecher-Flooks team does day in and day out.
The funeral business is one that operates 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week and the team is there to provide compassion and understanding to each family they serve. Bill goes on to say, “Everyone takes turns being on call after hours, answering phones and responding to messages. It can be difficult on our families, but I’ve been married to my wife Debbie for 44 years and you learn to adapt. They get it and know that is has to be a partnership – not just Billy and I, but with our wives as well.” As for that family dynamic, it’s one that brings great joy to both father and son. “I see my grandkids every day”, says Bill. “We like to get together for holidays like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day and celebrate all together.”
Beecher Flooks Funeral Home continues to serve the Pleasantville community with the highest level of service and care that Sam Beecher first established in 1928. And it’s their connection to the community that creates a strong bond and trust with its members. “I just think Pleasantville is a great place for families. It’s an easy place to be in business and I’ve enjoyed my 22 years here”, Bill states. In a family’s time of need, the reward is knowing they were treated with compassion. “When all is said and done and the family says, ‘thank you – you’ve made things much easier that what they could have been.’ Our goal is to make a hard time as easy as possible – that is meaningful to us. People thank us and that is what makes our day.”
