Orlando, FL – Foundation Partners Group, a leading provider of innovative funeral and cemetery experiences and products, has announced the acquisition of five properties in Chico, California from the Brusie family. The acquisition includes Brusie Funeral Home, Bidwell Chapel, Affordable Mortuary, Chico Cemetery Association, and Glen Oaks Memorial Park.
“This acquisition represents our first operations north of San Francisco with five well-established brands providing an excellent platform from which to grow,” said Bob Bukala, Foundation Partners Group President and CEO. “The Brusie family and team have been dedicated to providing exceptional, compassionate care for over 70 years in the Chico community and the high standard of service they offer meshes well with ours. We are very proud they have chosen to become part of the Foundation Partners family and to help us grow our presence in California.”
Brusie Funeral Homes and Cemeteries was founded in 1942 by Warren Pope Brusie and his wife Helen Brusie. In 1959 they expanded their business by establishing Glen Oaks Memorial Park. Their son, Warren Albert Brusie, took over the firm in 1970, at just 27 years old after the passing of his father. Warren Albert Brusie’s children, Marc and Amy, joined him in running the business in the early 1990s and are now third-generation owners. The Brusies purchased Chico Cemetery and Bidwell Chapel in 1994 growing their operations to four locations. In 2005, they added a fifth location when they purchased Affordable Mortuary from a retiring competitor. Marc’s wife, Janice Brusie, joined the firm as the Chief Financial Officer in 2000. Marc, Amy, and Janice have all worked together to run the business for the past 20 years.
“We almost sold to someone else in 2016, but it wasn’t the right fit,” said Marc Brusie, owner of Brusie Funeral Homes and Cemeteries. “Since then, we’ve considered succession planning more seriously and are happy to be joining Foundation Partners Group. They were very organized and efficient; and they wanted us to stay on to continue to support our families and the community. That was a huge bonus for us.”
“The team at Foundation Partners Group has been wonderful to work with during the acquisition,” added Janice Brusie, Chief Financial Officer. “We have been impressed with the blended focus on our team’s needs and concerns and the integration process. They have encouraged us to stay and will be providing our staff with wonderful career opportunities moving forward.”
“The Brusie family has built a reputation for providing meaningful opportunities for families to create healing moments after a loss,” states Jason Widing, Vice President of Business Development at Foundation Partners Group. “We are looking forward to working with them to build on the legacy they have created in the Chico community.”
“Despite the pandemic, we are continuing to explore partnerships with premier independent funeral home, cremation center, and cemetery owners like the Brusies.” added Tom Kominsky, Chief Financial Officer at Foundation Partners Group. “Assisting owners with their succession planning while offering open and honest advice is what helps set Foundation Partners apart.”
About Foundation Partners Group: Orlando, Florida-based Foundation Partners Group is one of the industry’s most innovative providers of funeral services. The company owns and operates a network of more than 150 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across 20 states. Our organizational structure allows us to embrace and grow the legacies of the local funeral homes we acquire while leveraging the economies of scale, deep understanding of technology, and our ShareLife® customer experience-centered approach to deliver truly innovative and compassionate care to the families we serve. Visit www.foundationpartners.com to learn more.
