During a season when most homes are preparing for celebration, others are quietly preparing their hearts for a different kind of holiday — one shaped by loss, memory, and the ongoing journey of healing. In this special conversation, I sat down with two generations of the Calahan family — Mrs. Shirley Calahan, Mr. Ed Calahan, and their daughter, President Valerie Calahan Taylor — the Chicago-based family behind Calahan Funeral Homes, a longstanding pillar of compassion and service.

What began as a simple interview quickly unfolded into a deeply personal look at how this family has served Chicago for decades, not just through loss, but through legacy-building and community care.

Growing Up in the Family Business

When I asked Valerie how she found her way into the funeral profession, she s

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