As an office manager with Locke Funeral Services for the past five years, Carol Hansen has unique access to the day-to-day work. She works both with families and the funeral directors who serve them. And from what she’s seen, the entire team at Locke’s shares her mindset—that compassion and kindness should always stay top of mind.
“Kindness is the key to life,” Carol said. “People come to us at the worst time of their lives. So, I, and everyone here at Locke’s, always lead with compassion. We’re here to help them through it, with patience and flexibility. Every time I see how our directors connect with families, I am just honored to work with them.”
Carol knows a thing or two about making connections too. For her, it’s about the little details, something she certainly has an eye for. Before joining Locke’s, she made a career for herself as a photographer for 25 years. It’s a passion she continues today, and she uses her keen eye for detail to help provide meaningful service to families.
“We make sure every detail is taken care of down to the last and smallest thing,” Carol said. “I love hearing life stories, and I especially love putting together slideshows for families. Yes, the work we do can be hard, but it is so rewarding. And I get to meet wonderful families and help them share the stories that are meaningful to them.”
While Carol loves her work and helping families, she also understands the importance of taking time away to relax. She and her husband Dave have created several relaxing spaces around their home, which lies in a wooded neighborhood.
“We love anything outdoors—gardening, fishing, and enjoying birds and wildlife,” Carol said. “We have a large pond with turtles and fish. And Dave and I seem to make endless projects around the house.”
To help with those home improvement projects, Carol is also fortunate to have a “team” around the house. Though, they aren’t always as helpful as she might hope.
“We have a team of seven cats,” Carol said. “I know that is a lot, but they just keep showing up!”
The large pond, the turtles and fish, and the team of seven cats are perfect examples of the details Carol has an eye for—the little things that bring meaning to life and make a family unique. Carol understands that because every family is different, they all have different needs when experiencing a loss. And she appreciates that Locke’s understands that too.
“With Locke at Tower Park, we’ve moved into a space where we can accommodate most types of service,” Carol said. “Formal to informal services and interchangeable rooms and furniture makes it possible to go from a chapel setting to a conversation room where people can relax and have a cocktail and socialize. I see that being more and more valuable to families, and Locke’s is always going to be looking for the best way to serve families in the community.”
Locke’s may always have an eye on the future to continue to expand their offerings to better serve the community. But the thing that will always stay the same is the compassion and kindness families receive when they work with Carol and the rest of the team at Locke’s.
“We have a great team of funeral professionals,” Carol said. “They truly go that extra mile to guide families through the most difficult time of their lives. We have resources to help families through all the details. If there are ever any questions, we’re just a phone call away. If we don’t have an answer right away, we will find one.”
If you need any funeral services, please contact Locke Funeral Services by calling 319-233-6138. Our staff is ready to assist you with any of your needs.
