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About Us

About Us

Verdun Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services is Owned and operated by, Michael J. Verdun, a fourth-generation Funeral Director. Mike works diligently to build upon a legacy started over 80 years ago by his great grandfather, William Watson, and instilled in him by his grandfather, Jarlath M. Watson and uncle, John F. Watson. Mike began his education in Odell, Illinois, earned Bachelor’s Degrees from Western Illinois University and Wayne State University. He is active in many community volunteer organizations and keeps busy with his wife Diana and children, Grace and Jack, both of who are currently in high school.

Verdun Family Funeral Home is blessed with a team of dedicated staff members who are committed to caring for every need and wish of the families we serve with professionalism and great care. From the moment the phone rings to notify us of a death till the last thank-you card is mailed and beyond, we endeavor to support you with the information and services you need to pass through the time surrounding the death of a loved one as smoothly as possible.

Our History

Verdun Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services has been serving Belding area families for years. We are honored to be a part of the rich history of this community and plan to be a part of it for many years to come.


The existing funeral home, located at 303 S. Bridge Street dates back to 1940s and has been owned and operated by several families over the years including the Fales, Huffman, Brigham and Verdun families. The Fales ownership and operation of the building as a funeral home dates back to the early 1940’s The existing facility began as two separate residences, built in the very early 1900s which have been joined by additions to make one large complex that houses the funeral home operations and the residence for the on-site owners.

The current owners, Mike and Diana Verdun, have two children, Grace and Jack, and take very seriously the importance of sacred trust and nature of the work they perform. Mike was born in a small town farming town in Illinois and worked on the family farm through his high school years. He had the privilege of helping his grandfather, Jarlath M. Watson with various duties at the Watson Funeral Home in his home town which Mike’s great grandfather had started in the 1920s. Mike also worked for his uncle, John F. Watson, at yet another Watson Funeral Home located in Galesburg, Illinois, while attending college and learned much of what he holds important under the experienced, caring direction of his family. Prior to coming to Belding to own and operate Verdun Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Mike owned and operated the Verdun Funeral Home in Baldwin, Michigan from September of 1999 to January of 2008.

Mike and his family made the move to Belding after careful consideration of several options with a primary motivation finding an ideal town in which to raise a family and being closer to the many cultural and educational resources available here and in West Michigan. Since making the move, the Verduns have been very pleasantly met with warm welcomes and genuinely being made to feel at home by many great people.

One of the first orders of business was a complete remodel and update of the funeral home facility and residence. Beginning in September of 2008 and completing the year-long project in September of 2009, the building is now at a level of quality and comfort that provides a pleasant and soothing place to mourn and heal.

The Verdun Family

Mike and Diana Verdun moved to Belding in August of 2008, in search of a great place to raise a family, with their children Grace and Jack.

They have brought to the community their 10 years of funeral home ownership experience and their drive to provide unparalleled care and service to area families. A funeral parlor dating back to then 1940s, the building was increased in size over the years by several additions and partial renovations and was in need of a thorough updating including a unified color palate and theme. Now that the year-long project is complete, they are excited to share the results of the remodel with the community. Mike and Diana have been very humbled and gratified by the overwhelmingly positive response of the people who have already seen it.


Mike, a fourth generation funeral director, is a graduate of Western Illinois University, College of Business and Wayne State University, College of Mortuary Science. He worked in the banking profession for nearly ten years prior to pursuing the mortuary science profession. He enjoys community service, volunteerism and camping. He also takes pride in one if his guiding principles, which is to help make funerals as meaningful as possible for the family while making it as easy as possible on them as well.


Jack and Grace Verdun

Diana is a graduate of Bradley University, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has worked in Human Resource professional capacities for most of her career and is currently a Human Resource Manager for Plante & Moran. She enjoys following professional figure skating, reading and volunteerism.

Grace enjoys dancing and is a great reader. Jack enjoys almost all sports that he has tried. They are both great helpers around the funeral home with vacuuming and setting up chairs.


Living in the attached home next door to the funeral home has allowed the whole family to work together as a team and to be available on a moments notice to serve a client family when the need has arisen.

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