We, the Hathaway family and staff, are pleased to announce the 50th anniversary of our Hathaway Community Home for Funerals in Somerset. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this fifty-year milestone possible. We will host an open house on Saturday, October 29 (more details below) to celebrate this monumental occasion

The Dream Became a Reality

Few people realize that the idea of creating a place in Somerset began long ago as a seed in the mind of grandpa Ira Hathaway. After William, Jr. had heard about this dream for years, he decided to take steps to make the dream a reality. First, they found an ideal location on Buffinton and reached out to neighbors to determine if they would be welcome in the neighborhood. The response was quite positive. Then, interestingly, the inspiration for the building came from a conversation with a casket salesman who suggested to William, Jr. that they did not need a large, elaborate place. Instead, they needed a funeral home that was simple and homey, with plenty of parking. William, Jr. envisioned a ranch-style home and one day spotted a local house that fit the idea in his mind perfectly. So, the Hathaway family moved forward to create the Buffinton location, which has become a unique meeting place for families in our community.

Seeing how everything unfolded at the right time is a tremendous blessing. We are thankful that our Somerset and Swansea friends can now host gatherings without the stress of wondering if the Brightman Street Bridge will delay them and their guests. As always, we want to be a constant and dependable place for families when everything seems in flux. And we consider it an honor to provide a place of comfort that is available whenever our community members need us.

 A Team Effort

The fact that our family has had countless opportunities to serve others for four generations is not something we take for granted. Starting in 1893, Grandpa Ira worked with an unfailing dedication to help local families. Following in Grandpa Ira's footsteps, William, William, Jr., Ruth, William (BT) III, and Lynn Hathaway-Viveiros have continued the Hathaway family vision. And we are all extremely grateful for the opportunities to serve the families of greater Bristol County.

However, we could not have done this alone. We are grateful for so many who have contributed to the development of our Somerset location. For example, our surrounding neighbors have been wonderful and welcoming. And Reverend Merrill Emery, in the early 1970s, was exceedingly supportive of the idea of a Somerset location. In addition, the People's Cooperative Bank in Fall River helped us obtain the property. And the St. Louis de France Church across the street has always been an incredible neighbor. We wish we could name every friend and thank everyone in person who has made Hathaway Community Home for Funerals in Somerset what it is today.

The Dream Continues

Our dream of continuing to provide quality services in a refreshing environment continues. In 2015, we expanded our home to accommodate more people. And recently William III (B.T.) purchased a beautiful new clock that will be dedicated to his father and grandfather’s legacy. We have a vision for the future, to continually make our home welcoming and up-to-date, including installing new doors and possibly some new columns for our building.

Open House

It would be a tremendous honor to host our neighbors and community on October 29, 2022, for an open house (1 – 3 p.m.) and a rededication ceremony (2 p.m.). Thank you, friends, for giving us the opportunity at Hathaway Community Home for Funerals to comfort families and help celebrate lives well lived.