Our History
GOING BACK IN TIME
Our History
The story of O’Connor Funeral Home & Crematory began in 1911, when T.F. O’Connor purchased the McAllister Undertaking Parlor at 701 Central Avenue—the oldest funeral home in Great Falls at the time. As the city of 22,000 continued to grow, so did the need for trusted, compassionate funeral service.
In 1925, the O’Connor family built a new funeral home at 709 Central Avenue, complete with family living quarters and modern amenities for the era. A year later, T.F. added a new 1926 Buick funeral coach—a symbol of the firm’s expanding service and community presence.
The current facility at 2425 8th Avenue North was constructed in 1958 and dedicated in 1959. Considered a state-of-the-art funeral home for its time, it featured spacious viewing rooms, a large chapel, a drive-through garage, and an integrated sound system—earning national attention in Casket and Sunnyside Magazine.
In 1985, an on-site crematory was added, reflecting the growing needs of the Great Falls community and ensuring that families could keep their loved ones in the care of O’Connor throughout the entire process.
A major expansion followed in 1998, adding new arrangement offices, a business office area, and additional workspace for funeral directors and preparation staff.
Over the decades, leadership evolved while maintaining the funeral home’s long-standing values of compassion, service, and community commitment. Today, O’Connor Funeral Home & Crematory continues to proudly serve Montana families with the same dedication set forth more than a century ago.
