The founding members
of Whitham Funeral Home, George and his wife Sophie Whitham, both
licensed funeral directors, originally began serving families when
visitations were held in the deceased family's home. As time went
on, families were more frequently asking the Whitham's to use their
home as a viewing parlor for the family's deceased loved one. Eventually,
it was decided upon that a new facility was needed in order to continue
serving the community, so in 1920, Whitham Funeral Home was built.
The Whitham's continued to serve Rockaway and it's surrounding communities
for several decades thereafter.
In 1979 Robert E. Kanapaux, a licensed funeral director, and his
wife Linda, purchased the funeral home and in keeping the well known
Whitham name, it became Whitham - Kanapaux Funeral Home.
More recently, their daughter, Melissa Kanapaux has joined the
family business, becoming a licensed funeral director in 2002.
Together, Mr. Kanapaux and his daughter provide a variety of at-need
services, along with pre-need planning.
The Kanapaux family continues to serve the community in a professional
and caring manner, following in the tradition of the Whitham family.