“We’re still dealing with people and that hasn’t changed,” he continued. “The changes have always taken place, but things are changing at a much more rapid pace.” The difference is those changes come much more quickly. However, the business will continue to meet the changes of the industry as they are happening, something Paul has seen in his over 20 years as director of Worlein. That’s kind of what we do as funeral directors.”Īs Hoff takes the reins of this storied Austin business, he doesn’t foresee much in the way the business runs. “Obviously, one person’s loss is the one of the biggest things in their life. “We talk about funeral service historically, we’ve always come to the aid of people in really bad times,” he said. Paul agrees as he looks back through the history of the funeral home. It’s something we’re going to come out on top of.” A couple bad years in a pandemic isn’t going to shape our future. “This is a long-established tradition Paul’s family has built here.

“You would have to be blind not to think about the factors of pandemic,” Hoff said. But as Hoff looks at it, there couldn’t be a better base to start from then the long and trusted tradition the Worlein family has laid. “We’re here because we care - anything we can do to make that worst day a little bit easier.”Įven though both sides saw the benefits of the timing, it would be easy to raise an eyebrow as to the timing during a pandemic. “It’s a center of showing each other affection and compassion,” Hoff said. Both see funeral homes as and their functions as a centering service during a time of loss. That experience and that desire to help families through their darkest time continues to have a deep effect on both Hoff and Worlein. “When she passed away, I saw how my parents came to the school and really helped the community,” Hoff remembered. The moment still has a profound effect on him today. However, when a childhood friend passed away while he was still in school, Hoff knew he had found his calling. “Since the time I could put on a suit I was helping my parents at the funeral home,” he recalled Eric Paul, Hoff was introduced early to the funeral service. Paul and Joanne Worlein operated Worlein Funeral Home for over 20 years.

Perfect timing austin