Springfield's Most Trusted Since 1967

Honoring Lives
With Grace & Dignity

For over five decades, Departed Acres has guided families through their most difficult moments with compassion, care, and an unwavering commitment to honoring every life.

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Our Story

Three Generations of Compassionate Care

Founded in 1967 by Harold and Ruth Whitfield, Departed Acres began as a small family operation with a simple promise: every family deserves dignity, respect, and personalized care during their time of loss.

Today, under the leadership of their granddaughter Sarah Mitchell, that promise remains our foundation. We've grown to serve over 400 families each year while maintaining the intimate, personal approach that has defined us for three generations.

Our newly renovated facility features a serene chapel, modern reception areas, and beautifully landscaped memorial gardens — all designed to provide comfort and peace during life's most difficult moments.

Years of Service

12,000+

Families Served

Generations

What We Offer

Services Tailored to Honor Every Life

Traditional Funeral

A complete funeral service with visitation, ceremony, and burial. We handle every detail — from floral arrangements to obituary placement — so your family can focus on what matters: being together.

Cremation Services

Flexible and personalized cremation options ranging from simple direct cremation to full memorial services. We offer a curated selection of urns, keepsakes, and scattering vessels.

Memorial Planning

Celebrate a life well-lived with a custom memorial service. Whether it's an outdoor gathering, a celebration of life, or a private family remembrance, we bring your vision to reality.

Online Memorials

Beautiful digital memorial pages where families can share photos, stories, and timelines. Accessible anywhere through our exclusive QR code plaques — a lasting tribute in the digital age.

Pre-Planning

Take the burden off your loved ones by planning ahead. Our pre-arrangement counselors will guide you through every decision, lock in today's prices, and ensure your wishes are honored exactly.

Grief Support

Healing doesn't end after the service. We offer ongoing grief counseling resources, support group referrals, and seasonal remembrance events to help families navigate their journey.

Digital Memorials

A Living Tribute That Lasts Forever

Every family we serve receives a beautiful online memorial where loved ones near and far can share photos, stories, and memories. Paired with our exclusive QR code plaques, these tributes are accessible from anywhere in the world.

View Our Memorials →

Unlimited Photos

Family Stories

Life Timeline

QR Code Plaques

Virtual Tributes

Our Team

Guided by Compassion, Driven by Care

Sarah Mitchell

Owner & Director

Third-generation funeral director. Licensed in IL & MO. Passionate about modernizing memorial care while preserving tradition.

Robert Chen

Funeral Director

20 years of experience serving diverse communities. Specializes in multicultural ceremonies and celebration of life services.

Patricia Owens

Pre-Planning Counselor

Certified pre-need counselor helping families plan ahead with confidence. Known for her warmth and attention to every detail.

James Whitfield

Facilities Manager

Harold's grandson, keeping the family legacy alive behind the scenes. Maintains our chapel, grounds, and memorial gardens with pride.

Families We've Served

Their Words Mean Everything to Us

★★★★★

When we lost Dad unexpectedly, Departed Acres was our anchor. Sarah handled everything with such grace that we could actually be present with each other instead of drowning in logistics. The online memorial they created for him has become our family's most treasured space.

The Henderson Family

Springfield, IL — 2025

★★★★★

Robert helped us honor our mother's Vietnamese heritage in a way that was both traditional and personal. The attention to cultural details — from the altar arrangement to the ceremonial elements — was beyond anything we expected from a funeral home in central Illinois.

Linh & David Nguyen

Springfield, IL — 2024

★★★★★

My wife and I pre-planned together. Patricia made what could have been a morbid afternoon into something surprisingly peaceful and even empowering. Our kids don't have to guess what we want — and that's the greatest gift we could give them.

Tom & Ellen Bradshaw

Chatham, IL — 2025

Plan Ahead

The Most Thoughtful Gift You Can Give Your Family

Pre-planning isn't about dwelling on the inevitable — it's about taking care of the people you love most. When the time comes, they'll be free to grieve, remember, and heal — instead of making impossible decisions under impossible pressure.

Lock in today's prices — protect against inflation
Ensure your wishes are honored exactly as you want
Remove the emotional and financial burden from loved ones
Flexible payment options available

Start Your Pre-Plan

Honoring Lives
With Grace & Dignity

Three Generations of Compassionate Care