CARTHAGE, NY — Bruce and Rhonda Bezanilla, owners of the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home at 518 State Street, Carthage, have announced the sale of their business to Nicole M. LaRue of Copenhagen, effective March 1st, 2025.
The funeral business, formerly the McGraw Funeral Home, has been operated by Mr. and Mrs. Bezanilla at the State Street site since 1980, at which time the name was changed to the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home.
Mrs. LaRue, a licensed funeral director, is a 2004 graduate of SUNY Canton and received an associate’s degree in Mortuary Science. She has 21 years of experience as a funeral director and has been associated with the Lundy Funeral Home in Carthage, and will continue her employment there, as well as working as the new owner of the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home. Both locations will continue to operate as separate facilities, but with shared staff, expertise, and resources.
“This is the merging of two great legacy Funeral Homes in the Village of Carthage.” said Mr. Bezanilla. “Rhonda and I have chosen to sell to Nicole M. Larue because she is an extremely hard worker and we trust her to continue caring for our families with professionalism, and to uphold our outstanding level of service to our community.”
Mr. Bezanilla plans to serve in an advisory capacity, as well as the manager of the business, which will retain its present name. Nicole LaRue stated she loves working for the Carthage community and expressed enthusiasm for the sale as well as maintaining the compassionate care the business is known for.