Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes - DeWitt

11/17/2025

From a 1976 newspaper ad for DeWitt Area Chapel, which stood in the spot the chapel stands today:

“Frequently families tell us that our service has been recommended by friends we’ve served in the past. That means a lot to us.”

Almost fifty years later, that message still says everything about what it means to serve a community through generations. In an era before online reviews or social media, a family’s word was the highest form of trust. A quiet recommendation from one grieving family to another - that was how reputations were built, and how care was passed forward.

At Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel, that spirit hasn’t changed. Every time a family shares our name because they felt cared for, understood, or comforted - that remains the greatest compliment we can receive.

11/14/2025

It’s World Kindness Day!
Take a moment to share a smile, offer a kind word, or do something thoughtful for someone else today.
Kindness connects us, heals us, and reminds us that even the smallest gestures can bring light into someone’s world.

11/11/2025

To all who have worn the uniform, and to the families behind them — thank you.
Your courage in service shaped our community’s story.
At DeWitt Chapel, we take seriously the responsibility of assisting veterans’ families — from flag presentation and “Taps,” to helping navigate VA benefits with compassion and care.
Find out more about how we honor veterans: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/veterans

Your legacy will always be honored.

11/08/2025

At Gorsline Runciman DeWitt Chapel, our Licensed Family Service Advisor, Whitney Yates, helps families plan ahead in ways that reflect love, legacy, and personal wishes.

With more than 15 years of customer service experience and a deep compassion for others, Whitney is dedicated to guiding each family through the planning process with care, understanding, and respect.

If you’ve ever thought about preparing your plans in advance, Whitney can walk you through each step with warmth and genuine empathy, ensuring that every detail reflects what matters most to you and your loved ones. Call us today to set an appointment.

11/03/2025

A beautiful fall day at our DeWitt chapel. 🍁

11/01/2025

This week, our DeWitt Chapel was deeply honored to serve the family of Marjorie Ann Gregory — a beloved nurse whose dedication to others extended far beyond her years of service.

Members of the Greater Lansing Michigan Area Nurses Honor Guard gathered to pay tribute to Marjorie’s life and calling, offering their moving ceremonial farewell in full traditional dress. Their presence reminded us of the lasting impact nurses have on every life they touch — in moments of care, comfort, and compassion.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these remarkable women who continue to honor their fellow nurses with dignity and grace. And to Marjorie’s family and friends — may her legacy of kindness and healing continue to shine brightly in every life she touched. 🤍

Honoring Nurse Marjorie Gregory on her birthday of Halloween.

10/29/2025

Today we celebrate the comfort and companionship that cats bring into our daily lives. Whether it’s the calm of a soft purr or the quiet company of a favorite chair, these simple moments remind us how much warmth a pet can bring to a home.

At Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel, we’re grateful for the small joys that help us feel connected — including the love shared with our furry friends. Wishing all of the cat lovers in our community a peaceful and happy National Cat Day.

10/23/2025

A Look Back: Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel, 2007

This photo, taken in 2007 by Ken Coin, shows the Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel as many in our community will remember it — a calm, welcoming place surrounded by trees and the changing colors of Michigan’s seasons.

The DeWitt Chapel has a long local legacy. Earlier generations will remember this location as the site of the Vincent Funeral Home, and later the DeWitt Area Chapel Funeral Home, before becoming part of the Gorsline-Runciman family of chapels.

For nearly a century, this corner of DeWitt has served as a place of care, remembrance, and connection for families throughout our community. We’re proud to continue that heritage of compassion and service today.

(Photo courtesy of the Ken Coin Collection, Clinton County Historical Society)

10/13/2025

A Look Back: The Tradition of Funeral Prayer Cards

These three vintage prayer cards — from Gorsline-Runciman Co. and the former DeWitt Area Chapel Funeral Home — represent a meaningful piece of funeral history that continues today.

Prayer cards, also known as memorial cards, have been part of funeral services for centuries. Originating in Europe as early as the 1600s, they were first used as devotional keepsakes honoring saints. By the 19th and 20th centuries, they had become a cherished way to remember loved ones — often including a favorite prayer, scripture, or poem alongside the name and dates of the person being remembered.

Families have long valued these small but deeply personal mementos. They serve as both a spiritual comfort and a tangible reminder of a life well-lived — something to keep in a Bible, wallet, or beside a favorite photo.

At Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, we continue this timeless tradition, helping families personalize each detail of a service to reflect love, faith, and remembrance.

10/08/2025

A Look Back: Vincent Funeral Home in DeWitt

This 1952 map of the Village of DeWitt, prepared by Henry A. Richards, includes a small but meaningful detail — a listing for Vincent Funeral Home, complete with its early telephone number, DeWitt 3465.

Located at the corner of Franklin and Washington Streets, the map places Vincent Funeral Home right where the Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel stands today. Operated by Jerome B. Vincent, the funeral home also offered ambulance service and served the community through the mid-1900s.

Funeral records and newspaper notices from the 1940s through the 1960s show families gathering here for services — a reminder that this block has been a place of care and comfort for generations.

We are proud to carry on that same tradition today at Gorsline-Runciman DeWitt Chapel, continuing more than a century of service to the families of our community.

(Archival map courtesy of the HSGL - Historical Society of Greater Lansing and DeWitt District Library collections)