Grand View Funeral Home earns statewide disability inclusion award
Published 1:20 pm Wednesday, July 29, 2026
HANNIBAL — Grand View Funeral Home & Burial Park has received the 2026 Show-Me Disability Inclusion Award from the Missouri Association for People Supporting Employment First, a statewide honor recognizing employers who build meaningful work opportunities for people with disabilities.
The funeral home, which handles roughly 75% of burials in the Hannibal area, was nominated for the award by Learning Opportunities/Quality Works Inc., a Missouri organization that supports individuals with disabilities through employment services and community partnerships.
The award recognizes employers that go beyond basic inclusion practices to create employment, volunteer, and career exploration opportunities for people with disabilities. According to the nomination, Grand View created a customized position tailored to both business needs and an employee’s individual strengths, and invested in specialized equipment to help the employee complete daily duties independently.
The business also has retained staff supported through Missouri’s Vocational Rehabilitation program and the Department of Mental Health as members of its cemetery maintenance team. Beyond paid positions, Grand View regularly hosts job shadowing, interviews, and volunteer opportunities; the funeral home recently hosted a young man interested in pursuing funeral directing, giving him hands-on experience helping with visitations, arranging memorial displays, and serving families.
“Grand View consistently encourages employees, celebrates their successes, and creates an environment where people feel respected, capable, and included,” representatives of Learning Opportunities/Quality Works said in a statement announcing the award. “Their actions show a deep belief that disability inclusion strengthens both the workplace and the community.”
Organizers said Grand View’s example is intended to encourage other small, locally owned businesses in the region to consider inclusive hiring practices and community partnerships.
Grand View Funeral Home & Burial Park is a locally owned business in Hannibal that provides funeral directing and cemetery maintenance services.
