Longtime funeral director supported Catholic schools and community

SEATTLE

Jack Harvey, the longtime owner of Harvey Funeral Home and a lifelong member of Assumption Parish, died Nov. 21. He was 90.

Born Aug. 15, 1923, to Irish immigrants Barney and Cecilia Harvey, he attended Blessed Sacrament School and graduated from high school and college at Saint Martin’s in Olympia. In 1946 he married Beverly Starksen at Assumption Church.

He graduated in 1947 from the College of Mortuary Science in San Francisco and returned to Seattle to begin his life’s work as a funeral director. In 1953, he joined the Hoffner’s Fisher-Kalfus Funeral Home in the Fremont neighborhood. He purchased the business in 1973 and continued working there until 2011.

He was a supporter of Catholic schools and the Catholic community, was active in local politics and ran for state office. He was a past president of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Serra Club and the Matt Talbot Center. He also served on the board of the Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry.

He was preceded in death by his brother Edward.

He is survived by his brother Bernard; sisters, Mary Sullivan, Ann Lynch and Sheila Ostrowski; sons, Joseph, Tim, Tom, John and Michael; daughter, Mary Ancich; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 2 at St. James Cathedral. Remembrances may be made to Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, the Matt Talbot Center or St. Mary’s Food Bank.

December 7, 2013