Eastman buys Walker Funeral Home

Walker Funeral Home has a new owner — the New London-based Eastman Funeral Home.Ed and Roxanne Walker announced the transfer of ownership of ownership Monday.Jay and Sara Eastman and Samuel Heydinger said they are the "proud new owners." Moving forward the funeral home will be known as Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home.Ed Walker will continue to be an "integral part of the business," Heydinger said.The Walkers dedicated their lives to caring for members of the Norwalk community and said they are excited to be introducing the Eastmans and Heydinger, who along with wife Rachel and sons Mason, 8, and Tyler, 5, will move into the home beside the funeral home."I like to look at parts of life like chapters," Roxanne Walker said. "A long chapter of our lives is closing but a new one is opening where we can still be involved in the business without being responsible for every aspect. It allows us to have more time together and with our family."That doesn't mean the service many residents have come to know will have to change though. In fact, the families have "friends for many years," Heydinger said, adding that Ed Walker served his apprenticeship under George Eastman in 1981 and worked in the Greenwich Funeral Home."In many ways this seems full circle for both families," Heydinger said."We want to make sure people know Ed is still going to be there. We deeply respect Ed and his wife Roxanne, and what their family has built. We're a family-owned funeral home, coming from a great tradition and legacy of caring for people and we want to carry that on, so no changes there."All the pre-made funds and everything there is safe. You might see some new faces, but a lot of the same respect, care and dignity for people We're passionate about helping people and look forward to joining this community."The Eastmans and Heydinger own and operate three other funeral homes, Eastman Funeral Homes in New London and Greenwich and Norton-Eastman Funeral Home in Wellington, which was purchased from their parents and in-laws, George, Denise, Donald and Celeste Eastman.A third-generation funeral director, Jay Eastman grew up in the funeral home. He and his wife became licensed in 2007. Heydinger has worked in the industry since 2010, becoming licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in 2014."For 24 years, Ed has looked after families here in Norwalk and we are privileged to be given the opportunity to continue that tradition. We'd like to meet as many people as possible, so please give us a call or stop by," Heydinger said.An open house is being planned for later in the fall, with more details to be announced soon.Samuel Heydinger