Janssen Funeral Homes has been serving the Anchorage area community for many years. We’re thankful to be an important part of this community and will continue our longstanding legacy of helping families honor their loved ones.
Evergreen was founded in 1957 by R.J. “Dave” and Eleanor Franke. Richard “Dick” Rome was a partner and the General Manager. I started working here in 1985. Evergreen then had two firms, Evergreen Memorial Chapel and Spenard Heights Mortuary (now known as Alaska Cremation Center). In May of 1989, I became operations manager, then general manager in early 1994 when Dick Rome retired. In 1996, I arranged for a complete remodel of our main chapel at 737 E Street. Later that summer I researched and encouraged the purchase of a building in Eagle River which is now our Eagle River Funeral Home. Eagle River Funeral Home opened in November of 1996. In October of 2007 my wife and I and Jordan Eastman purchased all three locations "Janssen Funeral Homes". In May of 2015 we purchased our newest location Janssen's Mat-Su Funeral Home which is in Palmer Alaska. Our four locations, together, now serve more families than any other local funeral home. We believe that this is due to the fact that we treat every family as if they were our own. We believe this is not just a job, it is our life.
Evergreen Memorial Chapel is in its 59th year and is now locally owned by Janssen Funeral Homes. I’m Scott Janssen, my wife Debbie and I, along with our son-in-law Jordan Eastman, are the owners of Evergreen Memorial Chapel, Alaska Cremation Center, Eagle River Funeral Home & Mat-Su Funeral Home. Our Alaska Corporation is Janssen Funeral Homes, Inc., Janssen Funeral Homes where; just like family we’re there when you need us.
Deb and I moved to Alaska and I started working with Evergreen in June of 1985, just after I graduated with a BS degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. I am a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and am a certified crematory operator. I personally do many of our embalming's and cremations myself. I have a life insurance license through the State of Alaska using Forethought Insurance to fund pre-arrangements with our firms.
Debbie is our aftercare and pre-arrangement director and is involved in all of our services as well. Debbie is also my high school sweetheart; we have been married since 1980. Our daughter Chelsea is our office/financial manager for all four of our locations and married Jordan Eastman in July of 2016. Our oldest daughter Angela graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors of Arts degree, majoring in Criminal Justice, and is now working for the Anchorage Police Department as a cyber crimes technician. She married William E. Worthy in November of 2009 and is the mother of our first grandchildren Avalyn who will be three in May and Liam who will be one in July.