Our History
In 1912 John J. Gluvna founded the J.J. Gluvna Memorial Chapel in Lakewood, Ohio. One year later he relocated the firm to Lorain, Ohio which had a growing community of Slovak immigrants settling in the central section of the city. The memorial chapel occupied a multi-floor brick building on Elyria Avenue. Mr. Gluvna became very active in the community serving on Lorain city council for several years and holding numerous offices in Slovak and Greek Catholic fraternal lodges on the local and national level. He made several rail trips to New York and Chicago to welcome Slovak immigrants to the United States and sponsor their registration for citizenship.
Just prior to 1940 Mr. Gluvna was joined by his son Joseph. Together they operated the funeral business and ambulance service for Lorain's central corridor. Joseph's wife Anna aided in the firm's public relations by baking wedding cakes for members of the community at no charge. During World War II Joseph worked at the memorial chapel by day and as a welder at American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain at night. The business was renamed J.J. Gluvna and Son Memorial. The business saw continuing growth during this time.
In 1957 John J. Gluvna died. Soon thereafter Joseph saw a need to expand the business operation and purchased land on Broadway Avenue and 32nd Street and began construction of an all new brick building. John J. Gluvna, grandson of the founder and son of Joseph, assisted his father in completion of the project in 1959. John decided to follow in his grandfather and father's footsteps and enrolled in the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following completion of the three-year curriculum, John returned to Lorain in 1962 and joined his father in the operation of the funeral business. He immediately began involvement within the community and worked to promote the business.
Through three decades his efforts propelled the firm to become recognized as one of the premier funeral providers in the area. Joseph Gluvna died in 1980. The firm was renamed John J. Gluvna Funeral Chapel. Jeffrey J. Shimo, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, joined the company as the first non-family member to work for the firm. As time progressed and with the continued growth of the business a third funeral director and embalmer, Lorain native Jerome M. Hromada, was added in 1994.
In 1998 John sold the business to his employees Jeffrey J. Shimo and Jerome M. Hromada and acts as a consultant today. In 2000 the business was renamed Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel Chapel.
The funeral chapel is one of only three funeral establishments in the city of Lorain built specifically for funerals. Its one floor design offers versatility for the funeral home staff and convenience for the public and those with physical disabilities. Our meticulous attention to detail is what sets us apart from the rest. This focus will afford continued growth well into the twenty-first century.
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Jeffrey J. Shimo Funeral Director, Embalmer, & Co-Owner
Jeff was born in Cleveland and was raised in the southwest suburb of Strongsville. He and his family have been residents of Lorain County since 1980. Jeff is an honors graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he holds degrees Cum Laude in General Studies, Accounting, and Marketing. Following completion of his course work at the university, he received his Diploma Magna Cum Laude from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science at commencement exercises held in March of 1979. He joined the funeral chapel staff in 1982 and was promoted to Vice President in 1992. In 1998 he became co-owner of the firm. Jeff is a member of the Ohio Funeral Director's Association, the Embalmer's Association of Cleveland, the Ohio Embalmer's Association, the Greater Lorain Funeral Director's Association, and the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Throughout his career, he has remained active as a member and officer of numerous community service organizations and currently attends Nativity BVM Catholic Church. Jeff and his wife, Diane, have two daughters and four grandchildren. In his free time he enjoys travel and remaining relevant in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
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Jerome M. Hromada Funeral Director/Embalmer/Co-Owner
Jerome M. "Jerry" Hromada was born and raised in Lorain. He attended Masson Elementary School, St. Peter Elementary School and graduated from Lorain Catholic High School in 1984 where he lettered in varsity baseball and golf and was a member of the Erie Coast Conference champion golf team. He attended Lorain County Community College from 1984 to 1986 and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science from 1986 to 1988 and graduated with a Bachelor of Mortuary Science Degree Cum Laude in 1988. Upon completion of his Ohio state board exams, he received his Funeral Director and Embalmer Licenses in 1989. In 1995 he earned an Ohio Life, Accident & Health Insurance License. Jerry is a past member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church where he served on parish council and was a member and treasurer of the Holy Name Society. In 1997 he was Holy Name Man-of-the Year. He served as president of the International Association of Lorain in 1999 and 2000 and helped move the International Festival from Sheffield Township to downtown Lorain. In October 2006 he was elected vice president of the Greater Lorain County Funeral Director's Association. He has served on the board of directors of Ridge Hill Memorial Park and the Lorain Bowling Association. He enjoys bowling and golf and participates in various leagues throughout the area. He is married to Maureen and they have 3 children: Madison, Jake & Jasmine.
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John J. Gluvna
John J. Gluvna graduated from Lorain High School in the 1957 B Class, attended Case Western Reserve University for his undergraduate studies, then graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. After successfully passing his state board exams, John became an Ohio licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and joined the family business becoming the 3rd generation in business that was begun by his grandfather John J. Gluvna in 1912. John worked alongside his father Joseph J. Gluvna for many years and in 1959 designed and built the current funeral chapel in Lorain with his father-in-law Joseph DiSimone. He continued serving families in the community until 1998 when he sold the business to his employees and then continued to work as a consultant until fully retiring in 2000. John was very active in the community having served on the board of directors of First Federal Savings in Lorain, board member and past president of the Lorain City Health Department and member and past president of the American Slovak Club. He was a member of the former Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lorain where he had served on parish council and was a member of the Holy Name Society. His family was one of the charter members of Holy Trinity as the original funeral home was located just north of the church. He was a current member of St Joseph Catholic Church in Amherst. John enjoyed reading, gardening, horse racing, gambling, traveling with friends and playing golf and even had a hole-in-one once.John passed away Friday November 18, 2022 and leaves behind his wife of 65 years Germaine Gluvna (nee DiSimone), children: Judy Gluvna, Joanne Godlewski (Dan), Jack Gluvna and Janice O’Connor (John); 7 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; sister Joan Gluvna and brother Joseph J. Gluvna Jr (Linda). He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph & Anna Gluvna (nee Homola), uncle Rev Father William Homola and sister-in-law Bernie Gluvna.
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Catherine E. Hromada Attendant
Catherine E. "Cathy" Hromada was born and raised in Lorain. She graduated from Lorain High School in 1959 and graduated from the St. Joseph School of Practical Nursing in 1961. She left St Joseph Hospital after 3 years to raise her children Jerry and Michele. Cathy worked in retail from 1984-2004 in Lorain, Elyria and Westlake. She was widowed in 2006. She has volunteered at Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin since 2013.
