West Reading Avenues Spring 2021 - 11

In 2018, after having previously undergone open heart surgery
and two bouts with cancer, Ed decided it was time to work
less. He turned over the reins to son Michael, while continuing
to work part-time. Then 2020 hit! The pandemic had a huge
impact on the funeral business, to say the least. Although
traditional funerals were hurt by Covid, funeral homes were
busier than ever before. Ed says Kuhn followed guidance
that was delivered daily by the National Funeral Directors
Association, but so many unknowns created fear for both
staff and clients. In fact the Pottstown location was acquired
in 2020 when the previous owners approached Kuhn with
an offer to sell; they had toyed with the idea previously, but
Covid made their minds up. It presented a great opportunity
for Kuhn, but was a stark reminder of the seriousness of the
pandemic. Then on New Year's Eve, Ed himself, in spite of
following all possible precautions, was diagnosed with Covid
which resulted in pneumonia and sent him to the hospital for
two days (and Tower Health was great he would like to add!).
He spent the next two months at home recovering, and during
this time made many phone calls to try to stay connected with
his clients in their times of need. He is an avid walker, and
is now building back his strength with strolls around West
Reading. He also looks forward to getting back to his and
Lynda's favorite getaway, Rehoboth Beach.

3317 Penn Avenue

West Lawn

610.750.7891

ReadingDerm.com

Ed is a wealth of business knowledge and has learned many
lessons along the way, such as being personally involved in your
business and showing up; there is no substitute for actually
being present. That being said, he would advise living separate
from your business if feasible to maintain healthy work-life
balance. He has also served as a mentor to other business
leaders in the community.
When I recently interviewed Eric Esterbrook, owner of the
West Reading Drug Store, Eric remarked that Ed Kuhn had
given him the greatest business advice of his career: be involved
in your community because it's the right thing to do, and what
you contribute will come back to you tenfold. Ed has made
a career out of building personal relationships and feels it is
a true honor and responsibility to be entrusted with a loved
one's funeral. He believes in the expression: You may not
remember what I said, but you will remember how I made
you feel. His kind and gentle approach to people and his love
of our borough has served him well and has clearly kept him
much younger than his years indicate.
Here's to many more, Ed Kuhn.

visitwestreading.org

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West Reading Avenues Spring 2021

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