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Custom Made Monuments and Headstones | Canton & Peoria, IL | Abel Monument Company
Custom Made Monuments and Headstones in Peoria
Abel Vault and Monument is a fourth generation company that was founded by Bernard E. Abel in 1933. After winning a $5,000 baseball pool, Bernard bought land and all of the equipment he would need to start his own burial vault business. Ten years later, when a local buyer couldn’t afford a shipment of monuments sent from a Vermont distributor, he saw an opportunity to expand the business, and purchased the monuments. At that time the company took Abel Vault and Monument as its name.
Bernard’s stepson, Thom Matheney began working for the family business in 1947 while still in high school. After high school Thom joined the Navy and upon his completion from the Navy in 1954 he joined Abel Vault and Monument full time.
Thom brought all three of his children-Tom Matheney, Steve Matheney, and Debbie Parkin –into the shop when they were young. They essentially grew up in the business. All three got started with the family business as soon as they were eligible for work permits, and the same is true of many of their own children, the fourth generation to be involved.
Abel Vault and Monument is a proud member of Monument Builders of North America, an international association of memorialists. Members of this association must comply with a strict code of ethics, integrity, and the highest standards of quality craftsmanship.
Your Input, at Every Step
At Abel Monument Company you are involved in the creative process from the first time you sit down with our designer, all the way to the final step. If you have a unique shape or custom design in mind, we can help you make your vision a reality. We will prepare a layout for your approval before any engraving is done on your memorial. We consider it a privilege to serve the citizens of our community and surrounding counties, and would welcome the opportunity to help you select and design a memorial.