With a staff of more than 50 people and five Indianapolis locations, Shirley Brothers is one of the largest mortuaries in central Indiana. The company's Washington Memorial Chapel at 9606 East Washington Street, Irving Hill Chapel at 5377 East Washington Street and Drexel Chapel at 4565 East 10th Street all serve the company's traditional east side service area. The Fishers-Castleton Chapel at 9900 Allisonville Road and the Thompson Road Chapel at 3333 East Thompson Road serve families on the city's growing northeast and south sides.

Like many other Indianapolis businesses at the dawn of the 21st century, Shirley Brothers is examining its core values in order to determine the direction it will take in the millennium ahead. "Simply put," Daniel Shirley says, "Shirley Brothers will always provide an unmatched level of commitment to the families we serve."

James Shirley adds that Shirley Brothers achieves that goal through simple action items:
• The Shirley's promise to treat every family like they are a part of their own family.
• They listen to each family and do whatever it takes to meet their needs.
• They provide an environment of genuine caring and compassion for each person who visits Shirley Brothers.
• They pay attention to the smallest of details.
• And they ensure that the qualities most valued in Shirley Brothers' employees are honesty, integrity and a passion for serving others.

As the new century opens, Shirley Brothers faces new challenges and new opportunities. Consolidation continues to be a trend in the industry, but Frederick Shirley points out the importance of a locally owned company to Indianapolis. "As a family owned business, we feel a greater responsibility as a result of our name being on the sign."

Another challenge is to not only provide the same level of service and attention to families as we have in the past, but to be aware that as cultures change, Shirley Brothers provides a standard of excellence in the funeral service industry that is not only relevant but unmatched by the competition. Requests for cremation as well as a higher level of personalization are more commonplace today than they were as recently as 10 or 15 years ago. "The opportunity to assist a family by encompassing their loved ones passion for fishing, automobile racing, or Harley Davidson motorcycles are just a few of the ways we have been able to help a family celebrate that person's life," says James Shirley.

By examining its culture and core values, Shirley Brothers has positioned itself to continue providing an unmatched level of commitment to the families it serves in the 21st century. Like O.N. Shirley at the beginning of the 20th century, his four great-grandsons are aware of the opportunities and challenges that a second century of family service will bring to Shirley Brothers Mortuaries.