Who We Are

French Funeral and Cremation Services, Albuquerque's largest and oldest family-owned funeral service company, was founded by Chester T. French in 1907. The tradition of caring for New Mexico families began at Fifth Street and Gold Avenue in downtown Albuquerque and continues today at our four locations across the city. Today, The French Family of Companies is locally owned and operated by Chairman Chester French Stewart, grandson of Mr. French; President and CEO D.F. "Duffy" Swan; Vice President Bob H. Stewart, grandson of Mr. French; and General Manager Karl Saltzman. We are one of the few remaining family-owned and operated funeral and cremation businesses serving this community. Since we are so deeply involved in the local community, we know and understand the needs of local families better than all others because we have more than 100 years of professional experience here. And, that sensitivity to needs means that no one has ever been turned away for a lack of funds. At French, we know that every remembrance service is a celebration of a life richly lived. Let us help you design yours or a loved one's remembrance service to be as unique as the life lived. Over a century of serving the needs of families and friends has taught us that we all share something we can keep forever: our memories, the experiences we shared...the story of one's life intertwined with ours.