Our History
William S. Marvel, Sr. came to Delmar in 1865 and served the community as the first undertaker. As Delmar was an up and coming railroad town, he also worked as the town’s blacksmith, cabinetmaker and coffin builder. He moved the funeral home into the existing building, which was formerly Dr. Ellegood’s residence and doctor’s office. Years later, the Marvel Funeral Home was passed to their son and daughter-in-law, William S. Marvel, Jr. and Bertha, and eventually to members of the third generation, William S. Marvel, III and Charles Marvel.
Meanwhile, William Matthews Short, Jr., was born on April 17, 1943. Being the son of an undertaker, he grew up in Milton, Delaware, living above the family-owned funeral home. He, too, had a natural desire to become a funeral director. Bill spent his early days working at Dover Air Force Base in the mortuary and assisting with the family funeral home. In 1968, Bill married Sarah E. Penuel. On February 1, 1972, Bill and Sarah purchased the Marvel Funeral home and moved to Delmar. Over the years they worked diligently to restore the Victorian style home. An adjacent pre-1865 building was once home to a pharmacy and has been renovated numerous times to house the casket and vault display.
On October 1, 2005, Amy Short Jewell, and her husband Tom, purchased the funeral home and crematories. Both Tom and Amy graduated from the Community College of Baltimore County with a degree in Mortuary Science. As a tribute to Amy’s mother, Sarah, and her late father, Bill, Tom and Amy chose to retain the name “Short Funeral Home,” because of the longstanding reputation of service and care that has been provided for generations.
Although times have changed, the commitment still stands . . . honoring the traditions of yesterday, while helping you create traditions for tomorrow.
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Tom Jewell Funeral Director/Owner
Tom joined the family business in 1998 and graduated in 2000 from the Mortuary Science Program at Catonsville Community College in 2000. He holds a Funeral Director's license in Delaware and Maryland and earned his Certified Crematory Operator certificate in 2002. He grew up on Kent Island where he still has his roots and loved boating, fishing and sailing. Playing and coaching soccer has been a passion most of his life. Serving the needs of the families of Delmar and the surrounding communities and spending time with his wife, Amy, son Tyler, daughter Emily and dog Chloe are what he values the most. For information about pre-arrangements, monuments or pet cremation services he can be reached at [email protected].
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Amy Short Jewell Funeral Director/Owner
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Sarah P. Short Former Owner/Business Consultant
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Joann Brittingham Office Manager
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Gary Wootten Funeral Assistant
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Tom Adkins Funeral Assistant
