History & Staff

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.