New Sietsema-Atkinson location formally opens its doors

Each feature of the new – and recently completed – Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton has already proven to be valuable assets to guests and the directors alike.

Last Saturday, October 17, the new Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home, located on Highway 65, between Pralle City Wash and Wood Vision Clinic, opened its doors for its first visitation hosted at the new location.

Todd Sietsema, owner and funeral director, estimated the visitation had 100 guests come through over the course of the ceremony. He said the expanded chapel, which has seating for 150 individuals, allowed room for guests to spread out.

“The space worked out well,” Sietsema said. “With COVID, the people had plenty of space to be apart and not on top of each other.”

He added that that the building also contains a kitchen for families to either provide refreshments or luncheons following funerals and the chapel features two televisions and a speaker system for tribute videos and music to be played during services.

The location also contains spots for 18 cars in the front parking lot and a back lot that can fit roughly 40 more vehicles. Scott Sietsema, owner and funeral home director, said the parking space is a major asset to the building, given its location off of Highway 65.

“We’re happy with how parking and the flow of traffic went,” he said. “In your mind you have an idea how it’s going to work but to see it actually happen was good.”

With the first service under its belt, Scott and Todd said they were pleased with how guests and other visitors have responded to the new location and are excited to continue the service of the Sietsema name, which has been associated with the funeral business in Hampton since 1959. Prior to completion, Sietsema-Atkinson was operating out of whichever church needed its service, but now, all operations will be conducted at the new location.

“We were a little nervous at first but it’s nice to see your ideas pan out in real life,” Todd said. “We had a lot of compliments on the building and had a nice flow of people come in and out.”

Todd said the funeral home plans to host an open house in the near future to give guests tours and information of services.

“We just want people to come out and check out our building,” he said.