Meet Our Staff

Craig began serving families at just 17 years old while completing a funeral service apprenticeship during high school. After graduating early, he continued his education at Ivy Tech Community College, earning his Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. He later completed his undergraduate studies at Purdue University.

With 15 years of dedicated service to the Northeast Indiana region, Craig has helped countless families through their most difficult moments. For the past six years, he has owned and operated Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Guided by strong family values and a commitment to his community, Craig has built a reputation for offering compassionate, personalized, and high-quality care to every family he serves.

Craig’s mission is simple yet powerful: no family should ever feel like a number, and no loved one’s memory should ever go without dignity and respect. He considers it an honor and privilege to serve anyone who calls upon him, regardless of beliefs, customs, or backgrounds. When families walk through his doors, they become family to him.

Outside of funeral service, Craig is a competitive bodybuilder and a mixed martial artist, having earned a black belt. Earlier in life, he was also a competitive card player. Above all, Craig values time spent with his better half, Aubree, as well as with his family and friends

After 33 years in both teaching and administration in higher education, Jim turned to funeral service.  He worked as a funeral service attendant for his son Craig while completing his funeral service education at Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana – where he was the valedictorian of his graduating class!  “Working for Craig for six years has made me feel absolutely honored in assisting and supporting families during some of their most difficult times” Jim says.  “Now, at our new Maplecrest location, my family and I look forward to bringing our family-owned, family-operated funeral services to Fort Wayne and the surrounding communities.”

"I want people to feel like family when they walk through our doors,” Jim says.  “Compassionate and affordable care in a family setting with a non-corporate feel is really what we are about,” he continues.  Jim is not new to the community, having worked in the area most of his life.  He is genuine, attentive, and caring and is known for his connections with families he is serving. 

Jim is an avid reader, especially of history and biographies.  He enjoys spending time at the lake and with friends and family.  And when time allows, he has been known to prepare an entire holiday feast.  Jim and his wife Abby have been married 35 years.  

Abby Hess comes to Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services with a diverse background showcasing years of top-notch customer service.  Abby is no stranger to promoting top quality care.  As a former nursing home administrator and elementary educator of 22 years, Abby understands the importance of providing empathetic, compassionate care to people in their greatest time of need.   Whether it be servicing students and their parents/guardians in a school/classroom setting or working with healthcare professionals in the nursing home community, providing empathetic and compassionate care is something in which Abby takes pride.

“It is the goal of Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services to provide affordable quality care in a family setting.  We want our customers to feel they are part of our family when they walk through our doors.  And, there is nothing we won’t do for our family.”

In her free time, Abby enjoys reading, traveling, exercising, spending time at the lake, and getting together with family and friends. Abby and Jim have been married for 35 years and have one son, Craig.