11/29/2023

IFDA Immediate Past President

Matthew R. Baskerville

Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes
Coal City, IL

Matt grew up in rural Wilmington and is a son of Violette (Hansen) Baskerville and the late Robert M. Baskerville, Jr. Matt graduated from Wilmington High School and attended Joliet Junior College, National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois and Northwestern University, as well as Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. Matt has been a licensed funeral director since 1995 and holds an Illinois Life Insurance Producers License to handle prepaid, prearranged funeral services. He has earned the designation as a Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC), as well as a Certified Crematory Operator (CCO) by the National Funeral Directors Association, and also maintains his credentials as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) through the Academy of Funeral Service Practice. In addition, Matt assists families as a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and acquired his training through the Insight Institute with acclaimed author and bereavement educator Doug Manning and Glenda Stansbury.

Matt's musical abilities gained his involvement with the Reeves family since the early age of 12. It was during his junior high years that he began playing the organ for funerals on a regular basis. For over 30 years, he has continued to provide music for most of the local churches of all denominations.

Matt is a member of St. Rose Parish in Wilmington, where he has been involved with the music ministry since 1987; represents the parish on the Diocese of Joliet South Will-Grundy Pastoral Deanery, and is an ex officio member of the Parish Council. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Oakwood Cemetery Association in Wilmington; belongs to the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the Wilmington Downtown Merchants Association, and also served as Secretary, and a Board Member for The Wilmington School District 209-U Foundation for Excellence.

Matt is a member of the Will County Funeral Service Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where is sits on the Board of Directors for District 1, and is honored to be involved with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), where he has served as a committee member, and currently co-chairs the Pursuit of Excellence Program. He is also on the Spokesperson Team for the association. Matt was selected as a Mentor for the NFDA and Funeral Service Foundation''s Meet the Mentors Program at Emory University in 2018. He attended the very same program as a Mentee at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and became the first Mentee to be asked to return as a Mentor to young up and coming funeral directors from across the United States. Matt has also served as a presenter for NFDA and participated in workshops including topics such as providing award winning service, working with families who have lost loved ones to tragic death and creating a legacy as a first generation funeral director.

Matt has a passion for service to families, and has been blessed to build a team of loyal co-workers that hold the same core values and dedication to funeral service.

In his limited free time, Matt is a foodie that enjoys traveling, collecting antiques and enjoying the theater and arts. As passionate as he is in serving his communities, he equally enjoys his time away to rejuvenate.