BUXTON — The old, grim joke holds that funeral homes are a dying business. But in an era when many businesses are struggling, Chad Poitras is set to expand.

He’s been working in the industry for years, but is now setting out on his own, renovating an old, 1877 house in Buxton and repurposing it as a funeral home. While Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service holds its official open house on Oct. 18, the business is currently up and running, thanks to help from other funeral homes in the area, including Hope Memorial in Biddeford, the Old Orchard Beach Funeral Home, and Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service in Sanford and Springvale.

Poitras didn’t want to wait until October to start offering services. His goal, he said, is to help people.

“I really like being able to help people in a time of need ”“ letting people know that we’re going to get through this together,” said Poitras. “If you can comfort them and be there for them, that’s key.”

Poitras has been comforting people in the Buxton area since he was in high school, helping out at local funeral homes and gradually developing an interest in the work. Because he’s already a known entity, other outfits in southern Maine expect he’ll do just fine ”“ and they’re rooting for him.

Roger Tousignant, funeral director at the Old Orchard Beach Funeral Home, has lent Poitras some equipment during the transition period, as well as use of the facility on an as-needed basis. In this line of work, said Tousignant, Poitras has already garnered respect.

“He’ll make an excellent funeral director,” said Tousignant. “He knows what he’s doing, and he does a good job.”

Watching the renovation work in Buxton last week, Poitras acknowledged that the vocation isn’t an easy one. Death, after all, doesn’t run on a set schedule.

“You’re always on call,” said Poitras. “Death doesn’t have a season. And there are no days off. You might go days without anything, and then boom, Sunday morning everything happens.”

Dick Martel, one of the funeral directors at Hope Memorial, said he believes Poitras will be successful.

“Chad’s been around for about 14, 15 years,” said Martel. “He’s ideal for the business. He’s a good listener, which is a prerequisite.

“He’s A-1, that’s for sure. He’s got quite a bit of experience.”

Poitras hopes that experience is able to help families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“When it’s all said and done, and the family comes up and thanks you ”“ that is the most rewarding part,” he said. “I really enjoy it.”

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or [email protected].