Birches-Roy Funeral Home

The Birches-Roy Funeral Home was originally established as the J.H. Maloney funeral home located on Railroad Street in Great Barrington in 1896 by J.H. Maloney. In the early 1920’s Mr. Maloney purchased the Birches Guest house at 33 South Street and relocated his funeral home there, renaming it the Birches Funeral Home. His nephew James D. Hickey joined Mr. Maloney in the business. Mr. Hickey continued to operate the funeral home after the death of Mr. Maloney until 1979 when the business was passed on to his son Paul J. Hickey. The name of the funeral home was then changed to Hickey-Birches Funeral Home. In 1999 Joseph H. Roy, a native of Housatonic who had been managing a funeral home in the Springfield area since 1979 relocated back to Housatonic to become a partner in the firm. Mr. Roy purchased the entire operation upon the retirement of Mr. Hickey in November of 2001. Upon his purchase of the funeral home, Mr. Roy changed the name to Birches-Roy Funeral Home in attempt to restore the familiar name of the funeral home as well as to honor the long tradition of the firm. His wife Christine Roy assist Joseph Roy in the business. Mr. Roy and his wife live in Housatonic and have two children, Timothy and Meredith. Birches-Roy Funeral Home is family-owned and operated.