Our Journey

Tom & Traci are “Saluki Sweethearts” that graduated in 2004 from Southern Illinois University of Carbondale Mortuary Science Program. After graduating, the couple served their apprenticeship and became fully licensed directors. Two years later, they happily tied the knot. Fast forward five years, the couple moved to Traci’s hometown of Sandoval to begin working for Day Funeral Homes. 

Tom and Traci took over management of Day Funeral Homes in late 2012. In 2013, they purchased the business which included sites in Sandoval and Patoka, IL from Dennis Day. The name changed to Day Macz Funeral Homes. In this same year, the couple welcomed the role of parenthood with the birth of their son, George Pulver. 

In 2015, the couple expanded their business from the estate of the late Larry Irvin with purchasing Irvin Funeral Homes in Centralia and Odin and the name changed to Irvin Macz Funeral Homes. Three years later, the couple completed their family with the birth of their second son, Charles Thomas. 

Dean Martin (wife, Virginia) & Mark Cox (wife, Margaret) started the funeral home in 1938. James R. "Bob" Day was offered the the opportunity to purchase the Cox-Martin Funeral Home in Sandoval & Patoka in 1981. After serving in World War II, Bob received his mortuary degree from the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science in 1949. He began his career at the Zieren-Day Funeral Home in Carlyle. In 1994, the Cox-Martin & Day Funeral Home was renamed Day Funeral Homes. Bob's sons James R. "Bobby" Day joined the firm in 1981 and Dennis D. Day in 1984. In February of 2011, Tom & Traci Macz joined the staff at Day Funeral Homes. In late 2012, they took over the management of Day Funeral Homes and in 2013 the funeral home was renamed Day Macz Funeral Homes. 

Larry Irvin was a 1960 graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Larry started Irvin Funeral Home in Centralia in 1972 when he moved to the area. In 1983 he expanded his business to Odin. Larry was very active in various organizations and was known as a caring and kind server of the people and as a humanitarian for the needy. He received a 50 year recognition plaque from the Illinois Funeral Directors Association during his career. In 2015, Tom & Traci Macz purchased Irvin Funeral Homes from the Irvin family. The business was renamed Irvin Macz Funeral Homes.