The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory has been named the 2026 Akron Community’s Choice Award winner for Best Funeral Home/Crematory, marking the eighth consecutive year Greater Akron voters have placed the family-owned funeral home at the top of the category.
The Akron Community’s Choice Awards are decided entirely by public participation. Area residents submit nominations and cast votes to determine finalists and winners across more than 130 categories, recognizing over 400 local businesses and organizations each year. Billow’s was named a Top 3 finalist in the Best Funeral Home/Crematory category before being confirmed as this year’s winner.
For Billow’s, the honor carries a meaningful distinction. Because the award is determined entirely by community vote, each year’s result reflects the ongoing trust and equity placed in the funeral company by local members of the community.
Billow’s sixth-generation leadership credited the honor to the community’s support and to the team members whose day-to-day work makes that trust possible.
“Being chosen by our community for the eighth year in a row means more to us than any award could on its own. Day in and day out, everything we do is for the families we serve. Serving our friends and neighbors is our purpose in life,” said Nathanael Billow, Executive Vice President and Funeral Director at The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory. “This recognition belongs to the families who have trusted us during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and to our team, whose compassion and care are what earn that trust every single day.”
Winners were officially announced at the 2026 Akron Community’s Choice Awards gala, held September 9 at the John S. Knight Center. The full winners list will appear in the Akron Beacon Journal’s Best of the Best section, publishing September 13.
Billow’s has served families in Northeast Ohio since 1875. That history, paired with eight straight years of community-voted recognition, speaks to a standard of care that funeral homes everywhere can look to as an example of what persistent dedication can achieve.
Since 1875, The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory has been providing world-class care to the families of northeastern Ohio. Family-owned and operated, Billow’s has two full-service facilities in Fairlawn and Cuyahoga Falls as well as a privately owned crematory. The company also serves families in the community of Kent, Ohio with a full service facility at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home, which also has a privately own crematory. The team at Billow’s is passionate about providing unmatched care for both families and their loved ones. For more information, visit billowfuneralhomes.com.
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