Lehman, Reen & McNamara Funeral Home is an independent, family owned firm serving all faiths and backgrounds. John F. Reen Funeral Home opened in 1974 at its current Chestnut Hill Avenue location. In 1987 the Reen family acquired the Gerald W. Lehman Funeral Home which was originally located on Cambridge Street in Brighton where it began in 1952. In 2011 McNamara Funeral Home merged with Lehman & Reen Funeral Home. The McNamara Funeral Home was originally located on Washington Street where it began in 1935.
Established in 1974
Established in 1952
In 1993 the John F. Reen Funeral Home was reconstructed and brought up to date and renamed Lehman & Reen Funeral Home. It is now considered the most prominent and modern facility in the Allston Brighton area and the surrounding communities. Completely handicap accessible, it is an exquisite and beautiful facility with large off street parking area. The large well-illuminated rooms are capable of accommodating all types of funeral and memorial services, large and small.
The Reen family, along with its exceptional staff, continues to pride themselves on maintaining the highest standard of quality, compassion and respect for those families they serve. The Reens’ dedication to dignified professional service has served the Allston, Brighton and surrounding communities for the last thirty-two years. Their commitment to the community and helping those families is highly regarded and unparalleled.
John F. Reen
John is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is the founder and current president of the firm. A graduate of St. Columbkille High School and New England Institute, he received his funeral director’s license in 1962. He is a member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Brighton Council #121 Knights of Columbus, and Brighton Lodge of Elks # 2199. John and his wife Dorothy reside in Brighton and have two sons and three grandchildren.
John F. Reen III
Continuing in the tradition of his father, John is also a licensed funeral director and embalmer and is the current vice president and treasurer of the firm. He is a graduate of Boston Latin Academy, Northeastern University and Mt. Ida College. He received his funeral director’s license in 2001 and is a member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. In addition, John is active in the Allston Brighton community and volunteers his time as a coach for Allston Brighton Little League and Allston Brighton Youth Hockey. He and his wife Maureen live in Brighton with their sons, James, Jack and Emmett.
John B. McNamara
John B. McNamara was born in Boston on November 28, 1938.
He graduated from Boston College High School in 1956 where he earned multiple letters in football and hockey and captained the 1956 hockey team. Upon graduation from Boston College 1960, he entered the New England Institute for Embalming and Funeral Directing, graduating 1961. He was licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in October of 1961.
John then joined his father, Bernard S. McNamara in the McNamara Funeral Service, which Bernard established in 1934. In 1970, Bernard S. McNamara died suddenly and John succeeded him as President of the firm. John has been married for forty-five years to Carole (Ward) and they are the parents of four grown children and grandparents of eight grandsons.
John has served on many Boards at Boston College (Blue Chips, Alumni Association) and is former Director of The Greater Boston Bank, located in Brighton and Jamaica Plain. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Brighton Board of Trade and The National and Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association. John passed away on October 7, 2017.
