Resthaven Mortuary

Resthaven Mortuary & Gardens of Memory has been a cornerstone of compassionate care in west Wichita, Kansas, since its founding in 1958. Established by Hap Bledsoe on a former wheat field, the funeral home opened its doors in 1970 and has since undergone two major renovations—in 2002 and 2012—to better serve the community. Today, the 10,000-square-foot brick facility accommodates approximately 500 funerals each year, offering a stately chapel that seats 180 guests, five staterooms, three arrangement rooms, and a welcoming reception space for up to 80 people. The funeral home is conveniently adjacent to Resthaven Gardens of Memory, a 119-acre cemetery designed as a peaceful park with flush-to-ground bronze markers, lush flowerbeds, stately trees, and a sparkling stream. Only about 65 acres are currently developed, ensuring ample space for future generations.

Resthaven provides a full range of funeral, cremation, and burial services. Families can choose traditional funerals, personalized celebrations of life, or simple cremation with transparent pricing. The team specializes in meaningful personalization—from displaying an artist’s work to decorating in a university’s colors or arranging a procession of classic cars. Cremation options include direct cremation, cremation with a funeral service, and memorialization through scattering, columbaria, or unique alternatives like Neptune Memorial Reef or Celestis Memorial Spaceflight. The funeral home guarantees custody of care, using only Dignity Memorial®-owned or trusted crematories with licensed, CANA-certified operators.

Resthaven Gardens of Memory is renowned for its distinctive monuments, including the largest cast-bronze eagle in the United States (22-foot wingspan) in the Garden of Freedom, an 18-foot bronze statue of Jesus Christ, a marble statue from Michelangelo’s quarry, and a 30-foot granite arch symbolizing heaven’s entrance. The cemetery offers three outdoor garden mausoleums—Bruce Newton, Freedom, and Christus—as well as cremation gardens and private family estates. The property also features a Public Safety Officers Monument honoring fallen Sedgwick County first responders.

Deeply rooted in the community, Resthaven has hosted the largest Memorial Day service in Kansas for over 50 years, drawing 1,000–1,500 attendees with flyovers, bands, and honor guards. The funeral home supports veterans through the homeless veterans burial program and waives costs for public safety officers’ funerals. Staff volunteer with the West Wichita Rotary Club and Ronald McDonald House, and each December they hold a Christmas Service of Remembrance. As part of the Dignity Memorial® network, Resthaven offers a 100% service guarantee, 24/7 availability, and prepayment plans with up to 10% savings. With a legacy of trust and a commitment to personalized, respectful care, Resthaven Mortuary & Gardens of Memory continues to serve Wichita and surrounding communities with dignity and excellence.