Daniel Cotnoir moved into his first funeral home at age 5.

Except for a stint in the Marines, he has lived in one ever since.

He and wife, Lori, have also raised their children in funeral homes. Such is the life of a funeral director.

Dan owns and is the funeral director of Edgar J. Racicot Funeral Home, 1400 Broadway Road, Dracut.

“It’s what I always wanted to do,” Dan said from the office at Racicot where he meets with families. “Most people think it’s weird, but it’s just home to me.”

As March 11 is National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day, Dracut Economic Development is taking the opportunity to recognize Dan and his contributions to Dracut.

Racicot Funeral Home started in Lawrence in 1899 as Martel Funeral Home under Alfred  J. Martel, then became Edgar J. Racicot Funeral Home in the 1920s. Jerry Fredette then bought it and left the Racicot name. Dan’s father, David, worked at Racicot for years before buying it from Fredette in 1977, when Dan was 5.

The family moved in, and now living in a funeral home is simply a way of life.

In 2012, after 113 years in Lawrence, changes in the city prompted Dave and Dan to look elsewhere for a location. They were looking in West Methuen, but Dan’s brother, John Cotnoir, a longtime Dracut police officer, said, “Why don’t you just come to Dracut?’ It gave us an opportunity to capture a new clientele and maintain the clientele we had.”

So they closed the funeral home in Lawrence and began construction in Dracut. While that work was ongoing, Dan and Lori and their family were graciously offered a home at John Breen Memorial Funeral Home in North Andover.

While his brother was not inclined to follow in the funeral business, Dan was drawn to it.

“As a kid, I was always looking up to my dad, and as I got older, I realized the effect you can have on people’s lives as a funeral director,” he said. “They come to you at their worst time, and you help them get through it. It gives you a sense of purpose.

“As kids, we made our allowance dusting caskets and dusting chairs. My brother didn’t want anything to do with it. I got drawn into it. As a 6-year-old, I’d be trying to sneak into the prep room.”

Even when Dan joined the Marine Reserves and served in Iraq, where he was awarded a Purple Heart, he remained in the funeral business. When his superiors found out that was his life’s work, they immediately put him in charge of the mortuary. He ended up writing the Marine Corps protocol for mortuary affairs.

Dan bought the business in 2017, a year before he had to plan his father’s funeral.

He said the key to being a good funeral director is compassion.

“I like to think of myself as compassionate,” he said. “No one’s exempt from death. I buried my father in 2018. You have to separate yourself. Otherwise, you’re not able to assist the families.”

“Danny is a very compassionate and caring funeral director,” Lori said of her husband. “He always tells the families that their loved on is at home with us now. The way he is with his families is amazing -- the care, empathy and compassion.”

And while none of their six children has shown a proclivity to continue in the family business, one of their 19 grandchildren (No. 20 is on the way) is always looking to assist “Poppa” when there is a service.

“Savannah will ask, ‘Is Poppa helping someone get to heaven today?,’” Lori said.

For more information, call Racicot Funeral Home at 978-683-2706, email info@racicotfuneralhome.com or visit www.racicotfuneralhome.com.

CAPTIONS

1: Lori and Dan Cotnoir – and support dog Mia – are prepared to help you through your worst time. (DRAECUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PHOTO)

2. Racicot Funeral Home is at 1400 Broadway Road. (COURTESY RACICOT FUNERAL HOME)

3. One of the rooms that host wakes at Racicot Funeral Home. (DRACUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PHOTO)