The Greco family and the staff of Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home welcomed West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner on Thursday as he presented the Weirton business with the West Virginia Centurion Chamber of Commerce Award. The award recognizes businesses with at least 100 years in operation. (Photo Provided)

WEIRTON — For more than 100 years, the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home has served residents of the Weirton area.

Thursday afternoon, the local, family-owned business was recognized by the State of West Virginia with induction into the West Virginia Centurion Chamber of Commerce, in honor of the milestone.

“West Virginia Centurions are businesses that have withstood the test of time, the test of tragedy and the numerous challenges that come with the changes in government policies and changes in technology,” said West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner, who was in Weirton to present the award to funeral home owner John Greco, his family and staff. “West Virginia does a great job of welcoming new businesses to our communities with open houses, media announcements and ribbon cuttings. Until now, we really haven’t made time to recognize the long-standing members of our business community.”

The business was founded in 1922 by John W. Hertnick. It became Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home in the 1950s, when Hertnick’s daughter, Patricia, and her husband, Charles Greco, joined the business. Their son, John, became a funeral director, and, eventually, the owner, keeping the business within the same family for three generations.

“I’m very fortunate to be in the funeral business because it’s something I truly, truly love,” Greco said, noting it’s a business he grew up around and had a part in from an early age.

Seeing the example set by his grandparents, parents, and other extended family, Greco learned the importance of hard work and community service, noting the commitment required to operate the funeral home meant someone had to be there around the clock and the family typically didn’t get to take vacations.

In his childhood, Greco often would be tasked with cleaning ash trays, shoveling snow and washing cars to assist the business.

“It’s been a very rewarding career for me, and we’re very honored to serve the community for more than 100 years,” Greco said.

The West Virginia Centurion Chamber of Commerce Award was established by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office in 2019 to recognize businesses in the Mountain State which have been continuously operated for at least a century.

In its inaugural year, 11 businesses from Hancock and Brooke counties were inducted: Bethany College, Eagle Manufacturing, Chester Lumber, Municipal Mutual Insurance, The Brooke Review, Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce, Chambers General Store, James Funeral Home, The Newell Company, The Newell Bridge and Railway Company and National Church and Supply Co.

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Members of the West Virginia Centurion Chamber of Commerce in the Mid-Ohio Valley

Wood County

* W. H. Smith Hardware Company – 1886

* Mountain State College – 1888

* Blennerhassett Hotel – 1889

* Parkersburg News and Sentinel – 1896

* North End Tavern – 1899

* Order Of Patriots – 1902

* Young Men’s Christian Association of Parkersburg, West Virginia – 1902

* Parkersburg Country Club – 1903

* Fenton Art Glass Company – 1905

* Chamber Of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley Inc. – 1909

* Centennial Chapter of Daughters of American Pioneers – 1910

* GFWC Parkersburg Woman’s Club – 1915

* C.A. House Co. – 1916

* Community Bank Of Parkersburg – 1917

* Parkersburg Lodge Number 198 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks – 1919

* Miami Gravel Company – 1925

Doddridge County

* The Herald Record – 1879

Jackson County

* Jackson Star Herald – 1876

* The Jackson Herald – 1876

Pleasants County

* St. Marys Oracle and Pleasants County Leader – 1878

* Pleasants County Bank – 1896

Ritchie County

* Ritchie Gazette – 1873

* The Pennsboro News – 1891

* Armstrong Telephone Company – Northern Division – 1908

* W.Va. Insurance Company – 1923

Tyler County

* Tyler Star News – 1877

* McCormick Company – 1906

* Sistersville Lodge No. 333 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America – 1915

* Sistersville Country Club – 1919

Wetzel County

* Melrose Oil and Gas Company – 1901

* Paul Wissmach Glass Company Inc. – 1904

* Wetzel Lodge Masonic Association – 1912