Ralph Hull as a young boy in the 1920's growing up in Seymour was always intrigued by the sight of a funeral in progress. He would see grieving families gathered at the local cemetery as he would pass by on his way home from school - Ralph would hide behind one of the monuments to observe the goings on. From that moment on he knew that his chosen profession would be to help the bereaved.

Throughout his childhood Ralph would work for his father who was a butcher and merchant. He would accompany his dad on the horse drawn wagon throughout Seymour to help him make his deliveries. Upon graduating from Seymour High School Ralph aspired to enroll directly into mortuary college, however this was not to happen right away as he was called to serve his country during WW II. While at boot camp in New Jersey he met the love of his life at a local U.S.O. dance. Her name was Janice Groesbeck. Shortly thereafter they were married, and Ralph went off to war. At the end of the war Ralph finally entered and in 1948 graduated from the American Academy of Embalming and Mortuary Research in New York City. He learned his trade at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home in Darien, CT, and in 1952 he acquired the old family homestead at 161 West Church Street, Seymour, and he and Janice opened the new Ralph E. Hull Funeral Home as seen in the above vintage photo. On a fateful October day in 1973, at about 3:00 am, a tragic fire broke out, and completely destroyed the funeral home. However, due to committed perserverance and determination the funeral home re-opened-completely rebuilt from the ground up to it's present state. The funeral home is currently owned and operated by by their son Franklyn, and his wife Jane.