Meet Rudy Lerner, MA, LCPC, DAPA, founder of Chesed v'Emet

In August, 2009 Rudy developed Chesed v'Emet, LLC (Hebrew for “Kindness and Truth”) in order to serve grieving families with their funeral needs. Chesed v'Emet is a full service funeral provider that is able to save families between 15-40% without sacrificing personal professional service or quality merchandise.

A licensed funeral director for more than 37 years Rudy was associated with Lloyd Mandel Levayah Funerals (1995-2009). Rudy was the Director of Community Outreach for Weinstein Brothers Memorial Chapels (1988-1995) in Wilmette, where he facilitated bereavement support groups in addition to his role as a funeral director.

Before being recruited by Weinstein Brothers in 1988, Rudy served as a funeral director with Levine Chapels of Brookline, Massachusetts. Maintaining a private counseling practice, Rudy, who is also a licensed clinical psychotherapist, was the Senior Addictions Counselor in the Addictions Treatment Services at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago, from 1993 through 1995. There he gained experience dealing with chemically addicted people and their families. Rudy had run hundreds of groups in the Intensive Outpatient Program. In addition, he developed and ran the Codependency program and was the family counselor at Resurrection Medical Center.

Rudy earned his Masters degree in Community and Family Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and his undergraduate degree in Small Business Management from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has presented at numerous local and national conventions, including the National Hospice Organization annual conventions and the National Funeral Directors Association annual conventions. Currently Rudy is working to complete his book which deals with complications in grief and mourning. He has had more than a dozen articles published locally and nationally on subjects dealing with death, dying, and the grieving process.

Rudy frequently addresses Religious School Students as well as Adult Education Classes on Jewish Funeral Customs and Traditions.

Psychotherapy

Since 1992, Rudy has maintained a private psychotherapy practice in addition to his role as a funeral director. With a strong background in grief and loss issues, he was trained as a substance abuser counselor and served as the senior addictions counselor in the outpatient unit of Resurrection Medical Center. Rudy works with relationship issues, codependency issues, and with couples experiencing difficulties in their relationships.

Rudy believes in short-term treatment and, along with the client, periodically reviews the need for continued sessions. Most issues can be resolved within a few sessions. Once the initial issues that brings a person into therapy have been dealt with, it becomes the client's choice if he or she wants to continue counseling that might resolve other, deeper issues.

Testimonials

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the lovely service on Monday for Jim. We know that we were presenting you with a challenge, but you could not have given us a more appropriate service for him. The tone was exactly what I had envisioned and hoped for. He was a very special person and I believe you could actually feel the love and unity in the chapel. Almost everyone there had a deep connection to Jim. Afterwards, at the luncheon, we were told by a number of people that they arrived at the funeral sick with grief, and left feeling uplifted and healed. Thank you so much for that. You made many many people feel special with your warmth and your wonderful resonant voice. Your presentation at graveside was perfect. I have seen so many people participate in the actual burial. I couldn't be more pleased. Jim would have been very impressed with you.

Judith

I wanted to let you know that our family and our friends all commented on the amazing eulogy you gave for Sandy. It was very impressive how you were able to capture the essence of a person you never met. We feel very lucky to have found you and want to thank you for that. Thanks again, Rob

Rob

We, the entire family, thank you for your caring and professionalism! Mom's funeral could not possibly have gone more smoothly (or have been accomplished with any greater beauty & dignity). For this, you take 100% of the credit. God Bless you for being who you are.

Paul

I just wanted to drop you a not to thank you most sincerely for the manner in which you conducted the service at the dedication of mom's headstone last Friday. Your skill and presence, your experience with such a service, your humor, I could go on and on, but just let me say that our Mother's desire that your organization meet our needs from beginning to end, was certainly justified. I KNOW that I speak for the family and friends who shared the morning, when I simply say again, “Thank you”. You did a wonderful job. With warm regards

Cliff

How can we thank you for all that you have done for our family & your care and concern for our well-being, as well as for our children's, has helped ease our path through this sad time. We are blessed by the love of family and of friends such as you, and as I write these words I realize that the pain is a blessing. Jessica will forever remain in our hearts, as well our gratitude to those of who have showed how much they care. Again, heartfelt thanks. Best wishes to you and your family for the new year.

Joan

Just a short note to thank you for the contribution in our dad's memory. But most of all thank you for all your time, guidance, knowledge and patience that you showed us over the past 11 months. You made a lot of the difficult decisions we needed to make a lot of easier. Thanks from all of us.

Nana, Denise and Alan

Thank you so very much for our highly informative and reassuring “consultation” at Congregation Etz Chaim. Your warmth, compassion and impressive knowledge (and depth of insight) were extraordinary. I left our meeting feeling comforted and reassured that this most important of matters was in the BEST of hands. Once more-thank you for your kindness. I feel like I am in a MasterCard Commercial that ends with “Peace of Mind “Priceless”

Paul