Mainely Urns History

Robert “Bob” Turner founded Turner Sales (now Turner Memorials), supplying urns, embalming fluids, and chapel furniture to funeral homes across New England. By 2003, Turner Sales was the go-to supplier for nearly 100 firms.

Bob’s son-in-law Michael Madore, recently laid off in the dot-com crash and expecting his first child, asked Bob, “If I build an online urn store, can I buy the urns from you?” Bob said, “OK.”

That summer Michael taught himself Photoshop and e-commerce, borrowed a scanner, and launched MainelyUrns.com. Orders began August 5–7, and what started as “diaper money” became something much more.

Mainely Urns grew into a national leader through innovation, attention to detail, and a commitment to craft and compassion. Every product carried deep meaning for families we served.

When COVID disrupted supply chains, we launched four exclusive collections:

In 2022, we said goodbye to Robert “Bob” Turner, affectionately known as “Bonka” to his seven grandchildren. His legacy lives on in the values, service, and spirit that continue to guide Mainely Urns.

We launched a family of brands to better serve professionals and families:

From Bob’s road-warrior beginnings to Michael’s 2003 launch, through pandemic resilience and 2024 innovation, Mainely Urns remains focused on helping families honor their loved ones with dignity and personalization.