Ravenhearse clan is altogether ooky

Talk about creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky — the Ravenhearses have cornered the Tucson market on freaky.

Family lore has it that the current generation's grandparents migrated to the Southwest from the "Old Country" in the early 1800s. And now siblings Grievsley, Gravesly, Grimsley and Claudicia keep house at Ravenhearse Manor on the North Side. With three hearses parked in the driveway, it's also the base for the family business.

Grievsley and Gravesly's alter egos, Bill Delfs and Eric Lipanovich, started their Raven Hearse "haunted productions" company in May. They consider themselves "agents" who work for the Ravenhearse family. The men have more than 40 years of haunting experience, according to their Web site, but their services aren't limited to Halloween.

They stage parties year-round for different types of events and holidays. The business partners and their staff of six deliver "Mourn-a-grams" for any occasion. They decorate private homes for Halloween and Christmas.

They can be hired as guests to mingle at parties. And they make wood coffins for use as decorations, storage boxes, hope(less) chests, beverage coolers or a final resting space for the dear departed.

"This comes from sick and twisted minds," said Delfs, who prefers to be called Grievsley when he's sporting his ashen pallor, spectacles, mutton-chop sideburns, top hat and black 1800s-period mortician's garb.

"Both of us have been involved in theater and haunted houses most of our lives," said Lipanovich, who responds to Gravesly.

"They say, 'Do what you're good at,' and we're good at scaring people."

Raven Hearse is different from other fright-themed companies because its Tucson-based business isn't restricted to the Halloween season.

It offers Mourn-a-grams for birthdays, bachelor parties, retirements and other events to help prepare people "for the next stages" of their lives, the brochure says.

The costumed mourner, mortician or Grim Reaper arrives in a hearse to deliver grim tidings to the honoree in the form of a dirge or an epitaph.

The Raven Hearse driver also can chauffeur the person to a special event in the family car, a shiny, black 1991 Cadillac hearse named Clarice.

Of course, the passenger will have to ride up front, since Aunt Beatrice Ravenhearse is resting in her coffin at the back of the vehicle.

Customers also get a Raven Hearse toe tag and a "One Foot in the Grave" certificate.

"It's all about the classic details," Grievsley said.

He has two vintage hearses parked in his driveway that will be refurbished and put to use in the coming months. His niece wants to use the hearses in the procession for her upcoming nuptials. Raven Hearse is available to chauffeur teens to their proms and special parties. And a client has requested the presence of the Ravenhearse family at a most unlikely event: a baby shower, where the ghoulish players would visit with guests.

Ann Charles was the recipient last week of a birthday Mourn-a-gram. She said it was "shocking and surprising" to see a hearse pull up in front of the restaurant where she works, Mario's Pizza at North First Avenue and East Fort Lowell Road, just before the lunch rush started, "but it was hysterically funny. I got the biggest bang out of it. I loved it."

"Probably the best part of it was, I got measured for my coffin. And the singing, too. It's so different — I've never seen anything like that before. You really have to have a sense of humor to enjoy it.

"They came in and I was greeted by my own personal mourner who was crying for my passing youth," Charles said.

She was given a bouquet of lilies, measured for her coffin, issued a toe tag and treated to a round of "Happy Birthday," but with an eerie twist to the lyrics.

"They did everything to the nines," she said. "It will definitely be remembered by whoever gets that serenade."

To Learn More

For more information about Raven Hearse productions, go to www.ravenhearse.com or call 370-5472.

"Probably the best part of it was, I got measured for my coffin. And the singing, too. It's so different — I've never seen anything like that before. You really have to have a sense of humor to enjoy it."

Ann Charles

birthday Mourn-a-gram recipient