This is a quick visit and there is limited parking but it's worth it to stop to see the first…read morecrematory in the United States. Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne suggested that cremation was the healthiest and safest alternative to burial and the potential outbreak of disease from buried bodies. So he built this and it was originally intended to be for his own personal use and three years later when he died, he was the third person to be cremated here. His ashes are buried on the site along with a memorial. The building is quite simple. Too simple for such a solemn occasion, if you'd ask the people who were around at the time that believed cremation is inhumane or un-Christian. The one story building is only about 30 feet wide and contains just two rooms: a preparation and viewing room and the actual furnace. The most important innovation was that it was built such that the fires never actually touched the body. Stop by, see, and perhaps appreciate this innovation. [Review 20406 overall - 617 in Pennsylvania - 1385 of 2023.]

What's it like to be first? This is the first crematory in the United States. Francis Julius…read moreLemoyne was a medical doctor, philanthropist, and a prominent abolitionist. His public health concerns regarding decomposing bodies led him to promote the building of the first crematory in the United States. The first cremation was in December of 1876. It's a simple building by design, and a testament to this forward thinking man. You can see a small monument that contains Lemoyne's remains. It's all rather small and simple, but definitely worth seeing.

Five stars is t enough for these folks. My mom recently passed and thank goodness she pre paid and…read morepre planned. From Kathy helping with the financial side, to Terry the mortician, to Mark Danehart the funeral director... when Mark called me after mom passed, I said to him " Mark I do t know how to do all this." His response was " don't worry, I will walk you thru this." And that is exactly what he did!! He asked questions, I answered and he took care of the rest. We were treated with sympathy, respect and dignity. They all made the rough time a lot easier. Thank you so very much Kepner's Funeral Home and staff!

Caring staff, lovely facility. They make going thru a very difficult time much easier.read more

I can't say enough good things about Neal Funeral Home and their staff. They were so helpful and…read moreeverything went as I wanted it to.

My family had a terrible experience with the services provided by the William G Neal Funeral Home…read moreat 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, PA. The staff lacked professionalism, organization, and the presentation of my sister's body was grotesque. I no longer trust this establishment, nor will I ever recommend their services. My sister's face was very badly distorted, too much cotton or fillers were used, she appeared angry, her head was tilted down and barely on the pillow. There was foundation on her face, but no blush or color on her cheeks. Her arms were at the side of her body, but extended unnecessarily touching the edges of the casket. Makeup on her hands extended about 4 inches unevenly up the wrist, very pink in color, and contrasted very sharply with her tan arms. The professionalism of the staff was appalling. When the funeral home was notified, the individuals who answered the call did not listen attentively to the responses given and repeated questions, while abruptly interrupting and shutting down the responses given. An employee, holding the door, motioned his hand to 2 young ladies entering the building and said, "Hurry up! I'm holding the door for you." However, the staff did not open the door for many visitors. It was necessary to request seating for several individuals standing for the service. Arranging the funeral procession to the cemetery was a display of disorganized buffoonery. The employees at Neals have always been very courteous, and anticipated the needs of the family. In August 2022 a new partnership with Rollings Funeral Services was established, unfortunately, it does not provide the service we have been accustomed to and expect from Neal's. When you are faced with a difficult situation such as the death of a loved one, it can be extremely emotional and stressful. You want to be able to trust the professionals at the funeral home to provide you with the care and service of your loved one.

Altmeyer Funeral Homes has handled my family's final arrangements for generations now. With my…read moreFather's recent passing, Gene and Bob and every staff member who assisted me did so with sensitivity, kindness, and compassion. I couldn't be more grateful to them for making a very difficult time a little easier and my father's final services a positive experience.

Great when my mother passed away. Great service.read more

Yesterday we had a memorial service for my father-in-law, Bruce D. Smith, at Burke Chapel in…read moreWarwood. From the very start the staff at Kepner made sure we were taken care of. -We live an hour and a half away, so they allowed us to make all of the arrangements without meeting in person. -They took care of everything: transporting the body, arranging military honours, making sure the obituary was printed, and even contacting the cemetery on our behalf. -Funerals and related services are expensive, but Kepner staff never tried to sell or upsell. When we changed our mind about purchasing an item, they were understanding and exceptionally kind. -The staff worked hard to helpful without being intrusive. We felt supported without feeling overrun. -We were offered guidance when we requested it, but when we didn't, we were allowed to set things up in the way that best worked for us. The freedom allowed us to work within the bounds of our grief and beliefs. -I know it seems small, but due to an illness that doesn't allow me to regulate heat/cold very well (I don't sweat, for instance), I became very warm. The staff adjusted the temperature settings without hesitation. I became comfortable and could focus on the service. -This is the 3rd service I've experienced at Kepner, though the 1st I've been involved in organizing. The quality and compassion are consistently high. We have even had a beloved pet cremated through Kepner, and that, too, was an experience of the same caliber. We are very thankful for the care, respect, and compassion shown to my father-in-law, to us, and to those who came for the service. It was a hard time made easier by people who really cared.

This is the funeral home my parents chose, they passed 10 years apart…read more When my mother passed, everything seemed to be going smoothly with the arrangements. They are nice people. When the obituary came out, the wrong donation foundation was listed. Some random foundation received donations. My mother looked beautiful at the viewing, makeup and hair were perfect. However, very noticeable was the fact they did not put the bra I gave them on my big busted mother. She would have been mortified! Too late to rectify that at the showing. When my father passed, the employee handling the arrangements kept saying is how he was retiring soon and all the plans he had. When the obituary came out, they failed to acknowledge that he was a veteran. I stressed this at our meeting, it was a very important aspect. Names in the obit were not listed correctly. My father was cremated, we informed that the cremains may not make it back in the 2 days until the service. Thankfully, they did. These were 2 different employees 10 years apart, not satisfied by either.

Mary is the kindest most caring person I worked with during this difficult time in my life. She…read morewalked us through the process and went above and beyond to meet our needs for my mom Sharon Higgins. The cemetery is very clean and organized. Thank you Mary for all your excellent and professional help. Shellie Higgins, Harold Snyder, and Family

Bri and Chase were absolutely wonderful to work with during such a difficult time with my father's…read morepassing. From the very beginning, they were kind, patient, and incredibly compassionate. They made the entire process easy to understand, explained everything clearly, and truly went above and beyond to ensure the service was beautiful and meaningful. Our family felt supported every step of the way, and we are so grateful for their care and professionalism during our time of grief. The family of Jeff Wehr

Very nice and personal they treated the whole family very well. Most funerals back home seem rushed…read morebut that was not the case here.

Whitegate Cemetery is located 4 miles East of West Virginia State Penetiary. This is the graveyard…read moreof men who died within the prison. There is a low water bridge there that we had to wade a little to get to the cemetery. Not much parking there. It was very unrestful for me. Normally I find cemeteries peaceful, relaxing, calming and beautiful but this one..none of That! Every man buried here was a violent person. I could feel the negative energy here. It was unsettling to say the least.