Cremation Services in Allentown, PA

When considering cremation in Allentown, Pennsylvania, today's families are concerned with many complex issues: how cremation affects the environment (especially when compared to traditional burial), personal finances and faith being amongst the top three. If you, or a family member, are curious about cremation or wondering if cremation is the right option for your situation, we invite you to read the articles in this section. And of course, if you have concerns or additional questions, we ask that you connect with us by calling (610) 866-8059. We will be pleased to take part in your cremation conversation. 

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We are caring cremation experts who promise each family we serve the highest level of:

• Courteous, professional service. Our dedicated staff will take care of all details, including prompt filing of required permits and notifications. Accurate completion of these essential documents not only ensures their acceptance by local or state agencies; it guarantees your loved one's cremation will not be delayed.
• Respectful care of the deceased and timely completion of cremation process. Your loved one will be attended to by certified crematory operators; each of whom has been trained to provide both compassionate care for the deceased, and conscientious attention to detail throughout the cremation process.
• Safekeeping and prompt return of cremated remains. We know it's important for the families we serve to know their loved one will be coming home as soon as possible. That's why we promise to notify you as soon as their ashes become available, and safeguard their urn until the time you are ready to receive them.
• A memorial service to celebrate the life of the deceased. There are many advantages to taking some time to remember the life lived, share stories and laugh about all of the memories. Our team can help you plan a fitting memorial service with or without the cremation urn present, at our facility or in a place of your choosing.

We offer three cremation options; each can be modified to meet your needs:

1. Traditional cremation services. These are much like a traditional funeral. The body of the deceased, placed in a specially-selected cremation casket or a rental casket, is the focal point of the service. A visitation can take place prior to the funeral service and the cycle is completed with the cremation rather than a traditional burial. Once the cremation has occurred, the cremated remains are returned to your family. You can then decide to scatter, bury, or retain the cremated remains in an urn.
2. Memorial gathering after the cremation has taken place. This can occur at any time after the cremation process. The urn is usually on display at the service, which can take place in any setting preferred by the family.
3. Direct cremation. This involves completion of all required paperwork and the transportation of the deceased from the hospital, home, nursing facility, or coroner's office to the crematory.

Cremation has been a part of the human death experience for a very long time. If you would like to understand more about the cremation process we invite you to read this section. We'll also take a look at cremation costs that will help you with your decision.

Traditional cremation is the process of reducing a body at very high temperatures until it is nothing but brittle, calcified bones. These are then processed into what we commonly call ashes. Returned to the family in a temporary urn (or a more personal urn selected by the family), these ashes can be kept, buried, or scattered. Some families even choose to place a loved one's cremated remains in a hand-crafted piece of cremation art.

The container housing the remains, which can be a casket or an alternative container, is placed in the retort or cremating chamber. It takes anywhere from two to three hours to reduce an average adult to skeletal remains. When the cremated remains are cooled, they are processed to a uniformly-sized pebble-like substance and placed in an urn or temporary container. The funeral director then returns the cremated remains to the family.

Once the cremation-over-burial decision has been made, all that's required is authorization. This is provided by the person who is the legally identified or appointed next-of-kin. Once all authorization documents are signed, and service charges are paid; the body can be transported from the place of death to our crematory in the Lehigh Valley and the cremation process can take place. However, there are some additional things you may wish to consider, such as:

• Is there a special set of clothes (such as a military uniform or favorite dress) your loved one would appreciate the thought of wearing? This will be a focus of the cremation arrangement conversation, and you will be advised by your funeral director as to your best options regarding jewelry or other valuable personal items.
• Are there any keepsake items you'd like to include in their cremation casket? Perhaps there's a special memento, such as a treasured photograph or letter? We sometimes suggest family members write cards, notes or letters to their deceased loved one, and place them in the casket prior to the cremation.
• Would you or other family members like to be present for–or participate to some degree in–your loved one's cremation? Because we know how healing it can be to take part in an act of "letting go", we welcome the opportunity to bring interested family or friends into the crematory. Please discuss your desire to participate with your funeral director.
• What will you keep the cremated remains or ashes in after the cremation or the service? Many families are simply unaware that they can purchase a cremation urn to be placed in a special place such as the family home. We offer a large selection of urns that will help memorialize your loved one. Some local Allentown cemeteries offer a columbarium at the cemetery that provides single niches for the entombment of cremated human remains. Ask one of our caring funeral director's to see the wide variety of urns and options for placing the cremation ashes in a columbarium in the area.

We encourage open dialog about all end-of-life issues, and sincerely hope you reach out to us to dig deeper into the topics related to cremation and burial. Contact Us us today to ask a question or to set an appointment (either in your home or our office). We look forward to the conversation.

Everyone has his or her own personal reasons for choosing a cremation funeral over traditional casketed burial in Allentown. In the last few years, more and more North American families have been making this choice and there are multiple reasons why this trend has developed. The simplicity and affordability of cremation in comparison to burial packages and other funeral services is certainly a large contributing factor. At our Fountain Hill and Bethlehem funeral homes, we want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. When you're ready to talk about cremation, Contact Us to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. You can also send us an email via our online contact form.

What is the percentage of cremation vs burial in Allentown, Pa?

National 34.5% cremation vs 34.5% burial: according to NFDA's 2023 cremation and burial report, the 2023 cremation rate is projected to be 60.5% and the burial rate is projected to be 34.5%.  Allentown is closer to 50% cremation vs 50% burial and the Lehigh Valley is more traditional than other parts of the country.

We want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. When you're ready, Contact Us to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. You can also send us an email via our online contact us form.

Allentown is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The city has a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 census. It is the fastest-growing major city in Pennsylvania and the state's third largest city, behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, which has a population of 861,899 and is the 68th most populated metropolitan area in the U.S. as of 2020. Allentown was founded in 1762 and is the county seat of Lehigh County.

Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities (Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton) in Lehigh and Northampton counties that join with Carbon County in Pennsylvania's Coal Region and Warren County in northwest New Jersey to form the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area. Allentown is approximately 52 miles north-northwest of Philadelphia and 92 miles west of New York City.

With 26 parks spanning this lush city, opportunities for outdoor recreation are near-limitless! Stroll Cedar Beach Park, pedal the Lehigh Parkway or take in a summer band concert at West Park! Fascinating exhibits and festive events at the America on Wheels Museum on the Waterfront and live shows and films at the Civic Theater in West End anchor our cultural scene! The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market, packed with fresh produce and proteins and locally-crafted spirits provides a delicious diversion. Catch a ballgame and root, root, root for the Iron Pigs at Coca-Cola Park with the family!

Zip Codes include  18101, 18102, 18103, 18104, 18106, 18109 and 18195.  Local Nearby neighborhoods: Wescosville, Fullerton & East Allentown 

Sources:

What is Cremation, Cremation Association of North America

Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry"