Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home
Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home is
The Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory is located at 141 east. Orange St in Lancaster PA. It is one of the few remaining full service, family owned and operated funeral homes left in Lancaster PA and has proudly served The Lancaster Community since 1940. The funeral Home Is built on quality and service and is the only funeral home in Lancaster that is owned and operated by the same family for four generations!
The funeral home is located in the elegant, Italianate-style Mansion that was first used as a funeral home in 1927. Founded by J. Fred Fisher and purchased by Mr. Fisher's associate C. Abram Snyder in 1940 the funeral home serves as a beautiful and elegant facility for families to feel at home in when celebrating the life of a loved one.
Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home has its own on-site crematory and is known as Lancaster’s “Cremation Specialist.” They have the most hands-on experience concerning cremations than any other funeral home in Lancaster County as they have owned and operated their own on-site crematory since 1992. They take pride in providing an ideal combination of price and quality and offer a wide range of merchandise to choose from which allows families to customize their funeral or cremation and pay only what they feel comfortable in doing.
The funeral home’s motto states that “Our most valuable asset is our caring staff.” This holds true as they have five licensed funeral directors employed full-time who ensure that each family receives the utmost attention
In 2006, Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home purchased the Richard A. Sheetz funeral home that is located at 2024 Marietta Avenue in Lancaster PA. This facility serves as a second location conveniently located for families to use.
Today, Kearney A. Snyder, third generation Diane Snyder DeBord and Mark C. DeBord continue the family commitment of dignity and confidence while serving the families of Lancaster County.
History of Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home
1865 141 E. Orange St. was first constructed by Reuben Baer and served as the residence for him and his family.
1917 The Baer family mansion was sold to J. Fred Fisher, turned into a funeral home and named J. Fred Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. His first funeral was an inmate who was hanged at the Lancaster County Prison.
1940 One of Mr. Fisher’s employees, C. Abram Snyder purchased the funeral home and moved his family into the apartment above the business.
1945 To accommodate his growing business, C. Abram Snyder purchased the Killian property at 135 E. Orange St. which is located next door to the funeral home. Mr. Snyder used the back yard of this newly acquired property to serve as additional parking for the funeral home.
1954 In 1954 the operating room was moved from the second floor of the carriage house to the main building of the funeral home.
1955 Major Renovation took place to the funeral home as a selection room was added as well as enhancements made to the operating room.
1956 The buildings were purchased by Snyder/Iredale Realty Corporation, which was owned by Mr. Snyder’s son Kearney and his brother in-law Donald Iredale. The funeral home was appropriately renamed the Snyder/Iredale Funeral Home.
1968 Kearney Snyder bought out his partner Donald and the funeral home became Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home that it remains today
1969 Additional renovations took place to the second floor of the carriage house as it was converted to commercial space and rented to ACS Corporation for 10 years.
1979 The second floor of the carriage house was once again remodeled this time to serve as residential apartments.
1980 The operating room was moved to the basement floor of the main building creating additional office space to keep up with the thriving business.
1988 Kearney A. Snyder sold the business to his son in law and daughter Mark and Diane Snyder DeBord.
1992 The crematory was added in the Carriage House, which for 17 years was Lancaster’s only funeral home with an on-site crematory.
1995 The business’s real estate was purchased by Mark and Diane Snyder DeBord officially making Mark and Diane the third generation to own the business.
1997 Kearney A. Snyder retires after 42 years of serving Lancaster County as a licensed funeral director.
2006 Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home acquired the Sheetz Funeral Home from Richard A. Sheetz that is located on Marietta Avenue in Lancaster
2010 Mark and Diane's eldest son Jeremy R. DeBord graduates from mortuary school and returns to Lancaster to enter the family business
References
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/22624
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_home
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/249628
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/22624
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/231073