The New RJ Slater Funeral
& Cremation Service
New Kensington, PA

A nice article has appeared in the Valley News Dispatch concerning Raymond J. Slater IV and his wife, Molly, and their ambitions in purchasing the defunct Krupa Funeral Home in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and their methods of renovating in order to open their own funeral service business.

According to the article the Krupa Funeral Home operated in New Kensington beginning in 1917 until it closed in 2014.  The Slaters have now re-opened the building as RJ Slater IV Funeral and Cremation Service.  According to Mr. Slater they will offer full service funeral services, including visitations for $3,995, exclusive of merchandise needed.

According to Kathleen K. Ryan, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, Pennsylvania has a 44% cremation rate at this time.  Mr. Slater states in the article, however, that Western Pennsylvania services tend to remain more traditional.

Mr. Slater’s great-great grandfather, William, founded a funeral home in Mt. Washington, Pennsylvania in 1875 and that location plus other branches are owned by his uncle, William Slater II.  According to the article, RJ Slater IV worked for these establishments before striking out on his own.

Funeral Director Daily take:  As a 4th generation funeral director myself I always am happy when family members continue to serve their communities.  It’s interesting that RJ Slater, even though a family member of his uncle’s firms, evidently decided to strike out on his own and establish his own business.  Good for him.  I truly believe that there is room, when finding the right situation, for new owner/operators to prosper in this business.[wpforms id=”436″ title=”true” description=”true”]