Kreamer Funeral Home moving into 4th generation of service

The Kreamer Funeral Home was established in 1915 by brothers William E. and Wilbur Kreamer in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania.  According to a history on the company web-site, William’s son, Robert, assumed control of the firm in 1958 and his son, Steven, became the 3rd generation owner and operator in 1984.  The Kreamer family now serves in the communities of Annville and Jonestown, Pennsylvania.

This article tells the story of 4th generation family member and funeral director Christian Kreamer, age 24, who has now joined the firm.  Oddly enough, Christian is the 2nd member of his generation to join the firm as his cousin, Kathleen Shirley, joined as a funeral director in 2016.

According to the article, Kathleen would visit her grandparents who operated the funeral home and became interested in the business.  Seeing her grandfather’s and uncle’s passion for helping others she decided to pursue a position in funeral service.

You can access the Kreamer Funeral Home web-site here:

Funeral Director Daily take:  I find this article interesting.  Partly because a funeral home – or any other business that makes it to the 4th generation – can be proud of itself.

Another part, however, is that idea that a family member from outside the direct generational line has joined the firm.  I find that somewhat unique and a testimony to what kind of traits Robert and Steven Kreamer must have exhibited to so impress their young granddaughter and niece.

The other thing that I found uplifting in this article was the sense that the Kreamer’s are grateful for what the community has done for them. . . not what they have done for the community.  I’m a 4th generation funeral director and I have that same outlook.

Don’t get me wrong, the Kreamers have done much for their community and I am sure there are those in the community who realize that.  The family, like other small town funeral directors always tries to be there before and after the services for their community. . . . and you never know what you will be asked to do.  A touching point in the article is when Steven Kreamer tells that he has taught one grieving widow how to write a check and another how to pump gas. . . . you see, it was a job that there husbands had always taken care of and they now needed to learn how.

Those small task are something that they don’t teach you in mortuary school.  But it is those small tasks — and the compassion that comes with it — that allow funeral homes like Kreamer Funeral Home to survive and thrive for 4 generations.

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