Welcome
Welcome to the James Funeral Home and Cremation Service, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. We are available 24 hours a day by calling 610-867-4617.
Many who visit our website simply wish to view or place an obituary or online tribute (Tributes will appear online with in 12 hours once entered.  We review all tributes, photos and stories.)  We also have information regarding funeral and cremation services, as well as information on pre-arranging service. 
Our service package pricing starts at $1,995 for a Direct Cremation and $5,800 for a Traditional Funeral Service including a Choice of  Steel caskets, same day visitation and service. We also have  Traditional Cremation Funeral Service packages that start at $5,895 and includes a Rental or Cremation Casket choice, Urn and Cremation. We can go over all of the other items the packages include by phone or in person.  If you do not see what you are looking for, please call us anytime and we will be happy to assist.  A funeral can only be done one time.  Let us help you to honor your loved one's wishes,  meet your family's needs and stay within your budget.

If you have questions about a loved one in our care or regarding other services we offer please call us anytime at 610-867-4617. 

Sincerely,
Lou James, FD & Supervisor
Jennifer Nicholas, FD


QUESTIONS COMMONLY ASKED:

CREMATION:

Does James Funeral Home Own Their Own Crematory?
No.  We do not own our own Crematory.  We have aligned our funeral home with the East Penn Crematory in Hellertown PA.  It is a family owned Crematory.  It is just a few minutes drive from our location.  We will transport your loved one there and when the process is done, pick up the cremated remains.  This is included in our charges.  Your loved one is followed through the cremation process with a Metal ID Tag, which you will see attached to the cremated remains container.  

Why Are Your Cremation Prices So Reasonable ?
Our prices are based on our over head expenses and what is fair to the families who choose us. We are a family owned firm and it is our goal to treat each family as if they were a member of our own family.  This is our ministry and vocation and in the words of St. Francis DeSales… We try to “Be who we are and be that well.”

What Is The Cremation Process?
Ultimately, the cremation process is the reduction of the body down to its basic elements.  What fragments of hard materiel that is left is processed down to finer properties.  This is what is referred to as ashes.  ONLY ONE PERSON AT A TIME MAY BE CREMATED!  Cremation chambers usually CANNOT  accommodate more than one person at a time.  Ethically it is wrong to cremate more one person at a time and it is the law that only one person may be cremated at a time.

May A Family Be Present At Cremation?
The cremation process takes several hours from time person is placed in chamber through the cooling and processing of the cremated remains. If you wish to witness the body being placed in the chamber you may.   There may be a small fee charged as normally cremation is done at the convenience of the facility and the funeral home.  If the placement of the person in the chamber is to be witnessed, then all activity must stop in order to afford the family members the privacy, quiet and dignity needed.
Cremation is a Sacred Act.  Just like burial, the remains are cared for in a respectable and reverent manner and so placement of the cremated remains in an appropriate container is important also.  We will do our best to honor your requests in finding an appropriate and astetically appealing urn for the burial, entombment, scattering or keeping of the cremated remains.  Note: Some religious denominations such as the Catholic, Jewish as well as other faiths...  do strongly encourage special directives be followed regarding Cremation.  If you have questions please ask. We will help guide you.

TRADITIONAL FUNERALS:

What Religious Denominations Do you Serve?
James Funeral Home serves all faiths including the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Jewish, UCC,  Baptist, Evangelical, Pentacostal and all faith communities.  We are familiar with the Religious Rites of each denomination and will adhere to the directives requested by your Priest, Rabbi or Minister.

We Do Not Have A Clergy Person, Adhere to a Religion an Organized Religion:
This is not uncommon.  We work with several Chaplains who will assist in conducting a service or celebration of life. 

Do you accept caskets purchased from outside the funeral home?
Yes.  Funeral Homes are required to accept caskets purchased from outside the funeral home.  However, we encourage you to check the pricing of caskets with us first.  You may be surprised by what we have to offer.  

Why Is A Burial Vault or Graveliner Required By The Cemetery?  
Most cemeteries in our area require a Burial Vault (Reinforced Concrete, Lined, Coated, Air & Water Tight, Seal) or Graveliner (Basic Protection, Reinforced Concrete, Basic Seal). These items  protect the casket from the weight of the earth to prevent grave collapse and help cemeteries to keep the grounds level.  Depending on the type of Outer Container you purchase, the casket is protected to varying degrees and the goal of the cemetery to help prevent the grave from cave-ins is satisfied.

We encourage you to email us questions in the future!   We will do our best to post and answer them here!





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