Defunct Funeral Parlors of Lackawanna County, Part 1

The former Kapalski Funeral Home, 1226 prospect Ave., Scranton

 

With a history of coal mining, ironworking and railroading dating back to the early decades of the 19th century, the dangerous nature of such professions made Lackawanna County a haven for undertakers and funeral directors, whose business continued to flourish through the 1940s and 1950s due to injuries and illnesses from servicemen returning from WW2 and the Korean War. Factor in factory accidents, natural deaths, and various epidemics (the Scranton Times-Tribune reported over 900 deaths from influenza during the fall of 1918 alone), and it's easy to see why so many undertakers decided to hang their shingles in Lackawanna County.

While some of these pioneering undertakers still have descendants in the business to this day, many of these old-time funeral directors and morticians are largely forgotten, along with the establishments they used to operate. However, many of these forgotten funeral parlors are still standing, with only minor architectural details to hint at their former use. In previous articles, I showcased the defunct funeral parlors of Luzerne, Berks and Franklin Counties. Today, we turn our attention to Lackawanna County. 

709 Pittston Ave. (left)

 

1. M. Hessinger & Co., 709 Pittston Ave, Scranton (circa 1890-1930)

The M in M. Hessinger & Co. is for Margaret, who became one of South Scranton's leading undertakers following the death of her funeral director husband, Henry, in 1890. For over forty years Margaret operated a funeral home on Pittston Avenue, assisted by her son, Edward. Another son, Frank, became a funeral director in Philadelphia. When Margaret died after a lengthy illness in 1930, the business was taken over by Edward R. Hessinger in the 1930s, who relocated to 723 Cedar Avenue a few years later. Edward continued in the profession until his death in 1963. Today, the former funeral parlor on Pittson Avenue is a private residence, as is the one on Cedar Avenue.

415 W. Market St.

 

2. J.J. Jennings Funeral Home,  415 W. Market St., Scranton (?-2004) 

A lifetime resident of Scranton, John Joseph Jennings was a mortician for over forty years, and served as the first president of the Lackawanna County Undertakers' Association-- a position he held until his death in 1943. Jennings, whose establishment was located at 415 West Market Street at the time of his death, has often been credited as one of the first funeral directors in the county to use embalming fluid.

After John's death, the business was taken over by his wife, Anna, who was assisted by her daughter, Mary Jennings Rafferty, who also became a successful funeral director. When Anna died in 1947, the business became the Jennings-Rafferty Funeral Home. In 1979, Mary Jennings Rafferty partnered with her great-nephew, funeral director Christopher C. Calvey of Clarks Summit. The Jennings-Calvey Funeral Home in Scranton continued to operate until 2004. The Jennings-Calvey establishment in Clarks Summit is still in operation, keeping the family's legacy alive for over three generations.

223 S. Main Ave.

 

3. John W. Evans, 223 South Main Avenue, Scranton (1916-1933)

Main Avenue in Scranton has been referred to as "Undertaker's Row", due to the large number of funeral homes that have been located there over the years. Some of the undertakers doing business on this street from in the first half of the 20th century alone include Theodore Johnson (1507 N. Main), Benjamin K. Knight (1731 N. Main), Jonas Stepanauckas (1804 N. Main), J. Stephanackei (1896 N. Main) T.J. Klimatis (1640 N. Main), Eugene Vosbury (155 S. Main), Thomas and Vincent Vanston (142 S. Main), John F. Durkin (125 N. Main), B. Willard Tague (113 S. Main), E.L. Vosbury (128 S. Main), William Price/Howard Davies (135 S. Main), Frank W. Jones (216 S. Main), D.D. Jones (1721 N. Main), I.J. Noreika (2428 N. Main), William L. Jones (309 N. Main), and Robert Phillips (209 N. Main). There was also Fred Reynolds (206 N. Main), who operated a funeral parlor in the 19th century.

Another funeral director who set up shop on Main Avenue was John W. Evans. John, a son of a colliery foreman, went into business for himself in April of 1913 after working for both D.D. Jones and William Price. A property at 171 S. Main Ave. (no longer standing) served as the Evans Funeral Home for two years, before he moved 223 South Main Avenue. He became heavily involved in civic affairs, serving as president of the West Scranton Business and Professional Association. Despite suffering from poor health for much of his adult life, John also became School Director, a position he held until his untimely death in 1933 at the age of 43. 

At least three prominent undertakers have conducted business at 223 South Main Avenue, including the previously mentioned John W. Evans, who shared the establishment with former Binghamton funeral director Eugene Lawrence Vosbury. Vosbury later relocated to South Main Avenue, in the building that presently houses Savino Traditional Funerals & Cremation Care, and moved to Walnut Street in Clarks Summit, where he died in 1945 at the age of 72. The funeral home was then operated by Raymond Jones (brother of funeral director Frank W. Jones) in the 1950s. Today, it is a private residence.

The former Kapalski Funeral Home garage, built in 1926

 

4. Frank Kapalski Funeral Home, 1226 Prospect Ave., Scranton (1926-1946)

Born in Posen, Poland, Frank Kapalski entered the undertaking profession as a young man in 1896, and continued his career as a funeral director until his retirement in 1946. He died in 1948 at the age of 82. In 1926, he erected the garage building on Brook Street pictured above, which continues to bear his name to this day, while his funeral home (first picture in this blog post) still stands across the street from the St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic church. After Kapalski's retirement, the property on Prospect Avenue was purchased by Charles Zabielski, and continued to serve as a funeral home until 1999. Several years later, the building became a hair salon.

246 Adams Ave.

 

5. Peoples Casket Company, 246 Adams Avenue, Scranton (1915-1917)

Due to the growth of the coal mining industry, the population of Scranton nearly doubled between 1890 and 1930. The city, now crowded with tens of thousands of immigrant miners, many of whom were paid pitiable wages, needed alternatives to the pricey services of the "Undertaker's Row" funeral directors. From this need arose the Peoples Casket Company, which set up shop across from the courthouse and specialized in "cut-rate" funerals. The company even advertised a "professional lady embalmer in attendance" and "no charge for removing remains from hospitals".

 

Established by undertakers E.A. Boyle and P.F. Boyle in 1915, Peoples Casket Company grew rapidly through its aggressive advertising campaigns, which often painted rival undertakers as greedy, heartless and deceptive. In fact, one of their advertisements (shown below) blatantly accused their competitors of conspiring to run them out of town!

In 1916, Reverend Thomas S. Lewis joined the company and took an active role in planning funerals. However, for reasons that are unclear, the company had abruptly vanished by the summer of 1918-- just months before the Spanish Flu outbreak which claimed the lives of over a thousand residents of Lackawanna County.  

142 Chestnut St., Dunmore

 

6. A.A. Krotzer Undertaking Parlor, 142 Chestnut Street, Dunmore (1900)

Born in 1850, funeral director Abner A. Krotzer died in December, 1900, after suffering a stroke at 50 years of age-- just nine months after moving his business from Apple Street to the Chestnut Street location shown above. In addition to being an undertaker, Krotzer also served as a local justice of the peace.

24 Depot St., Peckville

 

7. J.H. Kinback Funeral Home, 24 Depot Street, Peckville (1900-1954) and Kinback Decker Funeral Home (1962?-2014)

Born in 1866, John H. Kinback was the son of pioneer Lackawanna County undertaker Anthony Kinback, who began his career in Archbald around the time of the Civil War. John entered the profession in 1885, opening his first parlor in Jermyn. He later moved to Jessup, before settling in Peckville in 1900. He continued working well into old age, passing away at the age of 87 in 1954.
Like many undertakers of the era, John Kinback also sold furniture, and his funeral parlor/furniture store was a Peckville landmark (it was constructed sometime in the 1890s) until it burned to the ground in December of 1961. 

 

The Kinback family rebuilt on the site, and continued to operate a furniture store and mortuary, the Kinback Decker Funeral Home and Furniture Store, until 2014. Partner William R. Decker, a 1950 graduate of Eckels College of Mortuary Science, passed away in 2016 at the age of 94. Today, the building is tenanted by a photography studio. 

142 S. Main Ave.

 

8. Vanston Funeral Home, 142 South Main Avenue, Scranton (1917-2008)

The Vanston & James Funeral Home, currently located on Ash Street, can trace its roots back to the 19th century, when John F. Vanston went into business for himself after several years honing his skills under pioneer West Scranton undertakers Neville & Donnelly, and, later, Neville Tague. The undertaking business was carried on by two sons, Thomas and Vincent, both of whom were graduates of the Jacobs School of Embalming in Brooklyn. Vincent, who opened the Vanston Memorial Home in 1917, also opened a bakery three years later, which he continued to operate until 1938.

Thomas Vanston died in 1963 after suffering a fatal heart attack at the age of 54, while Vincent carried on the undertaking business at 142 South Avenue until his death in 1971. The business was later renamed Vanston & James Funeral Home. In 2009 the building on Main Avenue was sold and became a medical supply, and then a law office for attorney Frank Santomauro, who made headlines in 2022 after being charged with felony retail theft after under-ringing more than $1400 at a Weis Markets self-checkout aisle.

1150 W. Locust St.

 

9. Bonin Funeral Home, 1150 West Locust Street, Scranton (1928-?)

Frank Bonin, a long-time West Side funeral director, was also a former Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds and member of the Scranton School Board. Bonin died at the age of 86 in 1969. From 1928 until his retirement, he operated a funeral home at 1150 West Locust Street, a building which was previously the F.J. Brown Funeral Home. The property today is a private residence.

1661 Sanderson Ave.

 

10. McGoff Funeral Home, 1661 Sanderson Avenue, Scranton (1940-1947)

Thomas A. McGoff, a 1937 Eckels graduate, operated a funeral home at the above location for several years before relocating to 1401 Capouse Avenue, where he died from a heart attack in 1960 at the age of 43. During World War II, McGoff served in the Army and earned a Bronze Star for his action in Europe. While the Capouse Avenue establishment continues to operate as the McGoff-Hughes Funeral Home, his previous establishment is now a private residence.

620 Main St., Duryea

 

11. Mary A. Dills Funeral Home, 620 Main Street, Duryea (1916-1949)

The Dills funeral parlor was established by Geary Atherton Dills, who died at the age of 48 in 1916 after being stricken with addendicitis during a funeral service. After his death, his wife, Mary (Whalen) Dills took over the business, becoming one of the first female funeral directors in Pennsylvania. A graduate of Eckels School of Embalming, Mary had a successful career for several decades, while maintaining a position of high standing in her community through civic activities and charitable causes up to her death in 1949 at the age of 79. Today, the property which served as the Dills funeral parlor is a private residence.

1640 N. Main Ave.

 

12. T.J. Klimatis Funeral Home, 1640 N. Main Avenue, Scranton (1937-1947)

A graduate of the University of Scranton, Thomas J. Klimatis worked under D.D. Jones for nine years until opening his own funeral home in 1937. After his death in 1947, the business was taken over by his brother, Albert, who was educated at the American Academy of Embalming in New York City. Albert continued to run the North Main Avenue establishment until his sudden death in 1960 at the age of 41.

1126 Main St., Dickson City

 

13. John Wiorkowski & Son Funeral Home. 1126 Main St., Dickson City (1915-1945)

Born in 1887, John Wiorkowski was a 1909 graduate of Eckels School of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia. He was later joined by his three sons; Thomas (1912-1949), Edward (1917-1979) and John, Jr. (1920-1972). As their business grew, the Wiorkowskis relocated their funeral home to 1115 Main Street, while John, Sr., continued to reside at 1126 Main Street until his death in 1969. After Edward's death ten years later, the 1115 Main Street building was sold and eventually became the Yurkanin Funeral Home. Today, both funeral homes are private residences.

1341 Main St., Peckville

 

14. Shander Funeral Home, 1341 Main St, Peckville (1926-2000) 

A native of Eynon and an Eckels graduate, Stanley Shander became a licensed funeral director in 1923 and apprenticed under P.J. Walsh of Jessup. In 1926, he established a funeral home in Peckville, which he operated until his death in 1947 at the age of 52. The business passed into the hands of his daughter, Agnes, who continued to work as a funeral director until her retirement due to a lengthy illness. She passed away in 2000 at the age of 83. Today, the Shander Funeral Home is a private residence, though hints of its previous life can be seen in its facade, and the hearse driveway to the right of the building.

1804 N. Main Ave.

15. Stepanauckas Funeral Home, 1804 N. Main Avenue, Scranton (1906-1995)

Jonas Stepanauckas entered the profession in 1905, and was eventually joined by his son, Jonas, Jr. Born on a farm in Vilkaviskas, Lithuania, in 1879, the elder Stepanauckas arrived in the country in 1900 and was active in the local Lithuanian community. He was one of the founders of the Tauruas Club, which was a social club aiding orphans, and was involved in many civic organizations. Once in America, he found work in the mines, and was also Scranton's "bovine cop"-- the man responsible for rounding up stray cows. 

After graduating from the Eckels School of Embalming in Philadelphia, he became the first Lithuanian undertaker in Scranton, beginning with just a wagon and a team of horses. He lived and worked out of the tiny frame house pictured above. The garage was erected behind the home in 1914. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jonas lived an exceedingly long life, passing away in 1980 at the age of 101. His son, Jonas K. Stepanauckas, Jr., passed away in 2001.

59 7th Ave., Carbondale

 

16. Loftus Funeral Home, 59 Seventh Avenue, Carbondale (?-1952)

A lifetime resident of Carbondale, Eugene J. Loftus graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science after attending St. Bonaventure College. He began his career working at the McHale Funeral Parlor on North Main Street before opening his own establishment on 7th Avenue. A past president of the Carbondale Lions Club and member of the National Morticians Association, Loftus passed away in 1952 at the age of 50 after a lengthy illness. The building which served as his funeral parlor is currently a dental office.

211 Grant St., Olyphant

 

18. Stine & Son Funeral Home, 211 Grant Street, Olyphant (1942-1977?)

William C. Stine, an Eckels graduate, entered the profession in 1919 and spent his entire career in Olyphant, first at the corner of Grant and Willow Streets and then at the above location, which he operated with his wife, Victoria, and their son, William, Jr. After the death of William, Sr. in 1952, the enterprise continued under the name of Stine's Funeral Service. Operations appear to have ceased after Victoria's death in 1979. William C. Stine's original funeral parlor is now the Michael P. Glinsky Funeral Home, while the former Stine Funeral Service building is presently a private residence.

2018 Rigg St., Dunmore

 

19. T.J. McDonnell Funeral Home, 2018 Rigg Street, Dunmore (?-1953)

Born in 1884, Thomas J. McDonnell entered the profession in 1917 and spent the entirety of his career in Dunmore. A charter member of the Lackawanna County Funeral Directors Association, McDonnell passed away in 1953. The home in which he lived, worked and died still stands and is currently a private residence.

501 Sampson St.

 

20. Walsh Funeral Home, 501 Sampson Street, Old Forge (?-1938)

Born in 1891, John H. Walsh graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia and worked at both the Tague and Durkin funeral parlors before opening his own business on Sampson Street. He was a former president of the Lackawanna County Funeral Directors Association, and a passionate advocate for the advancement of mortuary science. He operated a funeral home at 409 North Main St. until his death in 1957 at the age of 65. The house at 501 Sampson Street (pictured above) was Walsh's first funeral home, which was in operation until 1938.

Stay tuned for Part 2!