Cremation
At the E. Merrill Smith Funeral Home we offer many options for those who prefer cremation as a means of final disposition. The only difference between a funeral service followed by burial and one followed by cremation is that the remains are taken to the crematory after the service instead of to the cemetery for burial. This means that families have the option to have visitations and funeral services where the remains are present and still choose cremation as a means of disposition.
About Us
The E. Merrill Smith Funeral home has served the Altoona area for well over 100 years. It was originally founded as the Lafferty and Tobias Funeral Home and later become the Lafferty Funeral Home and even later became the E. Merrill Smith Funeral Home. Today it is owned and managed by the Stevens family. Joseph J. Stevens III is the supervisor and oversees the operation of this fine funeral home on Broad Avenue. We are designed to be proactive in meeting the needs of the families we serve.
The E. Merrill Smith Funeral Home is a result of the loyalty, honesty, integrity and character of our predecessors. Since our inception our firm has recognized the need for commitment not only to the families we serve but also to the communities we serve. It is with these values that the Stevens Family has been able to endure and grow its funeral business for over 130 years.
It is with these values that we continue to serve the people of the greater Altoona area. Thank you for visiting our website. We invite you to continue to peruse it or contact us for any question you might have.
“For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.”
GRIEF SUPPORT
Possibly for the first time, the word grief has become personal. No longer is death something that happens to other people in other places. The multitude of experiences resulting from this overwhelming loss-emotional, physical, social, spiritual and cognitive-comprise what we call “grief.”
Testimonials
We are always interested in hearing from the families we serve.
Please take a moment to let us know how well we served you in your time of need. We greatly appreciate your feedback.
52 Weeks of Grief & Healing email sign-up – to provide encouragement and gentle reminders of the recovery process.
Receive consistent support through our weekly email to help you cope, heal, and grieve.
Funeral Director
Joseph J. Stevens III
Supervisor
Joseph J. Stevens III