SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery Opens First Cremation-Only Building in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

New building ensures respect for the human body as called for in the catechism

Springfield, Penn. (October 14, 2025) – Cremation or traditional burial is often one of the most difficult questions facing people as they consider end-of-life decisions.  

While the Catholic Church has permitted cremation for over 60 years, Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s only options for cremation were columbaria and urn burials – until now. 

Everstory Partners, through its unique partnership with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, unveiled the first Archdiocesan cremation-only building open to all Catholics in Southeast Pennsylvania at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.  

As the Church requires cremated remains to be interred on consecrated grounds, this new building provides a sacred indoor space where families can preserve the ashes of their loved ones with reverence and honor the tenets of their faith. 

“This is important because the number of people who are seeking cremation for their loved ones continues to rise every year,” says Matt Sobon, senior vice president of operations, Everstory Partners. “Our first cremation-only indoor space follows our efforts to respectfully shape memorial services for modern families.” 

Currently, nearly 62 percent of individuals are cremated in the United States. That number is expected to exceed 80 percent by 2045, according to a recent report of the National Funeral Directors Association. 

Appointed as the Reflections Suite, this welcoming sanctuary is located at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Penn. It features more than 1,000 exterior granite and interior glass-front niches as alternatives to burial and accommodates the Vatican’s guidance on conserving ashes. 

The Most Rev. Keith Chylinski, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia who presided over the October 11 blessing of the Reflections Suite reminded us of the heart behind this sacred space.  

“It’s important that we have sacred places to remember our loved ones, places where we can pray for them, feel the presence of God, and be reminded of our hope in Him and in eternal life,” he shared at the event. 

About The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia   

The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia proudly serves families in the Greater Philadelphia area with over 12 locations including Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery. Paul Sargent, Supervisor. Visit archdioceseofphiladelphia.org   to learn more and for a list of locations.     

About Everstory Partners 

Everstory Partners’ mission is to create supportive spaces where individuals and families can find solace, meaning, and hope in the midst of loss. Since 1999, the company has grown to include 463 cemetery, funeral, and crematory locations serving more than 65,000 families a year across the United States (including Puerto Rico) on both a pre-need and at-need basis. Everstory is the brand promise, created in April 2023, to destigmatize death care with a unique blend of long-standing traditions of caring for the deceased with a fresh perspective that death is a natural and beautiful part of the human experience that should be planned and celebrated. Visit  everstorypartners.com to learn more. 

Mastermind Event in Philadelphia To Help Funeral Service Companies Reach New Heights

Join Your Peers on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 

When you come to Mastermind, you’ll walk away with a full toolkit of strategies to build market share, boost the value of your business and connect with families in a more meaningful way than ever before.

Visit www.MastermindFuneral.com to learn more about the event – or just click on the events tab on FuneralVision.com.

The event, which is hosted by FuneralVision.com, will be held Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Live! Casino & Hotel in Philadelphia and has been approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for 5.5 hours of continuing education. Applications for CEUs in numerous states are underway.

“Our robust programming and networking opportunities will help funeral professionals learn from each other and outpace competitors,” said Thomas Parmalee, founder of FuneralVision.com. “Be sure to reserve your seat soon – they’re going to fill up fast.”

The experts speaking at Mastermind will cover a variety of topics, including how to enhance your preneed program, glean insights from consumer research, build trust with families and navigate business transitions. Discover how to:

• Identify key customer touchpoints to increase engagement and trust.
• Use data-driven insights to improve services, offerings and customer experience.
• Tailor services to align with generational differences in funeral planning.
• Develop communication strategies that foster long-term relationships.
• Establish a clear and actionable succession plan to ensure continuity and success.
• Address legal, financial and emotional aspects of transitioning ownership.
• Utilize digital marketing tools such as social media, SEO and Google Ads to reach new customers.
• Implement reputation management strategies to build online credibility.

These takeaways will help attendees walk away with actionable insights they can apply directly to enhance their funeral home or crematory business.

Speakers include:

Danielle Burmeister, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in secure, reliable preneed funding, will deliver a presentation titled “Competing on Service in a Price-Sensitive Market.”

Aaron Butler, Director-Field Development at Domani Preneed and a decade-long deathcare professional and multi-million-dollar preneed producer specializing in digital transformation for funeral homes, will deliver a presentation titled “Content Creation Boot Camp for Funeral Professionals: Building Trust and Growing Your Business”

Chris Cruger, the CEO of Foresight, a premier consulting firm specializing in the funeral and cemetery profession, will deliver a presentation titled “Succession Is Not Just a TV Show—It’s Preserving Your Legacy.”

Welton Hong, founder and CEO of Ring Ring Marketing and the secret weapon behind some of the deathcare profession’s highest volume firms, will deliver a presentation titled “What Will and Will Not Work in 2026 For Getting More Cases.”

Mitch Smith, Vice President of eFuneral, a breakout digital solutions company that helps funeral homes maximize market share through optimized online sales, will deliver a presentation titled “The Future of Preneed Funeral Planning: Insights into Consumer Trends & Technology Innovation.”

Reserve Your Seat Early and Save Money – Plus, Enjoy a Ballgame or Two!

Located in Philadelphia, the Live Casino & Hotel – Philadelphia is a 4-minute walk from Citizens Bank Park, and the Phillies are scheduled to play the Mets right after the Mastermind cocktail hour ends – so you can continue your networking at the ballgame. Plus, there is another home game scheduled for Sept. 11 immediately after the conference ends!

Register for Mastermind before June 19 and pay only $229, which includes a cocktail hour the evening prior to the event, a light breakfast and lunch. After the early-bird expires, everyone pays $349.

Reserve your hotel room at the special Mastermind rate.

Mastermind would not be possible without our generous sponsors, including our exclusive Diamond Sponsor, Foresight; our Platinum sponsors, Homesteaders Life Company, eFuneral and Domani Preneed; our Gold sponsors, Carriage Services, Ring Ring Marketing and Nomis Publications; and our silver sponsor, Pollen.

Don’t miss your chance to join your peers and move your business forward by signing up for Mastermind. 

Don’t forget: Visit www.MastermindFuneral.com to learn more about the event – or just click on the events tab on FuneralVision.com.