Funeral homes in Butler County evolve, see higher interest in cremation
This article is one in a series of articles about what life looks like in Butler County ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Stories in this series aim to showcase what it’s like to live, work, play and serve in Butler County during this moment in history.
Tom Martin didn’t put too much thought into changing careers. On his 19th birthday, Martin started working for his dad at his funeral home.
He, like many of the funeral directors in Butler County, has deep ties to the business. While the wishes of families have changed over the years, the trends that they are seeing have been coming down the pipeline for a while.
This means Martin’s duties have varied over the years, but working for his dad was the beginning of 44 years in the business.
“There was never a doubt what I was going to do,” Martin said. “When he started on Center Avenue, I started by cutting the grass, running the sweeper and doing whatever he needed.”
A steady change for end-of-life services has been the preference for cremation. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) released a report showing that the cremation rate in the United States is 62.8% as of 2024. That number is up 40.5% in 2010 and 56.2% in 2020.
Spencer Geibel, who owns the Spencer D. Geibel Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Butler Township, structured his business around this trend. He opened his business in 2019 after spending 12 years working at funeral homes around the Pittsburgh area before coming back to Butler.
“Folks are asking for a more simple design,” Geibel said. “They are leaning toward cremation and asking for a simplified design. It means one evening of viewing vs. four two-hour sessions. Now, people want one two-hour session. It’s perfect for me. We designed it for the future.”
According to the same study from the CANA, Pennsylvania had a 62.3% cremation rate in 2024, based on the 85,143 cremations performed, which ranked 25th nationally according to percentages.
Martin said the trend toward more cremations for a few years. What is most important to him is making sure families are able to get what they are looking for.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the family choice,” Martin said. “Me, personally, I feel some type of closure is important. Whether it's a viewing, a funeral or recognizing the person’s life. A lot of people opt not to go for the funeral. Everyone grieves in their own way.”
Like everyone else who owns a business, Martin said they are also battling the rise in prices. The cost of caskets, urns and other items have increased.
“It hits us just like anyone else,” Martin said. “The price of everything goes up. The price of caskets, vaults and anything else we buy. A lot of companies that deliver have fuel surcharges.”
Geibel has expanded the services he provides in recent years. About 18 months ago, Geibel started A Walk in the Clouds Pet Cremation.
“We help between 30 to 50 pet families and 30 to 50 human families a month,” Geibel said. “Human services are a lot more complicated and extensive.”
Geibel, who also grew up around the funeral business, has spent a lot of time trying to implement all of the things he dreamed of.
What he learned working in the city, he planned to bring with him back to Butler County.
“I wanted to build around simplicity, practicality and keeping things streamlined for people,” Geibel said. “The business is focused on people instead of all the jazz.”
Martin has expanded his business over the past year. He acquired the former Geibel Funeral Home on East Cunningham Street.
The Geibel Funeral home is unrelated to the Spencer D. Geibel Funeral home. The Geibel Funeral Home on East Cunningham was sold after Chad Geibel, who owned the business, chose to leave the funeral home business behind to join his son, Maxx, in an excavating business, MXG Excavating.
“It’s been more time, energy and what you expect,” Martin said. “We’re busier now, but it is good to be more helpful to families. I’m happy and feel welcomed by the people since I’ve taken over here.”
Spencer Geibel said the most important part of the business is still centered around relationships. Helping people plan for end of life services isn’t an easy or simple process.
Trying to take some of the stress away is a major part of the job.
“It was my dream,” Geibel said about coming back to Butler. I wanted to come home and open a funeral home that treats people right and puts people first and not sales.”
