New Funeral Home Updates

The new facility will span 12,000 square feet, offering a thoughtfully designed space to provide comfort and convenience to the families we serve. It will feature 154 parking spaces to accommodate guests and a range of specialized areas, including a cutting-edge preparation room, walk-in refrigeration, two arrangement rooms, a selection room, and a wash bay for funeral vehicles. Additionally, the building will include a formal chapel for larger services and a smaller viewing room, ensuring a welcoming environment for families of all sizes and backgrounds.

A big thank you to Sons of Sicily Pizzeria & Grill in Shrewsbury for treating everyone on site today with a delicious lunch as we continue working hard to bring our new York Township funeral home project to life.

This morning’s walk-through was full of progress!

We made several updates, including:

Adding additional electrical outlets
Repositioning TVs and adding them to every office
Welcoming the arrival of the bathtub (yes, that’s one I’m especially excited about!)
The arrival of the sink for our employee-only relaxation area ~ check it out!

The stained-glass company was also here for a mock setup, and the brick delivery rolled in this week as well. With all of these details coming together, things are really about to start transforming over the next few weeks. We can’t wait to keep sharing the progress with you!

This morning’s walk-through was full of progress!

We made several updates, including:

Adding additional electrical outlets
Repositioning TVs and adding them to every office
Welcoming the arrival of the bathtub (yes, that’s one I’m especially excited about!)
The arrival of the sink for our employee-only relaxation area ~ check it out!

Tonight was my first time back on site in two weeks, and it was so quiet and peaceful.

My dad came into town for the evening and wanted the full tour of our project ~ he was especially excited to hear that a private, small “apartment” was being added to the FH and said he’d stay there when he visits (ummm, yeah, we’ll see about that!

Tomorrow morning, we’ll be having our bi-weekly on-site visit, but tonight felt special.

I even got back to my roots with a little dumpster diving. If you are new here ~ I spent 12 years in the waste/recycling business.

Max had fun checking out some of the equipment.

The highlight for me was seeing the beautiful vaulted ceilings of the chapel coming to life.

Oh, and steel toed boots & pink leggings? It’s the new trend.

Tonight was my first time back on site in two weeks, and it was so quiet and peaceful.

Tomorrow morning, we’ll be having our bi-weekly on-site visit, but tonight felt special.

I even got back to my roots with a little dumpster diving. If you are new here ~ I spent 12 years in the waste/recycling business.

Max had fun checking out some of the equipment.

The highlight for me was seeing the beautiful vaulted ceilings of the chapel coming to life.

Oh, and steel toed boots & pink leggings? It’s the new trend.

We went to Cumberland Stained Glass to pick out stained glass colors for our windows (which have arrived, by the way!) and then had lunch with Damon & Matt from Frigid Fluid Company.

Now it’s time to head back to the funeral home ~ we’re meeting with someone who’s going to help us create even more “day in the life” content.

We know how much you’ve been enjoying these behind-the-scenes glimpses, and we’ve loved hearing how much you’re learning along the way.

Our goal is to keep sharing real, meaningful, and educational moments that give you a better understanding of what we do every single day.

We went to Cumberland Stained Glass to pick out stained glass colors for our windows (which have arrived, by the way!) and then had lunch with Damon & Matt from Frigid Fluid Company.

Now it’s time to head back to the funeral home ~ we’re meeting with someone who’s going to help us create even more “day in the life” content.

We know how much you’ve been enjoying these behind-the-scenes glimpses, and we’ve loved hearing how much you’re learning along the way.

Our goal is to keep sharing real, meaningful, and educational moments that give you a better understanding of what we do every single day.

It’s a busy one today at Wagner-Elfner and Burg!

Our phones rang shortly after midnight, so Addie is starting her morning in the prep room with an embalming.

Nathan and Katharine are down at the new property for their biweekly construction meeting.

The building is really starting to take shape (check out the front entrance!) Each visit brings us one step closer to opening day.

Later this afternoon, we’ll be bringing a casket down to the site for a full walkthrough to ensure that all doorways are properly aligned and accessible ~ just one of many details we’re double-checking to make sure the space functions exactly as it should. Stay tuned for pics!

Also, was a dinosaur on our property… ?

It’s a busy one today at Wagner-Elfner and Burg!

Our phones rang shortly after midnight, so Addie is starting her morning in the prep room with an embalming.

Nathan and Katharine are down at the new property for their biweekly construction meeting.

The building is really starting to take shape (check out the front entrance!) Each visit brings us one step closer to opening day.

Also, was a dinosaur on our property… ?

If you didn’t catch our live videos this morning, you can still go back and watch them! We spent some time chatting with everyone while we waited for the concrete trucks to arrive and begin pouring. It was such a fun morning to share with all of you, and we were genuinely excited to have so many join us in real time.

Max was up bright and early (4:30am to be exact) and couldn’t wait to watch all the action unfold at the site.

At 8am, we had a meeting with our architect to finalize details for the chapel lighting and discuss the placement and style of our wall sconces. So many exciting things are coming together, and we love keeping you all involved in the process!

If you caught our update yesterday, you may have seen that I etched KNSM into the freshly poured concrete curb, a little personal touch for our family. However, shortly after we left the property today, our project manager gave us a call. One of the crew members had covered it up, thinking some neighborhood kids had wandered onto the site overnight and left their initials in the curb.

We let him know there was no need to apologize… we completely understood! Mistakes happen, and there’s nothing to stress over. We’ll be sure to make our mark again during the next round of curbing!

Max was up bright and early (4:30am to be exact) and couldn’t wait to watch all the action unfold at the site.

Max and I took a little morning field trip down to the construction site on Cape Horn Road before daycare to check on the progress, and of course, he had to supervise.

The crew was kind enough to show Max how the big equipment works (he was especially fascinated by the “bucket” scooping up the dirt!)

Walking around, we even spotted signs of a nighttime trespasser!

Right now, the crews are hard at work installing utilities and beginning the road widening.

We were excited to see Walt on-site today in his rig! If he looks familiar, it’s because you’ve likely seen him featured in our staff collage on Facebook. Walt wears many hats! He serves with the local fire department, drives truck, and also assists our team by going out on house calls, playing an important role in the care we provide to families.

We’re grateful for his dedication and support across so many areas of the York County community.

Max and I took a little morning field trip down to the construction site on Cape Horn Road before daycare to check on the progress, and of course, he had to supervise.

The crew was kind enough to show Max how the big equipment works (he was especially fascinated by the “bucket” scooping up the dirt!)

Walking around, we even spotted signs of a nighttime trespasser!

Right now, the crews are hard at work installing utilities and beginning the road widening.

We’re grateful for his dedication and support across so many areas of the York County community.

We want to give a huge shoutout to the hardworking teams down at the property this week. The heat has been absolutely brutal, and yet they’ve continued to show up and push forward. Thankfully, today brought a bit of a break with cooler temps.

We’re incredibly grateful for everyone helping bring this dream to life and for the dedication it takes to keep things moving.

Thank you for all you do! (And thanks for the selfie, Doug!

Thank you, Sons of Sicily in Shrewsbury for delivering lunch to the crews on site today!

We’re incredibly grateful for everyone helping bring this dream to life and for the dedication it takes to keep things moving.

Thank you for all you do! (And thanks for the selfie, Doug!

Thank you, Sons of Sicily in Shrewsbury for delivering lunch to the crews on site today!

Every day brings new progress down at the site, and it’s been incredible to watch it all come together!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s video on Facebook, Nathan and I spent several years searching for the right property to renovate ~ or land to build on. One Sunday afternoon, completely by chance, he came across this piece of land. We drove out, walked the property, and I immediately felt it… this was it.

This was where we’d build our future funeral home.

For years, we tried to purchase our current funeral home with no success. Finally, I said to Nathan, “Let’s start fresh, let’s start our own funeral home ~ let’s build from the ground up… literally & figuratively.”

That became our plan. But as life would have it, shortly after buying this land, the owner of our current location approached us about purchasing the book of business. It was the perfect fit.

We still receive a lot of questions about our current facility ~ no, we do not own it. We lease it, and yes, there is a deed restriction on the property. That’s come up quite a bit lately.

While visiting the new site this morning, I ran into Brian from York Excavating Co LLC who took the now-viral drone photo of a funeral procession several months ago. He kindly offered to capture more aerial footage of our construction progress ~ and I can’t wait to share those updates with you once he does!

Side note ~ during the next check in, I won’t wear heels. Not pictured: the pallet I am standing on to prevent me from sinking into the ground.

Every day brings new progress down at the site, and it’s been incredible to watch it all come together!

This was where we’d build our future funeral home.

That became our plan. But as life would have it, shortly after buying this land, the owner of our current location approached us about purchasing the book of business. It was the perfect fit.

We still receive a lot of questions about our current facility ~ no, we do not own it. We lease it, and yes, there is a deed restriction on the property. That’s come up quite a bit lately.

Side note ~ during the next check in, I won’t wear heels. Not pictured: the pallet I am standing on to prevent me from sinking into the ground.

The crew is getting an early start today to beat the heat that’s expected to settle in for the day and stick around for most of the week!

I took a quiet moment this morning to stand inside what will soon be our chapel, coffee in hand, and all I can say is… this location is something special.

From where I was standing, you can see the soft glow of the sunrise breaking over the horizon and I already know that the sunsets here will be just as breathtaking. This spot truly offers the best of both worlds.

Check out those beautiful KBS Waste Solutions open top containers and the Rutter's coffee basking in the sunrise!! No better way to start this day!

The crew is getting an early start today to beat the heat that’s expected to settle in for the day and stick around for most of the week!

I took a quiet moment this morning to stand inside what will soon be our chapel, coffee in hand, and all I can say is… this location is something special.

Check out those beautiful KBS Waste Solutions open top containers and the Rutter's coffee basking in the sunrise!! No better way to start this day!

We had an architectural meeting this morning to finalize a few more design elements for the new funeral home in York Township.

One of the updates includes the addition of two more cubbies in our preparation room ~ bringing the total to eight ~ to ensure we have ample space to stay organized and efficient behind the scenes!

We also selected the paint color for our metal cabinetry. While stainless steel was originally considered, we opted for a powder coated finish instead, as it’s more practical and easier to maintain… especially when it comes to minimizing the appearance of fingerprints.

We’ve included a photo of the brick color we selected, and we’re currently waiting on garage door samples to ensure all of the exterior elements complement each other.

Lastly, we’re sharing the finalized restroom layout. You’ll notice the blue-circled areas ~ those indicate dedicated changing tables in both restrooms.

As parents ourselves, Nathan and I understand how frustrating it can be to find yourself without a place to change your child ~ mom’s aren’t the only ones who change diapers.

We went over security camera placement, re-organized the office area and added another office, discussed fireplace features, fire extinguisher placement, etc.

Whew.

Can we just build this funeral home already?

We had an architectural meeting this morning to finalize a few more design elements for the new funeral home in York Township.

One of the updates includes the addition of two more cubbies in our preparation room ~ bringing the total to eight ~ to ensure we have ample space to stay organized and efficient behind the scenes!

We’ve included a photo of the brick color we selected, and we’re currently waiting on garage door samples to ensure all of the exterior elements complement each other.

Lastly, we’re sharing the finalized restroom layout. You’ll notice the blue-circled areas ~ those indicate dedicated changing tables in both restrooms.

As parents ourselves, Nathan and I understand how frustrating it can be to find yourself without a place to change your child ~ mom’s aren’t the only ones who change diapers.

We went over security camera placement, re-organized the office area and added another office, discussed fireplace features, fire extinguisher placement, etc.

Whew.

Can we just build this funeral home already?

This morning, I visited John H. Myers to choose a cabinet color that will complement the tile flooring in our public bathrooms. Now, I need your help selecting the perfect granite!

I’m torn between these two options, but I’m particularly drawn to #2 because I believe it will do a better job at concealing water spots and residue, especially with frequent foot traffic and busy services bringing people in and out of the bathroom.

(The blue cabinet sample positioned above the carpet in the photos represents the color we’ve chosen for the cabinetry in our funeral arrangement room. This space will feature a dedicated area stocked with coffee, snacks, soda, and water to ensure families and guests have refreshments available during their visit.)

This countertop will go along with all cabinetry throughout the funeral home.

This morning, I visited John H. Myers to choose a cabinet color that will complement the tile flooring in our public bathrooms. Now, I need your help selecting the perfect granite!

This countertop will go along with all cabinetry throughout the funeral home.

Me and my crew stopped down to check out the new construction progress this afternoon!

It’s incredible to see the progress and envision what’s to come. Max had an absolute blast, especially when one of the dump truck drivers gave him a special shoutout with a friendly “beep!” … he was grinning from ear to ear!

Huge appreciation for the hardworking crew at York Excavating Co LLC and Stewart & Tate for making this new funeral home project happen. We can’t wait to see it all come together!

Me and my crew stopped down to check out the new construction progress this afternoon!

Huge appreciation for the hardworking crew at York Excavating Co LLC and Stewart & Tate for making this new funeral home project happen. We can’t wait to see it all come together!

On my way home today, I decided to take a brief detour, remembering that Cape Horn Road was closed in honor of fallen Officer Duarte. Wanting to pay my respects, I rerouted onto Chapel Church Road, weaving through the back lot until I reached the front of Cape Horn Road, where I could witness the funeral procession.

As I arrived, I was deeply moved by an incredible sight - every worker at York Excavating Co LLC had shut down their equipment, parked their machinery in formation facing the road, and stood in a solemn line, waiting in silence for the procession to pass. It was a powerful display of unity and respect, and I felt honored to stand with them.

Watching the long line of vehicles slowly make their way through, I was overwhelmed with emotion. But nothing struck me more than the moment I saw Officer Duarte’s flag-draped casket resting in the back of the hearse. The weight of the loss, the sacrifice he made, and the respect shown by the community brought me to tears.

This was a moment I will never forget. Thank you, Officer Duarte, for your service, your dedication, and your sacrifice. You are honored, and you are remembered.

Today, we had an exciting meeting with the company responsible for designing, crafting, and installing the stained-glass windows for our chapel in the new funeral home. In the next few weeks, we will travel to Mechanicsburg to pick out the specific colors we want incorporated into the designs.

A few weeks ago, while scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon the most charming mosaic tile designs. They immediately caught my eye, so I requested a sample. Nathan had a great idea… why not incorporate the mosaic tile in front of the fireplace in the lobby? I absolutely love this concept! It’s such a unique way to add character to the space!

Meanwhile, after a brief pause, site work at the property resumed this morning, and things are back in motion! Every step forward brings us closer to our vision, and the excitement is building as we watch it all come together.

It is incredible to think that after just 20 short months in business, we’re writing this post to share such an exciting milestone.

Effective today, we are thrilled to welcome Chad Lutz to our team!

About nine months ago, Nathan and I took a step back and recognized just how much we were growing. It became clear that we needed to begin the search for the right funeral director - someone whose values, vision, and dedication to serving families aligned with ours. As fate would have it, we crossed paths with Chad and quickly realized that his philosophy on funeral service, along with his deep commitment to caring for families in their time of need, mirrored our own.

Originally, our plan was to bring him on board once we opened our new location. However, the growth we’ve experienced over the past year has been nothing short of remarkable, making it clear that we needed his expertise now. We are incredibly grateful to have Chad as part of our team, and we know that his extensive experience, professionalism, and compassion will be invaluable to the families we serve.

Chad brings over 25 years experience as a licensed funeral director and currently serves on the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. His knowledge and leadership in the industry will be a tremendous asset to our funeral home.

With Chad joining our team, he and I will be able to divide responsibilities, ensuring that every family receives the personalized care, attention, and support they deserve. Rest assured, Nathan and I will remain just as hands-on with the funeral home as we are today.

Quick facts about Chad: He and his wife, Courtney, live in Wrightsville with their children. Courtney also has a background in funeral service as well (another husband and wife team, which we love!)

Check out our website for his full bio!

Please join us in giving Chad a warm welcome to our funeral home family - we are so excited for what the future holds!

It is incredible to think that after just 20 short months in business, we’re writing this post to share such an exciting milestone.

Effective today, we are thrilled to welcome Chad Lutz to our team!

Quick facts about Chad: He and his wife, Courtney, live in Wrightsville with their children. Courtney also has a background in funeral service as well (another husband and wife team, which we love!)

Check out our website for his full bio!

Please join us in giving Chad a warm welcome to our funeral home family - we are so excited for what the future holds!

This is a beautiful photo that someone sent me earlier this week of the construction site.

It reminded me of one of Sam’s favorite books when he was little, “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.”

We’re so excited to watch the progress continue in the next few weeks and can’t wait to see the stunning sunsets behind our new funeral home when it’s complete.

I picture benches outside our new funeral home, creating a peaceful space where guests can step out during evening viewings to get some fresh air. It would be a serene spot to sit, reflect, and take in the beauty of God’s artwork as the sun sets … a perfect moment of calm amidst life’s challenges.

This is a beautiful photo that someone sent me earlier this week of the construction site.

It reminded me of one of Sam’s favorite books when he was little, “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.”

We’re so excited to watch the progress continue in the next few weeks and can’t wait to see the stunning sunsets behind our new funeral home when it’s complete.

Big news! We have officially finalized the paperwork for our highway occupancy permit at 3070 Cape Horn Road! This journey has been a labor of love, and Max has been with us every step of the way since August of 2022 when we sat down with Traditions Bank to discuss purchasing the former Burg Funeral Home.

Fast forward to today … we got a call from daycare that Max was sick (his hand in the candy bowl at the bank indicated otherwise) so he came along to our appointment.

Max didn’t just tag along, he got to roll up his sleeves and help sign some of the paperwork! It was a full-circle moment that made this time even sweeter.

Fast forward to today … we got a call from daycare that Max was sick (his hand in the candy bowl at the bank indicated otherwise) so he came along to our appointment.

Max didn’t just tag along, he got to roll up his sleeves and help sign some of the paperwork! It was a full-circle moment that made this time even sweeter.

Nathan had an on-site meeting today with several key individuals who are playing a significant role in moving our project forward. While we absolutely admire the beauty of the snow, the winter season presents considerable challenges, particularly when managing a project of this magnitude.

Here’s a detailed update below of where things stand at 3070 Cape Horn Road.

York Excavating has made excellent progress on the site so far, but the extreme cold and snow have temporarily halted further work. With more cold weather and another possible snowstorm on the horizon, it’s likely that earth-moving operations will be delayed even further.

That said, this weather delay shouldn’t significantly affect the overall timeline. We’re still about two months away from receiving our land development permit approvals, which will need to be recorded before we can obtain the building permit. As a result, we’ve decided to pause any further site work until the current weather pattern passes.

Given the weather conditions and the timing of the permit approvals, it doesn’t make sense to push York Ex to continue right now. Once the weather improves, we plan to resume the site work. York Excavating is confident that they can have the site ready for vertical construction within 3 to 4 weeks after resuming the site work. Despite the delay, the site will be ready for construction by the time we receive the building permit, keeping our timeline on schedule.

Here’s a detailed update below of where things stand at 3070 Cape Horn Road.

December 31st - Aerial Photos

Here are some aerial photos of the property on Cape Horn Road captured on Saturday.

It’s incredible to think that 2024 is already coming to a close, and if everything stays on track, this site will be home to a brand-new funeral home in 2025! (Wow… it feels crazy saying 2025! Where does the time go… ?!)

For anyone curious about the layout and design of the new funeral home, here are some key details:

1.) The front of the funeral home will face Cape Horn Road, providing a welcoming and easily identifiable facade.

2.) The primary entrance will utilize the existing cemetery entrance, which will undergo a complete redesign and upgrade to ensure a seamless and aesthetically pleasing entry experience.

3.) For larger funeral processions, there will be a secondary gated exit leading directly out to Chapel Church Road, allowing for improved traffic flow and convenience.

We’re excited to share these plans as we move closer to bringing this vision to life!

What other questions do you have about our new location? Contact Us

December 20th - Max and Mommy Site Visit

Max and I made a trip to the lot today to take a closer look at all the progress. He was absolutely loving all the construction equipment. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but picture what things will look like this time next year.

Soft candlelight will glow gently in the windows, casting a comforting ambiance that draws people in. The exterior will be thoughtfully adorned with lush greenery and vibrant winter flowers, enhancing the space with a natural, seasonal charm. ❄️

As visitors step inside, they’ll be welcomed by our friendly, compassionate staff, ready to assist with care and kindness. The space will feel cozy and inviting, with a tall, beautifully decorated Christmas tree serving as a centerpiece and a lit fireplace providing both warmth and a sense of peace.

Every detail will be designed to make everyone feel at home during their time with us. We are doing things a little differently, as you can tell, and we are excited to take you along on this journey.

Groundbreaking Ceremony December 7th, 2024

Nearly 80 people joined us this morning for our groundbreaking ceremony! Whether you attended in person or watched via Facebook Live, we deeply appreciate your support. This is a significant milestone for our family, our funeral home and is a dream I’ve had for many years. Starting Monday morning, you’ll see work beginning on the property and progress underway! Let the fun begin! (I’ll also add that at 2 am this morning when I couldn’t sleep, I ordered a drone… the construction content starts next week!