Two funeral homes have partnered to purchase Porterfield-Scheid Funeral Home, 890 Isabel Drive, Lebanon.
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Homes & Crematory in Lancaster County and the Bean Funeral Homes & Crematory in Berks County purchased Porterfield-Scheid on Jan. 28 and renamed it Snyder Bean Funeral Home & Crematory. Terms were not disclosed.
Snyder Bean’s partners are Charles F. “Chad” Snyder III and Kevin Bean. Katelynn E. Fetter, a licensed funeral director, will serve as supervisor. She’s worked with Snyder Funeral Homes since January 2024 and was previously a funeral director at Buch Funeral Home.
Jim Porterfield, who has been a cornerstone of local funeral services for over 50 years and most recently served as the supervisor of Porterfield Funeral Home & Crematory, is retiring. His legacy of compassionate care is set to continue under the stewardship of Snyder Bean, the new partners said.
“We’re proud to be an independent, locally owned funeral home. We are family-owned and family-focused and committed to serving our communities,” Snyder said, adding that Snyder Bean will honor Porterfield-Scheid’s pre-paid service arrangements and is happy to review them with clients as well.
Located in North Cornwall Township, Snyder Bean Funeral Home & Crematory has modern facilities that cater to all faiths and cultures, accommodating services ranging from intimate gatherings to larger ceremonies.
“Porterfield-Scheid was designed to be a funeral home from day one. It’s all on one level, and it’s fully ADA-compliant. It’s also important that it has the largest parking lot of funeral homes in the area,” Snyder said.
Bean said the funeral home is in an area that’s experiencing a lot of growth; it’s next to the new Lebanon Social Security office and there are grocery stores and restaurants nearby. “It’s a very convenient location, and it’s only 5 to 10 minutes from downtown Lebanon,” he said.
Snyder and Bean are renovating the interior of the 8,500-square-foot funeral home. Snyder said interior space is being reconfigured to add a café and a comfort room; both areas will be similar to areas currently in both Bean and Snyder’s funeral homes. Snyder Bean Funeral Home remains open during the renovations.
Bean said the café will serve as a place where people can take a break and grab a cup of coffee. Snyder said it will also serve as the space where “lunch and learn” events will be held. “We host Lunch and Learn in Lancaster County; it’s a way people can learn about pre-planning,” he said.
The comfort room, which is setup like a bedroom, is a place where people can view their loved room in a private, more intimate setting. “A comfort room has become popular. It takes the final farewell for the family and elevates it to more of a comfortable setting. It also offers people an opportunity to say a final farewell in the case of a cremation,” Snyder said.
Snyder Bean Funeral Home has an onsite crematory, which has a viewing room where family members can watch the cremation process. “Some families find it comforting to know cremation is done onsite and that we have an area where they can watch the process if they choose to do so,” Snyder said.
Bean said the funeral home’s staff is also available to help families prepare Celebration of Life services. The funeral home also offers celebrant services for those who may not be affiliated with a church. “We work with all faiths, and we work with a family’s budget,” he said.
Snyder said the new Snyder Bean Funeral Home & Crematory also has a unique offering for motorcycle riders — a specially designed Harley Hearse.
Snyder and Bean each have a family legacy of serving their communities’ funeral needs. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Homes & Crematory was established in Lancaster in 1947 by Chad’s grandfather. Bean Funeral Homes & Crematory was established in 1955 by Kevin’s parents.
Both families have ties to Lebanon County and a tradition of funeral service to the county. The Snyder family has worked closely with Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and the Lebanon VA Medical Center for many years in their funeral service work.
The Bean family emigrated to the United States and settled in Bunker Hill, near Jonestown, where the Bunker Hill Evangelical Church is located on what was formerly the Bean family farm. Bean’s parents, the late Robert E. and Jacqueline D. Bean, both graduated from what was then Annville High School. Mizpah “M.B.” Krum and Robert Krum, who owned the Roland Funeral Home in Lebanon for two generations, were related to Kevin Bean.
For more information visit snyderbeanfuneralhome.com or call 717-272-4634.
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