J. S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Inc

Our 60 plus year old blue spruce tree, illuminated for Easter Week.

Embracing Spring with the arrival of new beginnings...

The J.S. Burkholder Family mourns the sudden loss of K9 Django from The City of Allentown Police Department. Our blue spruce tree is lit honoring his faithful and brave service. #AllentownPolice

As the three wise men found Him after following the Christmas Star to his humble manger in Bethlehem, may we find in our hearts an increased measure of devotion to the shining glory of His Message. In the true spirit of Christmas, we extend our warmest greetings to one and all. Merry Christmas from The J.S. Burkholder Family, Matthew G., Lisa, Matthew B., Bailey, Dee, Todd, Garry, Steve, Mary, Deanna, Carl III & Michael A.

Please join the J.S. Burkholder family in our annual tree lighting on Friday, November 27th, 2020. The event will be held virtually on our website, www.jsburkholder.com beginning at 4:30 PM also streaming here on our Facebook page. Wishing you and your family a meaningful Thanksgiving.

Today we salute our unselfish, dedicated military veterans of the United States of America. Several years back, these are photos from November 11, 2010, re-dedicating the monument originally erected in 1945 saluting our war heroes returning from World War II in Breinigsville. In addition, two rare photos discovered recently during the original ceremony in 1945. From the Schmoyer, Trexler and J.S. Burkholder families. May God Bless You and God Bless America. Stay well.

WHY IS IT CALLED HALLOWEEN? As with many holidays, Halloween is rooted in our agricultural past, marking the end of harvest time and the beginning of the new year. The origin of Halloween and many of its customs can be traced to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival that is Gaelic for summer’s end, a day to bid good-bye to warmth and light. It marks the end of the harvest season and the start of winter (the darker half of the year). ... The ancient Celts believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the passed was at its thinnest during Samhain, thereby making it the ideal time to communicate with the deceased and to divine the future. After the Roman Empire took over Celt-occupied lands in the 1st century A.D., the Romans combined many of the Celtic traditions, including Samhain, with their own. This day evolved into All Hallows’ Day or Allhallowmas, hallow meaning to sanctify. Years later, the Roman Catholic Church designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day, in honor of all Catholic saints. It was celebrated with a mass, bonfires, and people costumed as angels and saints parading through the villages. November 2 brings All Souls’ Day, a holy day set aside for honoring the dead and departed. Just as November 1 was once called All Hallows’ Day, October 31 was called All Hallows’ Eve. Over time, All Hallows’ Eve was shortened to Halloween! Stay well and safe. Enjoy a beautiful rare Full Halloween Moon this evening. Warmest regards, the J.S. Burkholder Family.

Last week our family honored Matthew G. Brand, Supervisor and manager for 30 years, of unparalleled dedication, ethics and service to the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Inc. Matthew joined our family in 1990, hired by our Chairman Emeritus, former owner and president Michael A. Weber. A simple thank you was not nearly enough for Matthew’s loyalty, work ethic, empathy to families and service to his community equal to the likes that is truly impossible to match.... Matthew has a love and passion for timepieces and our family felt it fitting to dedicate our exquisite Grandfather Clock, purchased by Michael A. Weber in 1990 coincidently, to him on his 30th year for his level of service that is second to none. Congratulations, Matthew, from our entire family and our sincere best wishes! Carl F. Schmoyer III, Owner/President and the entire staff and family of the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Inc.

Welcome Autumn. Equinoxes are opposite on either side of the equator, so the autumnal (fall) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the spring (vernal) equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. Enjoy this beautiful day and God Bless America.

Good days and bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day on this job. You do what God has called you to do. You show up. You put one foot in front of another. You get on the rig and you go out and you do the job - which is a mystery. And a surprise. You have no idea when you get on that engine. No matter how big the call. No matter how small. You have no idea what God is calling you to.... But he needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us." - FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Fallon Judge September 10, 2001. Father Judge would perish the next day, September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center. He is officially listed as Victim #0001. May we never forget all our nation and world lost that day. May God bless you and God Bless America.

Today we celebrate the American workers and their contributions to the strength, prosperity and well being of our great nation. This year has been especially trying for all of us. An extra special thank you to those workers helping our local businesses stay afloat, our colleagues and all the front line workers helping to keep us safe and healthy. Together, and with patience and perseverance we will look toward a better 2021. ... God Bless Pennsylvania, The Lehigh Valley and of course The United States of America.

75 years ago today, World War II came to an end. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Greatest Generation that can never fully be repaid. #WWII75

It was July 1st, 1776 when our Continental Congress took up the issue of Independence once again. A topic that was discussed for months and debated for years. Debates occurred all day and most of July 2nd. It was Richard Henry Lee a Gentlemen from Virginia, who put the vote to the floor in the Pennsylvania State House, which we now call Independence Hall... In Mr. Lee’s own words Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of, and right ought to be, free and independen...Continue reading

Regretfully, J.S. Burkholder Family, the Schmoyer’s and Upper Macungie Township announce the cancellation of the 2020 Village of Breinigsville Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular. The Schmoyer Family wishes you health, happiness and a safe meaningful July 4th. Stay well.

Our family wishes all a very meaningful Mother's Day and the very best in 2020.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Sending you warm and sunny thoughts on this first day of spring.

Dear friends, we will to continue meet our families needs in a socially conscious manner. Public events will be evaluated utilizing the professional data provided in real-time. Our staff will continue to respond to all family needs to the best of our ability at anytime. May God bless you in this unprecedented time.

Today, Wednesday February 26th is Ash Wednesday, the day many mark as the first day of Lent, the time of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday. Clergy all over the world dispense ashes, usually made by burning the palm fronds distributed on last year’s Palm Sunday, making the sign of the cross on the bowed foreheads before them. As they impose or dispense the ashes, the pastor or priest reminds each Christian of Genesis 3:19: For dust you are and to dust you shall return. May God Bless you during this time and God Bless America.