Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home is the premier provider of affordable cremation services in Endicott, Vestal and Binghamton, NY areas. We offer a wide range of options to suit your needs and budget, including urns, memorialization items, and more. If you’re ready to get started with us today, we can help you schedule an appointment or answer any questions that may be on your mind.
You can trust our team at Hopler & Eschbach to handle all aspects of the cremation process from start to finish so that it’s as easy as possible for you and your family members during this difficult time. Our highly trained and compassionate staff will guide you through every step along the way so that nothing falls through the cracks. We take care of everything from beginning to end—allowing families like yours, the peace-of-mind when they need it most.
Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to ashes by flame and heat. These are sometimes referred to as cremated remains or "cremains". The ashes may be buried, entombed, stored in a columbarium niche (niche), or scattered over an area that has been dedicated for that purpose. Ashes can also be kept at home with their families.
With cremation, the ways you can honor your loved ones are not limited. You can have a funeral or memorial service before the cremation or anytime you want to. We know how important it is to create a unique and memorable service for your loved one and we can assist you! These factors can also create an opportunity for a healing experience for you and your family. We also offer several different types of urns for those who wish to keep their loved one's ashes on display in their homes.
Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home has two exclusive crematories in Broome Country - on Chenango St. in Binghamton (City Cremations) and another in Main St. in Endicott (Twin Tiers Cremation Service). Crematories in New York DO NOT directly serve individual consumers as per state law(a crematory can only accept a deceased body from a licensed funeral director or a registered funeral home).
A number of local funeral homes make use of outside state crematories in Pennsylvania, sometimes they even hire a third-party in delivering the deceased to the crematory. We at Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home prefer using the City Cremations in Binghamton, where we can fully observe the process and make sure that the best standard operating procedures are done. We do not entrust your loved ones to third-party transport, and we personally deliver the deceased to the crematory. We also fully guarantee that we will assist you in every step of the way to ensure everything is done smoothly.
Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home is fully transparent in our services and assist you in meeting all your needs in this difficult time (at a very fair price). We are unlike some funeral homes that if you pay more, you get more services – less payment means less services for them. At Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home, we will help you in all those matters. Our compassionate staff will help you ease the burden during this emotionally stressful period.
The staff at Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home are experts on cremation and will gladly answer any question you have pertaining to cremation. A few common questions are listed below:
No, a casket is not required for cremation. All that is required by state law is an alternative container (such as a rigid cardboard or plywood box). You may however select a cremation service that involves using a casket for a visitation or funeral service prior to cremation taking place.
No. In New York State, no state or local law requires embalming. You may however choose a service that may require embalming for viewing or if there will be an extended time between the time of death and cremation.
Yes, immediate family members may briefly view the deceased prior to cremation. The deceased is usually first washed, dressed and prepared for viewing.
There are many options. Remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or cremation garden, placed in a columbarium, kept at home, or scattered on private property. We also offer ocean scattering. Our staff will explain these options with you and make any arrangements you request.
The Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home and the crematory we use have developed a rigorous set of operating policies and procedures. Each person involved with providing the cremation double checks the identity of the deceased as each step of the process occurs. Positive identification of the deceased is assured throughout each stage of the cremation process using a unique stainless steel ID tag system and assigned numerical paperwork accompanying the same.
You can also ask your funeral director if they personally deliver your loved one to the crematory or if they utilize a third party to take them to an out of state crematory. In Broome County there are two crematories that both adhere to the highest professional standards and practices there is no need to use an out of state crematory. The two local crematories are located on Chenango St in Binghamton and on Main St. in Endicott. Any other facility representing themself as a crematory is not being truthful.
It depends on the size and weight of the individual. For an average size adult, cremation takes from two to three hours at normal operating temperature between 1,500 degrees F to 2,000 degrees F.
Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light gray in color. The remains of an average size adult usually weigh between four to six pounds.
With the exception of minute and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are given back to the family.
An urn is not required by law. However, an urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased through us, or provided by the family, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary cardboard container.