Our Story

Our Story

James Funeral Home & Cremation Service is dedicated to providing service beyond expectations to the families of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding Lehigh Valley communities. For over 60 years families of the Lehigh Valley have trusted The Snyder, Hinkle & Lunsford Funeral Home and now that tradition of care has been passed to Louis C. James and the James Funeral Home and Cremation Service PC, who is now entrusted with providing the care and compassion needed when a family experiences the death of a loved one.

The Story of Two Bethlehem Funeral Homes

Since the early 1940s, when Daniel Snyder opened and operated the Snyder Funeral Home, from his residence at 527 Center Street, a special relationship began with the families of Center City and North Bethlehem. Through his vision and in an effort to meets the needs of the families he served, he expanded the funeral home and into what we have today. In the Early 1970s, Harlan Hinkle, who was operating a Funeral Home in West Bethlehem, saw a need to expand his growing funeral home. A strong friendship developed and Harlan Hinkle and Dan Snyder, who was looking to retire, decided to join their firms and create the Snyder Hinkle Funeral Home. Under Harlan Hinkle's ownership, the Snyder Hinkle Firm continued to grow and its reputation compassionate and reverent care became well known in the Bethlehem community. When Harlan Hinkle decided to retire in the early 1990s, the firm was sold to Susan Spatig. However in in early 2000, it was once again taken back by Harlan Hinkle, when Susan decided to leave funeral service as a career. Harlan had a great concern for the families who called on the Snyder Hinkle Funeral Home in their time of need and wanted to ensure that these families would be cared for. He later sold the firm to John Lunsford, but remained very active in the business. John Lunsford was new to our community and was also the director of the Funeral Service Education program atNorthampton Community College. John was a compassionate and caring man who had a great love for his work. He was an ordained Baptist minister and his empathetic and compassionate care for the families he served was always considered a true asset to the Funeral Home. Harlan remained active working in the funeral home with John, until his death on June 7, 2009.

Compassionate Funeral and Cremation Care Continues

In June 2012, John Lunsford died very suddenly and the funeral home was forced to close temporarily until a new owner was found. On February 15, 2013 the funeral home was sold to Louis C. James, a longtime resident of Bethlehem and a licensed Funeral Director with over 20 years’ experience. Lou knew both John Lunsford and Harlan Hinkle and when the idea of purchasing the firm was initiated; it seemed like a perfect fit. The firm re-opened on March 12, 2013, after a new license was issued by the PA State Board of Funeral Directors.

If you have a need for funeral services immediately, please call the funeral home at and we will assist you. The funeral home name has changed to James Funeral Home & Cremation Service, PC. (Successor to: Snyder, Hinkle & Lunsford Funeral Home.)

Our website contains information about our services, and links to meaningful resources. Please continue to watch our website for continued updates and further information about the new owner and new staff of the funeral home. You will also see some familiar names returning to the firm to help you when there is a need of our services. Judith Hinkle, Harlan's wife will continue to assist from time to time with funerals and viewings. Jennifer Nicholas, a licensed Funeral Director, who assisted John Lunsford and families seeking pre-arrangement services, has also returned and will continue to guide families in their options for funeral and cremation services as well as the resources for funding such arrangements.

Our Mission Statement

James Funeral Home and Cremation Service is here to serve the families of Bethlehem and the Greater Lehigh Valley at their time of need. We are here to provide affordable funeral and cremation services and strive to provide a service within everyone’s budget. We are a non-denominational funeral home serving families of all religious faiths and faith communities with Reverence, Dignity and Respect Always.

What Makes Us Unique

Ours is not just any funeral home. With our years of experience, and highly professional, friendly and compassionate staff, James Funeral Home & Cremation Service, is the first choice many Lehigh Valley Families. Since the re-opening of the former Snyder Hinkle & Lunsford Funeral Home under the ownership of Louis James, the tradition of Reverence, Dignity and Respect that was begun through these former owners, has now been entrusted to Louis James and the James Funeral Home & Cremation Service. 

James Funeral Home offers a full selection of:
  • Funeral and memorial service options, ranging from traditional to the uniquely innovative and personal
  • Burial and cremation services
  • Natural choices, including Green Burials and Green Cremation
  • Celebrant-Leader Services, available when a more secular style of service is desired.
  • Chaplin Services available when there is no Church affiliation.
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.
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