Business Details
23 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Funeral Services in Elmira, NY
Walter J Kent Funeral Home has served the Elmira, NY community since 2003, fulfilling the founder's vision of providing compassionate, personalized funeral services. As a family-owned and operated business, we offer traditional and cremation services, pre-planning options, and veterans' honors, with a focus on community support and personalized memorials. Our facility features accessible spaces, local artwork, and flexible arrangements for larger gatherings.With decades of combined experience, our licensed directors handle all logistical and legal requirements while providing emotional support during difficult times. We maintain partnerships with PrePlan for secure pre-need funding and collaborate with local florists, cemeteries, and honor guards to ensure comprehensive service. Our commitment to excellence extends to grief counseling resources and 24/7 availability for emergency services.
Services
Traditional Funerals
Cremation Services
Pre-Planning
Veterans Services
Funeral Merchandise
Monument Ordering
Grief Counseling
Death Certificates
Legal Paperwork
Transportation Services
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- Family-owned operation with 40+ years combined funeral service experience
- Customizable funeral arrangements with local artwork and memorial options
- 24/7 availability for emergency services and immediate support
- Secure FDIC-insured pre-need planning through PrePlan partnerships
- Specialized veterans' honors services with local honor guard coordination
What people say
Compassionate staff support
Personalized memorial options
Professional service execution
Accessible facility design
Secure pre-planning process
Services
Traditional Funerals
We provide comprehensive traditional funeral services including visitation, viewing, and burial arrangements. Our staff coordinates all aspects from casket selection to cemetery logistics while offering personalized touches through photo displays, heirloom presentations, and customized service programs. Families receive guidance on legal requirements and memorial documentation.
Cremation Services
Our cremation services include private viewings, memorial ceremonies, and urn selection with biodegradable options available. We assist with scattering arrangements, permanent memorial placement, and provide keepsake jewelry for ash retention. Services accommodate both closed and open-casket preferences before cremation.
Pre-Planning
We facilitate pre-need funeral planning with FDIC-insured funding through PrePlan. This includes documented service preferences, customizable payment plans, and transferable arrangements. Our directors help create detailed records to ensure future wishes are honored while providing peace of mind for families.
Veterans Services
Specialized services for veterans include honor guard ceremonies, flag presentation, and national cemetery arrangements. We coordinate with local veteran organizations and ensure eligibility-based benefits are secured, including government-provided markers and burial allowances.
Funeral Merchandise
We offer locally crafted caskets, biodegradable urns, and personalized memorial stationery. Our selection includes engraved jewelry, custom photo frames, and cemetery monuments. All merchandise options are presented with transparent pricing and customization capabilities for individual tributes.
People
Walter J. Kent
Owner & Licensed Funeral Director
With 40+ years in funeral service since 1981, Walter founded this Elmira funeral home in 2003 after previous local service. He serves on state funeral director leadership teams and specializes in veteran memorials and certified celebrant services.
Tyler E. Kent
Licensed Funeral Director
Joining in 2014 after funeral service education at Hudson Valley CC, Tyler brings business administration expertise. He manages daily operations while maintaining active roles in local funeral director associations and community service.
John P. Knapp
Licensed Funeral Director
With 35+ years experience since 1990, John provides compassionate service grounded in both funeral industry expertise and spiritual counseling as a Lay Pastor. He coordinates personalized memorial arrangements with deep community connections.
Questions
What types of funeral services do you offer?
We provide traditional funerals with visitation/viewing, cremation services with memorial options, green burials, and veterans' honors ceremonies. Services can be held at our facility, places of worship, or other locations.
How can I personalize a funeral service?
Personalization includes photo displays, heirloom presentations, customized service programs, and themed memorials. Our directors help incorporate military honors, organizational affiliations, and unique family traditions into services.
Do you offer pre-planning options?
Yes, we offer FDIC-insured pre-need planning through PrePlan with customizable payment options. This includes documented service preferences, transferable arrangements, and guaranteed pricing protections.
Are embalming services required?
New York state doesn't mandate embalming, but we require it for public open-casket services. Private family viewings with closed caskets don't require embalming, giving families flexible options.
How do you support veterans' families?
We coordinate military honors with local honor guards, provide government marker applications, and handle VA benefit documentation. Our staff understands specific requirements for veteran cemetery placements and ceremonial services.
What merchandise options are available?
We offer locally crafted wood/metal caskets, biodegradable urns, memorial jewelry, and cemetery monuments. Our selection includes personalized stationery, photo frames, and keepsake items for customized tributes.
