Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Funeral Services in Rochester, NY
Since 1946, Paul W Harris Funeral Home has served Rochester families with compassionate, personalized funeral and cremation services. As a family-owned and operated business for three generations, we prioritize treating every family as our own, combining world-class service with state-of-the-art facilities. Our mission centers on dignity, professionalism, and transparency, offering competitive pricing with no hidden fees. We guarantee satisfaction through our personal commitment to listen to your wishes, honor traditions, and provide 24/7 support. Our staff of licensed funeral directors brings decades of experience in arranging services tailored to diverse faiths, customs, and financial needs.We emphasize pre-planning options to alleviate future burdens and maintain a legacy of honesty, integrity, and community service. Our facilities accommodate both traditional and non-traditional ceremonies, ensuring each family receives individualized care. We stand behind our work with a satisfaction guarantee, offering refunds or discounts if expectations are unmet. Through our Cremation with Peace of Mind Plan, we ensure timely return of remains and transparent processes. Our commitment extends to veteran services, pet cremation, and bereavement support, reflecting our holistic approach to end-of-life care.
Services
Burial Services
Cremation Services
Pet Cremation
Veteran Services
Pre-Planning Consultations
Bereavement Support
Funeral Etiquette Guidance
Caskets & Urns
Reception Facilities
Memorial Services
Details
- Year established: 1946
Highlights and features
- We offer world-class service and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Our philosophy is to treat every family as we would our own.
- We guarantee satisfaction with a discount or refund if needed.
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
- Pre-planning services available with no obligation.
Services
Cremation Services
We offer comprehensive cremation services including simple cremation, memorial ceremonies, and church services. Our Cremation with Peace of Mind Plan ensures timely return of remains within 24 hours. Options include rental caskets for viewings, personalized urn selections, and veteran-specific memorials. All cremations include a cherry-stained wooden urn, with specialized military urns available.
Burial Services
Our burial services range from simple graveside ceremonies to full funeral home services with calling hours. Packages include facility use, professional coordination, and refreshments. We accommodate traditional religious services, non-traditional celebrations, and culturally specific ceremonies, with options for monument selection and cemetery arrangements.
Pre-Planning Consultations
We provide free pre-planning consultations to document your wishes and reduce future burdens. Our certified consultants explain all options, costs, and legal requirements. Pre-funded arrangements guarantee current pricing through irrevocable trusts, while revocable plans offer flexibility. We assist with Medicaid-compliant pre-funding and documentation storage.
Veteran Services
We specialize in securing veteran benefits including flags, military honors, and VA headstones. Our staff coordinates full military funeral rites, flag presentations, and paperwork for Social Security and life insurance claims. Families receive a complimentary wooden flag case with pre-funded services.
Pet Cremation
Pets at Peace by Harris offers individual pet cremation with private ceremonies. Our dedicated facility provides personalized urn selections, paw print memorials, and grief support for pet owners. Services include transportation, cremation, and memorial options for all pet sizes, with 24/7 availability.
People
Richard P. Harris
President/CEO
Licensed funeral director since 1972 with over 50 years in the industry. Active in community organizations including Irondequoit Rotary and Knights of Columbus. Leads the third-generation family business with a focus on compassionate service.
Richard F. Harris
Licensed Funeral Director
Licensed since 2000 with expertise in funeral celebrancy. Co-founder of Pets at Peace Memorial Cremation Services. Specializes in personalized ceremonies and community engagement through Rochester Genesee Valley Funeral Directors Association.
Kat Vancil-Coleman
Licensed Funeral Director
Certified funeral celebrant and crematory operator with a focus on death education. Recognized in American Funeral Director Magazine for leadership and ethical standards. Provides personalized memorialization options and grief support.
John Choffin
Licensed Funeral Director
Licensed in New York and Florida with over 20 years of experience. Combines traditional funeral services with modern memorialization techniques. Active in Ukrainian community organizations and cemetery boards.
Jane Williams
Licensed Funeral Director
Current student at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science with a health sciences background. Focuses on compassionate care and modern funeral service practices. Active in community outreach and memorial event coordination.
Questions
What types of funeral services do you offer?
We provide traditional burials, cremation services, veteran honors, pet cremation, and pre-planning options with customizable memorialization.
Can I personalize a funeral service?
Yes, we specialize in personalized ceremonies reflecting the deceased's life, including unique themes, locations, and cultural traditions.
Do you offer pre-planning options?
Yes, we provide free pre-planning consultations with guaranteed pricing through irrevocable trusts and flexible revocable arrangements.
Are cremation services included?
Yes, including simple cremation, memorial services, and full ceremonies with church visitations and rental casket options.
How do you handle veteran benefits?
We coordinate full military honors, VA headstones, flag presentations, and paperwork for Social Security and insurance benefits.
What payment options are available?
We offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees, pre-funding through trusts, and financing options for all services.
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