Our History
The Griffiths Family Funeral Homes is a family owned and operated funeral business located in Northeast Pennsylvania. We operate out of three separate locations. In Schuylkill County we operate the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, Inc., located at 655 East Broad Street, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania; and the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, Inc., 2066 West Penn Pike, New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. The Holmes-Griffiths Funeral Home, Inc., is located at 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua in a shared arrangement with the Griffiths Funeral Home. The Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home is located at 211 First Street, Weatherly, in Carbon County Pennsylvania. These three locations allow us to successfully serve the families in the Tamaqua, Panther Valley and Weatherly school districts, as well as those who have ventured out of the area and wish to come home for their burial.As a sixth generation funeral director, I bring with me a sense of history of the region and the families that we have served. Most people know me just as Sank Griffiths. I was named E. Franklin after my father and grandfather, who both served the community as funeral director's and as active members of the community. I have always felt that it is my responsiblity to guide families through difficult times. Any licensed funeral director can successfully orchestrate a nice funeral; however, the services we offer cover much more. I look at funeral service as much more than the actual service and burial, this is where I separate from the traditional funeral director.When I decided to join my father's business, I knew that, for me, there had to be more that I could do for the family I was serving. It is in this end that I am greatly rewarded. I can assist the family with processing pensions, acquiring health premium refunds and filing insurance claims. These are just a few of the tedious and often confusing paperwork associated with a death in the family. I am also available to discuss the value of pre-planned funerals and how this can relieve family members of dealing with this burden at time of need. Planning for the inevitable allows families the opportunity to be active participants without the grief. For families facing the prospect of in-home or nursing home care, I can assist with the applications and the establishing of Irrevocable Burial Accounts that meet all goverment imposed standards.
I find being a funeral director rewarding. I feel that caring for friends and neighbors is more than just a business, it is a vocation. At the Griffiths Family Funeral Homes, we try to make a difference with our kind and professional staff.
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E. Franklin Griffiths III, Owner/Funeral Director/Supervisor
E. Franklin "Sank" Griffiths III is the owner of Griffiths Family Funeral Services. Sank is a 1977 graduate of Tamaqua High School and a 1978 graduate of The Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. He is a 1982 graduate of Susquehanna University with a B.S. in Business with an emphasis in Finance and Economics. He is a 1983 graduate of New England Institute of Mortuary Science obtaining a Mortuary Degree and graduating Magna Cum Lade. Sank is married to the former Susan (Steigerwalt) who also was born, raised, and graduated for Tamaqua Area High School. Suzy, has worked as a nurse at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia for over thirty years. They share six children.
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Philip Jeffries, Funeral Director/Supervisor
Philip Jeffries was born in Ohio in 1944 and came to Weatherly 1959 as a sophomore. The same year he began helping his father at the Funeral Home.He played baritone in the WHS Band; Sr. class play; Debating team; yearbook; Initiation Committee.Phil was a member of the class of 1962 from WHS. He attended Penn State University - Hazleton and graduated Cum Laude in 1966 from the American Academy McAllister Institute Funeral Service NY, NY.He interned at the Trexler Funeral Home in Allentown from 1966-1967. In 1967 he joined the United States Army. He was a member of the U.S. Army Graves Registration in Vietnam, Embalmer and ID Specialist at Danang Mortuary 1968. Phil was an instructor at the Ft. Lee, Virginia School for Memorial Activities.He returned to Weatherly in 1970 and joined his father in the Funeral Business. His parents retired to Lancaster, PA.On December 20, 1970, Phil married the former Margaret Wiessner of Coaldale. They have two daughters: Lisa, wife of Jeff Winheld of John's Island, SC and Amy, wife of Dr. Scott Lintz of Palmyra, PA. Phil was the commencement speaker at Amy's 1992 graduation from WHS. Margaret and Phil are the proud grandparents of Olivia Sema of Summerville, SC and Kreider and Katie Lintz of Palmyra.Phil was the Assistant Coach for WHS Cross Country team from 1987 to 2004; Member: Weatherly Schools Wellness Committee; Hazle Azalea Fellowship Lodge F&AM Hazleton and Lehigh Consistory Allentown; American Legion Post 360 - Weatherly; VFW; WHS Alumni Association; Silver Ridge Hunting Club; Life/Endowment Member of NRA and Weatherly Tree Commission. He served as Carbon County Coroner from 1988 to 1996. He is still a deputy coroner. He gave many presentations to students about drinking and driving with Fire Companies in the county and also a presentation at PA State Police Camp Cadet.Since 1988 he has been a field study preceptor in embalming for Northampton Community College. He recently gave a special presentation with pictures to Funeral Service at NCCC about the Danang Mortuary and is currently working with Aurora Films of Lancaster, PA on a documentary "57 Foxtrot" about the Vietnam Mortuary system. He has given many presentations to the family living classes at WHS about Funeral Service.
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Sandy Kleckner, Office Manager
Sandra D. (Roberts) Kleckner was born in 1958 at the former Coaldale State Hospital and is the daughter of the late David J. Roberts, Jr. and Eleanor M. "Dutch" (Heisler) Roberts. Sandy was a graduate of the Tamaqua High School Class of 1976 where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the French National Honor Society. Always a Tamaqua resident, Sandy lived in the Middle Ward until her family lost their home to a devastating fire in 1972 (along with Wood Brothers Candy Store, Gerhard's Furniture Store, Jack James' Tavern, and many other families lost their apartments and possessions). She then lived in the South Ward until her marriage to Tim Kleckner, at which point they started their family on Dutch Hill and later moved to Pine Street. Tim and Sandy are now enjoying their quiet, secluded home in Walker Township.You may recognize Sandy from several Tamaqua businesses where she worked part time over the years....Faust Pet Shop, Donut World, the Napoli, J.E. Morgan Knitting Mills, White Shield/Rite Aid and Miners/Heritage/Sovereign Bank. Once her children were in school full time, she began a 27 year career in the health insurance industry, attached to the AARP Health Insurance Program. Under that contract she worked for Prudential, the Hartford and United Health Care. She was a licensed insurance agent in 13 states for 25 years. Starting in Customer Service, she advanced into positions in Training, Operations Support and Quality Review and Analysis, finally managing teams of agents in locations across the country. During her career she received Top Performer Awards, completed courses in Mature Market Excellence and earned an Associate, Customer Service designation through LOMA/FLMI. Upon her retirement in 2016, Sandy joined Sank and his team. Her position as office manager gives her an opportunity to use her years of experience to help local families through the arduous tasks of filing claims, completing notifications, updating insurance and sometimes just lending an empathetic ear. Sandy is the proud mother of two sons, Joshua D. Kleckner, a Corrections Officer at SCI Mahanoy and Jamie E. Kleckner, husband of Debbie (Foringer), a Firefighter/EMT/Diver with the city of Harrisburg. She is blessed with grandchildren Austin, Haley, Sydnee and Kendall. Sandy volunteers at Horses and Horizons' Therapeutic Learning Center assisting differently- abled children with their lessons, loves a good workout/class at the gym and enjoys riding their Harley Davidson with Tim on short trips or week long adventures - yes, you can pack for a week in a saddle bag!
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Paul G. Corinchock, Funeral Attendant
Paul Corinchock was born in 1956 at the former Coaldale State Hospital. Raised in Hometown, he graduated in 1974 from Tamaqua Area High School, where he had enrolled in the North Schuylkill Vocational School program. Paul and his wife, Liz (O'Malley) live in Tamaqua.At the age of 14 he joined the workforce at the Beacon Diner in Hometown. In September 1974, after graduating form high school, he was hired by the L.V. Railroad as a freight brakeman. Furloughed in 1982 and with no sign of returning to work in the near future, Paul requested a leave of absence. The following year was exciting for him: in 1983, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June, married Liz in August and left for active duty in September!He entered boot camp of the naval Station Great Lakes Training in Illinois. He was then assigned to Aircraft Carrier USN Carl Vinson. The following year the Navy trained Paul as an aviation structural mechanic after which he transferred to Moffett Federal Airfield in California as a member of VP46 as a cryptologist handling TOP SECRET information until 1988 with five years of active duty. Returning to Pennsylvania, Paul served in VP46 of the Naval Air Station Joint Base Willow Grove, Horsham. In 1989 he transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve and rejoined the L.V. Railroad, retiring after 37 years. Paul served 17 years with the Navy Reserve and retired in 2006, with 22.5 years. After retiring from the Naval Reserve, Paul returned home and became active in community organizations. He joined the East End Fire Company. As a member of the Schuylkill Carbon Marine Corps League, Detachment 626, he volunteers each year with Toys for Tots. He is sergeant -at-arms for Tamaqua's American Legion, C.H. Berry Post 173. Both he and his wife are supporters of the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, where Paul is also an instructor in the art of pysanky.Paul and Liz participate in Wreaths Across America, an initiative during which volunteers lay wreaths at grave sites to honor deceased American veterans. In addition to taking part in wreath-laying ceremonies at Fort Indiantown National Cemetery, the Corinchocks traveled to France in 2018 to help honor 9,000 U.S. soldiers who lost their lives during World War II and who are buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.In retirement, the Corinchocks enjoy traveling to foreign countries to experience firsthand the customs, cuisines and ways of life. To date they have visited 36 countries - with 159 more on their bucket list!Paul and Liz are the proud and happy parents of Nicole who lives in Allentown with her husband, Neil Lipinsky, a firefighter, formerly of the Tamaqua area.
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Bettanne (Lucko) Kosciolek, Advanced Funeral Planner
Betteanne Lucko Kosciolek is our Advanced Funeral Planner. Sheis a long-time resident of Nesquehoning graduating from MarianCatholic High School in 1984 and Bloomsburg University in 1988.She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Shealso obtained her PA Real Estate License in 1988. Betteannebegan her career in customer service working in the FloristIndustry at Gigliotti’s Flowers in Jim Thorpe, where she was a co-owner/operator. Betteanne married Casimir “Caszy” Kosciolek in1989 and shortly after moved to the sunshine state to pursue herhusband’s career as a professional Umpire. She honed herleadership and customer service skills as the Manager of The SilkWarehouse in Lakeland, FL. After 4 years, they returned toPennsylvania and Betteanne enjoyed a 15-year career at CIGNAGroup Insurance, where she learned all aspects of the InsuranceIndustry. Upon retiring from CIGNA, she recognized the need forstorage in our area, so she built and operated Xtra-Space SelfStorage in West Penn Twp. The storage business was verysuccessful and was sold to M&Amp; M Self Storage in 2008.As a mother of two children, Betteanne was very active in ourschool community. She served as President, Vice-President andSecretary to many Fund-Raising committees and Booster clubs atSt. Jerome’s, Tamaqua Area and Marian High School. Communityservice and building relationships have been an integral part ofBetteanne’s career. These customer first values will continue asshe is focused on helping our families navigate the sometimes-difficult task of pre-planning funeral arrangements. Betteanne’scompassion for people and customer first philosophy is an assetto the families we serve every day at E. Franklin Griffiths Familyof Funeral Homes.
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CJ Walters, Walters Monument Company
After graduating college with an associates degree, CJ joined his fathers generational monument company in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania Walters Monuments following in his father Craig's footsteps. For the last 13 years I've worked in all aspects of our company from foundations, installations and deliveries, repairs, sandblasting and sales. I have taken continuing education classes in South Carolina, Georgia and at regional and national conventions, expanding my knowledge and ability in the areas of shape carving, and new industry processes for differing sandblasting techniques. Assisted by my mother Helen and long time office manager Lisa Sefanick I oversee the office along with doing on site engravings and deliveries. We maintain a large display of over 200 monuments at our Summit Hill location , and are able to design custom monuments tailored to the wants, and desires of every family..In my free time I enjoy traveling with my wife, reading, fishing and playing pickle ball.
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Lisa (Porambo) Stefanick, Monument sales & design
Lisa (Porambo) Stefanick is a life-long resident of Lansford. A graduate of Marian High School, Lisa is the mother of two daughters, Alyssa and Jocelyn and grandmother to Zander and Julius (fur grand puppy).I started working for the former Summit Hill Marble & Granite Company in 1986, working alongside Craig Walters and their employees as secretary/bookkeeper. In 1988, Craig started Walters Monument Company, and I joined Craig in the company assisting families choose their cemetery memorial. The business continued manufacturing memorials on site, so I educated myself in the designing and preparing the memorials for sandblast in Barre, VT. I currently still assist the families in sales, while concentrating much time to designing personalized monuments for families reflecting the legacy of each family served. CJ, and Craig invested in computer design software to assist with the ability to design intricate monuments, while allowing families the opportunity to edit sketches down to the most specific detail. Along with daily office duties, I can design a memorial listening to the family's ideas and not just choosing from a book. With my many years in the monument industry I strive to help the grieving family through this difficult life experience by honoring and preserving their loved ones memory and helping them achieve comfort and closure. By choosing the proper memorial, the remaining family can reflect and remember their loved ones for years to come.
