Cuyahoga Falls Funeral Home Plans for Cremation Demands

Cuyahoga Falls City Council voted to approve legislation for the addition of crematories at any funeral home within the city at its meeting Monday night.

“It will be a good investment in our family owned business and for our future,” Ken Shoemaker said, owner of in Cuyahoga Falls.

Shoemaker told Council the demand for cremation has doubled in the last 15 years.

He’s now working with an architect to build an addition for a crematory at his Falls funeral home at 1930 Front Street, which is a business that has been in the family since 1958. The cost for the project is estimated to hover near $250,000.

“It’s important to me so that the families have piece of mind that we are caring for their loved one, from the time we pick them up to the time we return them to them,” Shoemaker said.

Ron Salvatore, equipment sales consultant for Matthews International, was on hand to answer questions from Council members regarding the crematory.

Ward Two Councilwoman Mary Ellen Pyke questioned whether residents and the community would notice when a cremation was taking place.

“Under certain conditions you may see heat waves from the flu,” Salvatore said.

Salvatore said the facility will be operational while the funeral home is conducting visitations and it will not be disruptive to the community. The crematory unit will be similar to those used at nearby funeral homes in Fairlawn and Akron.

He added that Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a permit to the funeral home. It’s required the crematory has a moderator system that maintains temperatures mandated by the EPA.