Parise Funeral Home History

On May 27, 1941, Carmine J. (C.J.) Parise received his undertaker's license, as it was called back then by the state of Pennsylvania. Carmine's interest in the funeral profession was inspired by his uncle, Jacob B. Graziano, who was the first funeral director of Italian decent to serve the growing Italian immigrant population in the city of Carbondale during the early part of the 20th century. Carmine graduated from the McAllister School of Embalming in New York City and returned home to serve his apprenticeship with his uncle and Simpson funeral director, John J. Powell.

Upon receiving his license, he decided to establish his own business on the city's west side of town. Over time his professionalism, compassionate service and care appealed to people of all nationalities and religions. As more people requested his services, Carmine needed additional help with funerals. This help came from his wife Angela, Vito and Mary Pepe, John DePoti, Joseph (Bell) Baglio, Sam DeVita, Clement (Clay Ross) Genovese, Anthony (Shambake) Sposito and Robert G. Butts. These people were close friends and relatives who remained dedicated employees until their deaths.

Like all other funeral directors of that time, he conducted wakes and funerals from the deceased's home. Sensing the need for an alternative place to hold such services, he purchased a home located at 89 Farview Street in 1949 and converted it into a funeral home and residence for his family. As business continued to grow over the years, several additions and renovations were made to the funeral home allowing for the residence to be confined to the second and third floors of the building and the enlarged first floor to be used solely for visitations and funerals. Carmine, working hand and hand with his father Louis Parise, a retired coal miner and self taught tradesman did most of the renovations.

In 1965, Carmine purchased a home across the street from the funeral home, which allowed him to add a casket display room and a parking lot for over 30 cars. Today's enlarged and renovated casket display room provides families with a choice of over 20 hardwood and metal caskets, a full line of burial vaults including two full size models, over 30 dresses and suits and a separate room displaying cremation caskets, urns and urn vaults.

In 1957, Carmine established the Parise Ambulance Service. With no local volunteer ambulance corps, area funeral homes provided the only means of local and out of town emergency medical transportation. During the mid 1960's and early 1970's, the Parise Ambulance Service answered more emergency calls than any other ambulance service in Carbondale. They also were proud of the fact that those less fortunate families where never charged for their services. The ambulance service came to an end in 1974 after the long awaited formation of the Cottage Hose Ambulance Corps.

While Carmine continued to operate his growing funeral business and ambulance service, he also had a successful embalming trade service. From the time he received his license, he offered his expert skills in embalming, restorative art and cosmetology to area funeral directors who would contract with him for these services. These funeral directors either had no interest in this aspect of the business or required extra help during busy periods. By taking advantage of this opportunity, it allowed him to earn extra money to support his family and pay for the necessary renovations to his funeral home. By the mid 1950's, he was able to expand his trade service when prominent Carbondale funeral director and embalmer Fuller E. Blickens, whom Carmine studied under, decided to give several of his large trade accounts to his former student. At the height of his trade business, Carmine was contracted with over twelve funeral homes in Lackawanna, Wayne and Susquehanna Counties. During this time, Carmine also assisted in the daily operation of the Pecko Funeral Home in Simpson, Pennsylvania for nearly 30 years. In 1971, he gave up his trade accounts and devoted his time solely to the families he served. His years of experience and exposure to these areas allowed him to become an expert in the scientific areas of funeral service. These skills were passed on to his son who in turn has passed them on to his sons.

In 1986, Louis purchased, renovated and enlarged the Glynn C. Shifler Funeral Home in Clifford and renamed it Shifler-Parise Funeral Home. In 1987, a major addition was added to the Carbondale funeral home providing the main viewing room with a seating capacity of 100 people for funeral services. Also in 1987, the business was incorporated. In 1999, the funeral home's second viewing room was doubled in size by an addition with most of the work being done by Louis and his three sons. In 1997, Monuments by Parise was established. It offers granite and bronze memorials, mausoleums, and a cemetery lettering and cleaning service. In 2000, Louis formed the Shifler-Parise Funeral Home in Carbondale, a branch office of the Clifford location. In 2001, 2002 and 2004, four surrounding parcels of land next to our Clifford facility were purchased. They are currently being developed into parking for over 75 cars. In 2005, the existing parking lot at our Carbondale facility was expanded to accommodate parking for over 50 cars.