About Us

History

Black-and-white collage of historic homes with “SINCE 1911” centered between four house photos

A Brief History

Locally owned and operated since 1911, the name "Schmidt" has been serving the Lehigh Valley and Slate Belt/Pocono areas in the funeral profession for over 100 years. Currently serving the public at two locations, Wind Gap and Nazareth, Pennsylvania, the business was originally established by the late Morris Clinton Schmidt in 1911. When Clint Schmidt graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia in 1911, he established his first funeral home in Cherryville. After two years at that location, Clint purchased a new site in Wind Gap, which is still operating today under the Schmidt name. The Schmidt Funeral Home in Wind Gap has the distinction of being the first funeral home in the Slate Belt area.

Clint's son Floyd joined his father in the funeral business following his graduation from Eckels College in 1929. One year before Clint died in 1945, the Schmidt Mortuary was established in Nazareth, later to be called Schmidt Funeral Home. Floyd operated the Nazareth location until his death in 1962.

The Wind Gap location continued in operation under the guidance of Clint's grandson, Paul Altemose, who also graduated from Eckels College in 1946. Paul purchased the funeral home from Clint's wife, Annie in 1968 and changed the name to Altemose Funeral Home. Six years later, in 1974, Paul sold the Altemose home to his cousin, Floyd's son Dale, and the name reverted back to The Schmidt Home.

Following a long-standing family tradition, Dale graduated from Eckels College in 1959 and joined his father at The Schmidt Mortuary in Nazareth. Dale continued operating The Schmidt Mortuary and The Schmidt Home until his death in 1998. Both funeral homes were then owned by Dale's daughter, Colleen Schmidt Lichtenwalner.

In February 2000, the funeral homes came under new ownership. Jane A. Follweiler, a lifelong resident of Nazareth, together with Patricia A. Werner originally of Palmer Township, purchased the homes from Colleen Schmidt Lichtenwalner. Jane is a 1989 graduate of the Mortuary Science program at Northampton Community College, and worked and apprenticed under Dale Schmidt, obtaining her Pennsylvania Funeral Director license in 1990. Patti, a graduate of the Funeral Service Education program at Northampton Community College, performed her internship at Schmidt Funeral Home prior to attaining licensure in 2008. At the time of acquisition, the names of both locations, Nazareth and Wind Gap, were changed to Schmidt Funeral Home, P.C., as they are named today.

Schmidt Funeral Homes are full service funeral homes, carrying out the wishes of their families with the utmost sensitivity and integrity. Owner Jane Follweiler personally assists each family in planning and tailoring the service to individual needs whether it be traditional full service funerals, cremation or personalized memorial services. Available 24 hours a day, Jane, Patti and their staff are always there in your time of need.

When you are thinking of pre-arranging your funeral, or need to plan the funeral of a loved one, think of Schmidt Funeral Homes. With two convenient locations to serve you, the staff at Schmidt will guide you every step of the way with compassion and understanding.