Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum

Jefferson Memorial Park was founded in 1929 and is still owned-operated by the Neel family to this day. What began as a humble cemetery on a former parcel of farmland has now expanded to include 180 developed acres, a funeral home and state-of-the-art crematory used exclusively for the families that they serve.

The original cemetery was then located in Jefferson Township but more importantly, it was named after our forefather, Thomas Jefferson. As a salute to our nation, a 10' statue of Jefferson resides in the center of the Thomas Jefferson Garden Mausoleum.

Jefferson Memorial was designed to be a Memorial Park, with no tombstones to mar the beauty of the sweeping lawns and serene landscape. The once humble parcel of rolling hills is still home to green knolls and acres of shaded lawns - as well as over 30 species of native plant life distinctive to western Pennsylvania - but also numerous, evocative structural pieces. Throughout the cemetery’s 47 gardens one will find distinguished bronze memorials, ornate stained-glass dedications and colored tableaus of granite and marble. There are many historic aspects to the memorial park, from a Civil War Veteran to the Bank of Pittsburgh columns that now adorn the Thomas Jefferson Mausoleum. The cemetery features natural, historic and various statuary and works of art that make it a truly unique experience that expands beyond a typical cemetery.

Jefferson Memorial is proudly one of the largest, most beautiful, privately-owned cemeteries in the United States. The convenience of having cemetery, funeral home and cemetery facilities in one location has been paramount to the families they serve and means that a loved one never leaves their care. At Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum, they are proud to serve hundreds of families every year and set the standard for care, compassion and empathy. They believe in setting the bar for cemetery, funeral home and crematory service excellence.

"I am truly honored to accept this prestigious award for ethics on behalf of our dedicated team. This honor serves as a reminder that ethical leadership is not just a choice, but a responsibility we embrace every day," says Harry C. Neel, President & CEO of Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum. "It is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team, who exemplify the principles of honesty, transparency and responsibility, and inspires us to continue setting a benchmark for ethical leadership in the business world – particularly the death care industry. We are grateful for this acknowledgment from the BBB and remain resolute in our commitment to the families we serve, and our community, with ethics as our guiding compass."

According to Torch Award judge, Akwasi Opoku-Dakwa, "I was impressed with Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum's examples of how they have empowered employees to be creative and innovative, such as the arborist applying a conservation approach to burial management, their acknowledgment of controversies they have faced and how they have responded to them based on their values."

"Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum has clearly taken a long-term view of their ethical commitment and has integrated internally business decision-making feedback to ensure an ethics focus," says Torch Award judge, Jim Weber. "There are ample opportunities for ethics learned through conferences and workshops and a focus on continuous improvement is central.  Extensive examples of hosting community events, especially the Paint the Park and cancer awareness, demonstrate a clear ethical commitment to its community."