For information on this association, please contact:

John M. Daughenbaugh
President
814.387.6000

There is not a website available.

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an International organization composed of cremationists, funeral directors, funeral home operators and owners, cemeterians, industry suppliers and consultants. CANA members have been active and believe in the importance of preparation for memorialization when cremation is chosen and is concerned with the proper treatment and respect for those who have chosen cremation.

Visit their website and learn more about the growing number of our population choosing cremation.

OGR's founders embarked on a mission to seek out dependable, ethical funeral directors in every community by means of a carefully tested screening process. They wanted to establish a quality-minded identity in the minds of families everywhere and have been doing so since the early 1920’s.

Visit their website to learn more about funeral homes worldwide, that share goals:, outstanding service, care and compassion to families in their time of need.

The National Funeral Directors Association is the worldwide source of expertise and professional resources for all facets of funeral service. Through education, information and advocacy, NFDA is dedicated to supporting members in their mission to provide families with meaningful end-of-life services at the highest levels of excellence and integrity.

NFDA is the world's leading funeral service association, serving individual members who represent funeral homes in the United States and internationally. Visit their website for more information.

The goal of Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association website is to provide funeral directors and consumers with helpful information about the funeral profession.

Visit their website to learn helpful information about the funeral profession in the state of Pennsylvania.

The members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes are professionals of the highest standards, providing families with confidence and trusted information.

Visit their website for information, and a range of choices in creating a meaningful tribute after the death of a loved one.

What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a special healthcare option to provide the terminally ill of Central Pennsylvania and their families with compassion, dignity and care through there difficult time.

A multi-disciplinary team of physician, nurses, social workers, bereavement counselors and volunteers works together to address the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of each patient and family. The hospice team provides care to patients in their own home or a home-like setting regardless of the patient’s age or ability to pay. There are many things to consider when making a decision about hospice.

Some of the difficult questions may be:

How do you know when it is time for Hospice care?
•Is your loved one a strong as they use to be and not responding to medical treatment?
•Do they wish for comfort rather than a cure?
•Have you heard them say, “I cannot do this anymore”?
•Have they been diagnosed with a terminal or life-limiting disease?

While, we understand that everyone’s situation is unique, below please find additional information that may be helpful to you and your family.

What does Hospice really do?
Hospice provides specialized care services (patient care including symptom management, emotional support, spiritual support and psychosocial intervention), addressing issues most important to the patient’s needs and wants at the end of their life focusing on improving the individual’s quality of life.

How do I know when it is time for end-of-life care?
Patients are eligible for hospice care when they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less. At that time comfort care and symptom management become the primary focus, and curative treatment is no longer the patient’s choice or option.

When should Hospice be called?
Hospice should be called at any time the patient has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. It is appropriate to discuss all of the patient’s care options, including hospice.

Where is Hospice care provided?
Hospice care is provided in a setting that best meets the needs of each patient and family. The most common setting is the patient’s home. Hospice care is also provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals according to patient care needs.

Are all Hospices the same?
No. “Hospice” is a medical specialty like pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, etc. Each hospice is a different company. All hospices have the same general philosophy but their services may differ. Some hospices are for-profit corporations, while others are not-for-profit organizations. Request the hospice of your choice if more than one hospice serves your area.

Does Hospice provide 24 hour in home care?
No. Hospice provides intermittent nursing visits to assess, monitor and treat symptoms, as well as teach family and caregivers the skills they need to care for the patient. Team members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions or visit anytime the need for support arises.

Does Hospice do anything to bring death sooner?
No. Our goal is always to alleviate suffering and manage symptoms. Hospice does nothing to speed up or slow down the dying process. Our role is to lend support and allow the disease process to unfold as comfortable as possible.

Can I live alone and still receive Hospice services?
It will depend on the Hospice service in your area. Part of the admission and ongoing care process, however, is to plan and prepare for the time in a patient’s illness when 24-hour-a-day care will be necessary.

Can a Hospice patient choose to return to curative treatment?
Yes. Receiving hospice care is always a choice. A patient may leave hospice and return to curative treatment if that is their choice. If the patient later chooses to return to hospice care, Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies permit re-activation of the hospice benefit.

Can I go back to the hospital and still receive Hospice care?
Yes. Many symptoms, however, that would normally require hospitalization or an emergency room visit can be successfully managed at home by the hospice team, thus preventing the stress of hospitalization. Hospice patients generally only have the need for short hospital stays to stabilize a symptom and then are able to return home.

Is the decision for Hospice care giving up hope or waiting to die?
No. Hospice is about living. Hospice strives to bring quality of life and comfort to a patient and their family. Our successes are in helping a patient and family live fully until the end. Often patients will feel better with good pain and symptom management. Hospice is an experience of care and support, different from any other type of care.

Do I have to be homebound to receive Hospice services?
No. Hospice is about living fully. We encourage patients to do what they enjoy as they are able. The hospice team assists patients and families in achieving their goals and dreams as much as possible.

Does Hospice provide support to the family after the patient dies?
Yes. Bereavement Services follow family and caregivers for a year following the patient’s death. These services may include personal visits, providing information concerning the grief process and offering periodic opportunities for group support. Bereavement Services provides information and referral to other area resources when needed.

Hospice Facilities:
Centre Crossings Hospice
2437 Commercial Blvd Suite 6
State College, PA 16801
814. 237.7400

Home Nursing
450 Windmere Drive, #100
State College, PA 16801
814.237.1404

Medi Home Health & Hospice
341 Science Park Road
State College, PA 16803
814.235.1048

Clearfield Hospital Hospice
(A division of Nittany Home Health serving the State College area)
P.O. Box 992
Clearfield, PA 16830
814.768.2012

Please visit their website and select a local chapter to support you and your family.

Grief Support is a place to learn about grief and loss. Visit the Pennsylvania Grief Support website for detailed information.

The Tides Program is a support program for grieving children and the people that love them. At Tides grief is a natural response to loss for children, adolescents, and adults. Although the duration and intensity of grief is different for each family member, each person has the ability to work through grief with the support from family and friends.

Please visit their website to register for an upcoming session for families to express their feelings in a nurturing and accepting environment.

Country Inn Suites
1357 E. College Avenue
State College, PA 16801
814.234.6000

A complimentary breakfast is included in this rate seven days a week.

Courtyard Marriott
1730 University Drive
State College, PA 16801
814.238.1881

An on site restaurant is available.

Hampton Inn & Suites
1955 Waddle Road
State College, PA 16803
814.231.1899

A complimentary breakfast is available seven days a week.

Please call the Hampton Inn & Suites local phone number, the bereavement rates are not available when booking reservations on-line.

Holiday Inn Express
1925 Waddle Road
State College, PA 16803
814.867.1800

A complimentary breakfast is available seven days a week.

Please call the Holiday Inn Express local phone number, the bereavement rates are not available when booking reservations on-line.

Ramada
1450 South Atherton Street
State College, PA 16801
814.238.3001

A free hot weekday breakfast is included in this rate.

Please call the Ramada Inn's local phone number, the bereavement rates are not available when booking reservations on-line.

Residence Inn
1555 University Drive
State College, PA 16801
814.235.6960

A complimentary American breakfast buffet is available seven days a week. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday a light dinner buffet with complimentary beer and wine is included. 

Springhill Suites
1935 Waddle Road
State College, PA 16803
814.867.1807

A complimentary breakfast is available seven days a week.

Please call the Springhill Suites local phone number, the bereavement rates are not available when booking reservations on-line.

The Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel
215 Innovation Boulevard
State College, PA 16803
800.233.7505

Two on site restaurants are available.

Please call The Penn Stater Conference Center the bereavement rates are not available when booking reservations on-line.

Toftrees Golf Resort & Conference Center
One Country Club Lane
State College, PA 16803
814.234.8000
800.252.3551

An on site restaurant is available.

Please call Koch Funeral Home prior to booking your reservation on-line.

Upon the passing of a loved one, the following important documents may be needed.

Wills
Deeds
Bank
Books
Stock Certificates
Military Discharge Papers
Social Security/Insurance Card Tax Forms
Vehicle and Property Titles Insurance Policies

Pennsylvania Department of Health/Death Certificates Information:

Before the business and legal issues of the estate can be pursued, it will be necessary to obtain certified copies of the death certificate. You can order them from the Funeral Director or directly from the Registrar of Vital Statistics in your area. It is always better to order a few more than what you think you will need. Most agencies will only accept certified death certificates and not photocopies.

*Please Note:
Certified copies are $6.00 each and only available locally for 90 days after the death has occurred.  After that, the certificate is filed with the state and certified copies will be $9.00 each and may take 16-20 weeks to obtain. 

If you order certificates online, the turnaround time may be shorter. An additional $10.00 service fee per each application will be charged.
Organizations normally requiring a legal* copy of the death certificate:

Airline Bereavement Discounts
Bank Accounts
Certificates of Deposit
Credit Unions
Executor/Executrix of the estate to probate the will
Fraternal Organizations Burial Benefits
Veteran’s Benefits
Life Insurance Policies
Motor Vehicle Bureau
Preneed Trust
Pension Plans or IRA Funds
Sale of jointly owned property
Stocks, Bonds and Government Bonds
Union Benefit Plans

* A certified copy from the local Registrar or the Department of Vital Statistics in New Castle, Pennsylvania.  Photocopies are not acceptable.

Visit the website or call 877.724.3258 to learn more. 

Some of the deceased’s family members may be able to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits. Contact Social Security to ensure the family receives all the benefits to which it may be entitled. Please read the following information carefully to learn what benefits may be available.

Certain family members may be eligible to receive monthly benefits, including:

•A widow or widower age 60 or older(age 50 or older if disabled)
•A surviving spouse at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child under age 16 or disabled
•An unmarried child of the deceased who is younger than age 18(or age 18 or 19 if he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school): or age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22
•Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support
•A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

A one-time payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the deceased: or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s record in the month of death.

The Social Security website is a valuable resource for information about all Social Security programs. Visit their website or call 1.800.772.1213

Military Funeral Honors (MFH)
The basic ceremony consists of the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veterans’ family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail consisting of at least two members of the Armed Forces.

The Funeral Honors rendered to you or your veteran will be determined by the status of the veteran. The type of Funeral Honors may be Full Military Honors, 7 Person Detail or a Standard Honors Team Detail.

At least one of the funeral honors detail will be from the Armed Force in which the deceased veteran served. Taps may be played by a bugler or, if a bugler is not available, by using a quality recorded version. Military Funeral Honor Teams may act as Pall Bearers if requested by the veteran/family.

Who is eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
•Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve
•Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
•Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
•Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

How do I establish veteran eligibly?

The preferred method is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. If the DD Form 214 is not available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filling out a Standard Form 180 and sending it to:

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St Louis, MO 63132

The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from the National Records Center or visit their website for more informaiton.