About Us
Sheldon Funeral Homes History
In the 1800’s, Samuel H. Gregory (1831-1905) owned a funeral home in Laceyville, operating as the Gregory Funeral Service. Samuel was the Great-Great Grandfather of Benjamin B. Sheldon, the present day owner, and Great Grandfather of Benjamin’s mother the former Bertha Beeman Sheldon, which is how the history of our family funeral business (presently Sheldon Funeral Homes) dates all the way back to the 1800’s. Samuel M. Gregory (1871-1927) worked with his father in the family funeral business, until his father’s death.
He continued working in the family business for 22 more years after the death of his father. In 1927, the younger Gregory passed on and the Gregory Funeral Service was purchased by Burns O. Sheldon (1879-1944) and his son Ralph B. Sheldon, Sr. (1903-1994), operating under the Sheldon family name. Together Burns and Ralph operated the Sheldon Funeral Home solely in Laceyville, until 1943, when Burns bought the Carter Funeral Home in Meshoppen, PA from George Carter. With the expansion of Sheldon Funeral Homes, Ralph’s brothers, A. Bryce Sheldon (1905-1975) and Benjamin O. Sheldon (1910-1973), were licensed and joined their father and brother in the family funeral service in both Laceyville and Meshoppen, PA.
In 1958, Sheldon Funeral Homes expanded once again and Ralph Sr. bought the Ray Greenwood Funeral Home located on Tioga Street in Tunkhannock, PA. Ralph, along with his son Ralph B. Sheldon Jr. (1934-1989) ran the Sheldon Funeral Home in Tunkhannock. For many years, the Sheldon brothers Ralph Sr., Bryce, and Ben, along with Ralph Jr. (Brownie) operated the three Sheldon Funeral Homes in Laceyville, Meshoppen, and Tunkhannock; three neighboring towns along the Susquehanna River in northeast Pennsylvania. In 1966, Thomas G. Kukuchka started working part time at the Sheldon Funeral Home in Tunkhannock, while he was a sophomore in high school. Over the next five years, Tom worked for Ralph and Brownie and eventually earned his license in 1971, and continued to work at the Sheldon Funeral Home in Tunkhannock.
In 1988, Tom, and his wife the former June Stirling, of Uniontown, PA, purchased the business from Ralph and Brownie. From then until the present it has been Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home. In June 1980, Benjamin B. Sheldon (Burnie) joined the Sheldon family funeral business. For the last 33 years, Burnie and his wife, the former Linda Worthington of New Albany, PA, own and operate the Sheldon Funeral Homes in Laceyville and Meshoppen. In July 2003, Tom’s son, Eric T. Kukuchka joined his dad at the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home in Tunkhannock.
Working with his father, Eric also serves as the supervisor at the Sheldon Funeral Home in Laceyville. Eric, and his wife the former Gretchen Hoyd, of Tunkhannock, also own the Tunkhannock Monument Co. in Tunkhannock.
In January 2013, Burnie’s son, Gabriel B. Sheldon earned his license and joined the Sheldon family funeral business. Gabe and his wife, the former Carly Curry of Ormond Beach, FL purchased the McHenry Funeral Home in Wyalusing, PA in June 2013. Gabe and Carly have opened the funeral home as of July 1, 2014 in Wyalusing after having completing renovations for over a year. In May 2014, Burnie's son, Caleb W. Sheldon graduated from the Penn State University with a degree in Business Management. Caleb graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in January of 2016.
On September 17, 2016, Caleb married the former Brittany Wulff, formally of New Albany, and Towanda, PA. Caleb and Brittany reside on Spring Hill. On January 13, 2017, Caleb became a licensed funeral director, and joins his father and brother, in the family's funeral homes. For the Sheldon’s, the funeral business has always been a family owned and operated business for close to 150 years.
Gabe and Caleb are the fourth generation Sheldon and the sixth total generation of the Gregory and Sheldon families to enter into the family funeral business. We are proud of the name we have built over the years and thank you, the community for allowing us to serve you.
