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The Greater Carbondale Area's Two Oldest Funeral Homes

The Joseph W. Scotchlas Funeral Home, Inc was established in 1985 with the purchase of the Powell Funeral Home of Tuttle Street, Simpson by Joseph W Scotchlas. The Powell Family had been in the funeral service profession since 1916. Founded by John A. Powell in Dunmore it was later located to Simpson and then transferred to his son John J Powell and his wife Helen.

In 1987, the Joseph W. Scotchlas Funeral Home,Inc purchased the Cieciorka Funeral Home. This was originally owned by Jacob Pecko and his son Joseph. The Pecko family Started funeral service in Simpson in 1908.

The business would now operate from the 621 Main Street location and for the first time combine both Simpson funeral homes by one owner.

The funeral home continued to grow and expand into areas of cemetery monument sales and funeral pre planning. In 1997, the adjacent property of the “Red Top Café” was purchased. After the building was raised, an addition was added to the funeral home and additional parking.

Today, our funeral home is one of the largest facilities on one level and under one roof in the Greater Carbondale Area. We offer two large and newly remodeled visitation areas, lounges, merchandise selection areas in addition to office areas and preparations areas.

Our family----

Joseph W. Scotchlas Funeral Home, Inc is owned by Joseph and Alice Corcoran Scotchlas. Joe, attended Fell High School and was a graduate of Carbondale Area School District. He attended Penn State University and Simmons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, NY. He interned & worked in Syracuse, Carbondale and Scranton before becoming licensed and opening the funeral home. He is a licensed funeral director in both Pennsylvania and New York.

Joe is the son of Yolanda Gentile Scotchlas, formerly of Carbondale and the late Walter A. Scotchlas. He married Alice, formerly of Archbald in 1987 and they have three children: Joseph, Adam and Emily All of whom attend Carbondale Area. Alice is a 2006 graduate of Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Syracuse, NY. She was licensed in May of 2008.

Joe has served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop #312, Simpson for the past 14 years. He also is a member of Grattan Singer Hose Co., St. Michael’s Parish and Holy Name Society and the Parish Council where he served in 2003 as chairman of St. Michael’s Church 100th Anniversary. He was a former Lion’s Club member and Eye Bank Enuclerator. A Lackawanna County Paramedic in younger years he is a board member of Community Life Support Systems. Joe is a member of the Carbondale Kiwanis Club and a Cluster Team member for St. Michael's Church, Simpson with St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale.