New business: Long-time funeral home owner opens his newest in Uniontown
The new DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory is located at 65 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown.
From left, Erica Coleman, Ronald DeGusipe and Floyd Stadolnik carry on a conversation at the recently opened DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
Todd DeGusipe recently bought the former Johnston Funeral Home on Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown and turned it into the DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory recently opened in the former Johnston Funeral Home on Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown.
Several renovations were completed in the former Johnston Funeral Home before it opened a few months ago as the DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
Several renovations were completed in the former Johnston Funeral Home before it opened a few months ago as the DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
Several renovations were completed in the former Johnston Funeral Home before it opened a few months ago as the DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
Several renovations were completed in the former Johnston Funeral Home before it opened a few months ago as the DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
Several renovations were completed in the former Johnston Funeral Home before it opened a few months ago as the DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory.
DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory recently opened in the former Johnston Funeral Home on Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown.
Uniontown native Todd DeGusipe is a successful businessman, with three funeral homes operating in Florida. Late last year he opened his fourth location at 65 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown.
Recently, when he was home visiting family, DeGusipe was riding through Uniontown and saw a “for sale” sign outside of the Johnston Funeral Home on Gallatin Avenue.
“I remember asking one of my father’s friends Pat Palini at one point what was the go-to funeral home when he was little, and he said it was by far the Johnston Funeral Home,” DeGusipe said. “So when I saw the ‘for sale’ sign, that thought just came to mind, and it piqued my interest.”
He called the realtor and scheduled a walk-through.
“When I got access, I was amazed by the wood work and the layout,” DeGusipe said. “It was a little dated, but I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.”
He made the decision to buy the entire property, which had been in the Johnston family since the 1860s. The property included the funeral home and the house next door with access to a 300-space parking lot.
From there he began the renovations, which included new bathrooms, carpeting, wall paper, all new furniture, window treatments and decorations as well as some cosmetic rehabilitation to the outside of the building.
The property was finally ready and DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory opened for business. While the funeral home is open for business they are continuing work to have the crematory up and running in the near future.
There have already been a number of viewing services already held at the business.
“The Johnston Funeral Home was the first funeral home in Uniontown that was built as a funeral home and not just a house that was converted into a funeral home,” said DeGusipe. That was in 1927.
“With over 20,000 square feet and a 300-space parking lot, it is by far the biggest funeral home in Uniontown,” he said. “To me, it has so much rich history, so to be able to breathe new life into it again is a big thing for the city of Uniontown, and I think it’s a great story.”
DeGusipe added that he is happy to be in business in Uniontown.
“It seems they are tearing down buildings left and right, but it’s still a beautiful city with a lot of history that’s surrounded by mountains” he said.
For more information on the funeral home or its services, call 724-434-2273 or visit www.degusipefuneralhome.com.