Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center

Traditional burial to unique cremation memorials

At Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, we pride ourselves on personalized funeral and memorial options that truly celebrate you and your loved one. Whether you are seeking a basic cremation with a champagne toast and ashes scattered in the Atlantic ocean, a full traditional funeral service with a cemetery burial and a catered reception or a creative outdoor celebration complete with live music, favorite foods, a full bar and funeral favors, we take care of every detail. We are here to help you and your family celebrate a life like no other.

Imagine it: From scrapbooking to sailboats, guitars to golf balls, bird-shaped urns to balloon bouquets, we take the things that mattered to someone and string them together to create a singular, heartfelt memorial.

Cremation services

Not everyone knows that there are many cremation options. If you are interested in cremation, the funeral home team can explain the process and different options. From a direct cremation without a memorial service or a witness cremation to a full funeral service before or after the cremation and more, we help you understand this increasingly common choice—and handle all of the cremation arrangements. We own our crematory which means your loved one never leaves our care.

A lasting funeral home legacy

Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center on North Federal Highway, in the Pearl City neighborhood, is the original location of Babione Funeral Home. Since the 2004 passing of Robert J. Babione, founder of the business, his wife, Helen, carries on the legacy. Helen and our entire staff commit to building and keeping strong relationships with you, your family and the community we love. We also operate Babione Funeral Home on Calle Comercio Drive in West Boca Raton.

Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center is a member of the Dignity Memorial® network. As part of North America's largest network of obituary, funeral, burial, cremation and cemetery service providers, we give you both the friendly, familiar care you expect from a locally operated establishment and the benefits you deserve. Please contact us if you need help right away or want additional information about our services. We are always here for you.

History

In 1949, Robert J. Babione decided to become a funeral director. Robert was born and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. He met his wife, Helen, while attending Lake Worth High School. They were married in Lake Worth in 1950. Robert served 2 years in the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Texas. After graduating, Robert returned to Lake Worth and served his internship at E. Earl Smith and Sons Funeral Home.

The beginning for Babione

In 1957, Robert and his business partner built two funeral homes—1 in Delray Beach, Florida, and 1in Lantana, Florida. In 1964, the 2 funeral directors sold their funeral home in Lantana and opened a new location in neighboring Boca Raton. The original building on North Federal Highway, in what is now the Pearl City neighborhood, comprised only a visitation room, office, casket selection room and small preparation room. In 1976, the Babione family became the sole owners of Babione Funeral Home and expanded the location, adding a foyer, garage, covered carport, 2nd visitation room, new preparation room and additional parking. They added on again in 1988 and did a massive renovation in 2010.

A second Boca location

In early 1991, Robert and Helen began looking for a site in West Boca Raton to open a 2nd funeral home. They bought property and a building on Calle Comercio Drive in 1992 and began construction in 1993. Opening day of the new Babione Funeral Home was January 17, 1994. In 1996, both Babione funeral homes became members of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. Robert died on August 4, 2004; Helen carries on her husband’s legacy.

Kraeer funeral home

The original Babione Funeral Home merged with Kraeer Funeral Home in 2014 and now operates as Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center on North Federal Highway. R. Jay Kraeer and his wife, Lorraine, opened their funeral parlor in 1952 in a sparsely populated area of Pompano Beach. They eventually built one of the larger mortuary companies in South Florida. Jay was elected president of the National Funeral Directors Association in 1976. From his 1997 death the funeral home continued operating from its original location until 2014 when it merged with Babione Funeral Home.