Funeral planning experts in Pittsburgh

If you've never planned a funeral or cremation, or it's been some time since you have, you may be surprised at the many decisions involved. Whatever your wishes, our professional funeral home team will offer suggestions and assist you with planning a celebration of life. Whatever your budget, we can help you plan a tribute that is meaningful and affordable.

Imagine one last trip to the links for the avid golfer, where guests can take a turn on the putting green and then take home commemorative golf balls. Envision an international-themed celebration for the world traveler who always shared her adventures, complete with global cuisine and a slideshow of her travel images.

Experts at creating unique and memorable tributes that celebrate a person’s passions and personality, we know just what to do. Our talented team of funeral directors specializes in fulfilling almost any final wish. Start with a story. We'll take it from there.

See how we celebrate life.

Cremation in Pittsburgh

There are many options for cremation in the Pittsburgh area—and they're not all equal. We specialize in simple cremation services that honor loved ones in personalized ways. With room for gathering, expertise in scattering ashes and a friendly team who wants to meet your every wish, we provide cremation services that are second to none.

Read about our unique cremation services.

We Honor Veterans

At Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, we understand the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families. As a Level Three Founding Community Partner with We Honor Veterans, we have trained our staff to be knowledgeable in the benefits available to veterans and their families. With respect, integrity and dignity, we will walk you through the steps of creating a veteran's memorial service that truly honors the life and sacrifice of your loved one.

Watch our video to learn what you need to know about veterans burial benefits.

Prepaid funerals and cremations

In addition to assisting with an immediate need, we specialize in working with families to plan final arrangements in advance. We recognize that funeral arrangements and associated expenses can be overwhelming. When you prepare ahead of time, you provide a sense of relief and comfort to your loved ones while ensuring your wishes are met. We offer in-person and virtual consultations, as well as a free Personal Planning Guide to help you get started.

Find out everything you need to know about planning ahead.

Contact us

We're here for you 24/7. Please reach out anytime to learn more about our funeral and cremation services or to schedule a tour of our Pittsburgh funeral home.

Contact us.

History

Orion C. Pinkerton opened his funeral home in Pittsburgh in June 1946. Since that time, we've remained committed to his passion for providing quality care to families in our area.

The realization of a dream

A native of Mars, Pennsylvania, Orion was a student in the first class (1939) of Pittsburgh Mortuary School, now Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He interned in the early 1940s at the Frank W. Simons Funeral Home on Pittsburgh's north side and then began his career as a professional embalmer.

Artful at his craft, he soon became a sought-after embalmer and worked with a large number of funeral homes in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. The need for his services grew when many local funeral directors went overseas during World War II.

During those years, Orion decided to go into business for himself. That ambition came to fruition after he purchased and renovated a large house built in 1902 in the Bellevue area of Pittsburgh.

Expanding to meet community needs

Soon after the funeral home's opening, Orion was approached by community leaders and physicians. They asked him to offer ambulance services. At the time, no such services existed in the area, and people died while waiting for help. He launched his ambulance service in July 1946 with a refurbished 1937 LaSalle.

Orion always demanded excellence of himself and his team, and both businesses grew. In 1969, the local chamber of commerce named him Person of the Year for his extensive community involvement and civic mindedness.

A family tradition

Orion always had the love, support and efforts of his wife, Jean. Their son, James, began working in the family business at an early age and became a licensed funeral director in 1973. Also a paramedic, James focused a great deal of effort on the development and expansion of the ambulance service, which was among the first advanced life support services in Pennsylvania.

In 1977, the next stage of business development led to the creation of two separate corporations: the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home and Pinkerton Services, the ambulance operation. Both achieved success and recognition. The ambulance service served as the primary EMS agency for seven communities and was a recipient of a Pennsylvania Governor's Highway Safety Award for community training and safety activities.

Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home was recognized for 15 consecutive years with the Pursuit of Excellence Award presented by the National Funeral Directors Association. In three of those years, we were one of the top five funeral homes in the nation, earning the Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award.

Upholding a legacy of service excellence

In 2003, the Pinkertons decided to pass the baton on service excellence. Today, we are a member of the Dignity Memorial^® network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. Although no longer active in day-to-day activities, James remains an officer and consultant.