Hoffmeister South County Chapel

Treating you like family

Located southwest of St. Louis, in the suburb of Lemay on Lemay Ferry Road, Hoffmeister South County Chapel follows the “Golden Rule” by always striving to adhere to the principle of treating others as we would like to be treated. Our experienced and dedicated funeral team members focus on exceptional, personalized service for every family.

From the moment we meet you at the door to make arrangements to the conclusion of the service and beyond, we listen to your needs. As a result of that compassionate approach, we’re honored to often receive cards, letters and emails from families thanking us for going above and beyond.

Customized ways to honor life

At Hoffmeister South County Chapel, we believe that every funeral or memorial service should be as unique as the individual it honors. Our philosophy is that each event—whether it’s a cremation with a memorial service, a traditional religious funeral or a sports-themed reception—should deeply reflect the personality and passions of a loved one.

We take great pride in discovering what mattered most to someone and designing a service filled with surprise and delight. From a butterfly release to motorcycle procession, or even a musical tribute, the list of what we can do is endless.

On-site crematory and cremation services

For people who choose the time-honored tradition of cremation, our full-service funeral home has a private crematory on the property. This gives Hoffmeister South County Chapel complete control of a cremation from start to finish. It also means your loved one never leaves our care. You can choose a cremation following a funeral service, preceding a memorial service or without a service at all. If desired, cremated remains may also be buried, entombed or inurned at our sister location, Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum.

Here for you

As a member of the Dignity Memorial® network, Hoffmeister South County Chapel gives you not only the warm, familiar attention you expect from a locally operated funeral home, but also the value you deserve by way of the largest network of funeral, burial, cremation and cemetery service providers in North America. Please contact us if you need immediate assistance with planning a funeral or would simply like more information about our services.

Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum

Our sister location, Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, is situated on 62 acres in south St. Louis County. Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum is a historically significant cemetery with more than 23,000 burials. The cemetery dates back to the early 1900s and continues to serve the burial needs of the area to this day.

The main entrance to the park-like property sits at the intersection of Lemay Ferry and Mount Olive Roads, near Telegraph Road. There you will find a stately community mausoleum and sweeping green gardens. The cemetery is a respected place of remembrance for thousands of people of various social, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Homeless Veterans Burial Program

The Dignity Memorial® Homeless Veterans Burial Program provides dignified burial services for eligible homeless and indigent veterans to ensure that they receive the honors in death that their service in life merits. The program was founded at Hoffmeister South County Chapel in St. Louis by Major General Bill Branson in August 2000, and we are proud to continue this program in conjunction with Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

History

Both Hoffmeister South County Chapel and our sister location, Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, have a long history. The Hoffmeister name first became associated with funerals in St. Louis in 1904, though our founder Christian Hoffmeister was a businessman in the city before that. The first burial in Mount Hope Cemetery took place in 1912.

Early beginnings

Christian Hoffmeister immigrated to the United States from Hanover, Germany. He settled in St. Louis in 1844. In 1858, Christian established the Great Western Livery Stable at 7800 Main St. in Carondelet, catering especially to doctors and clergymen making calls. Noticing the growing need for more public transportation, he launched the St. Louis and Carondelet Omnibus line, one of the first horse-drawn public carriage systems in the area. Meanwhile, he was asked with growing frequency by friends and neighbors to provide another service: furnishing horses and carriages for funeral processions.

Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, Christian became the area’s first funeral director. Hoffmeister Broadway Chapel opened in 1904. The funeral home utilized the original livery stable.

Growth and expansion

In 1938, Christian’s grandson, George Hoffmeister, opened Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary in St. Louis Hills. The beauty and atmosphere of the Georgian Colonial building was (and still is) a tribute to the funeral home tradition Christian established.

In the 50s and 60s, Hoffmeister Colonial expanded under the direction of Christian’s great-grandson, Richard Hoffmeister.

In 1991, Hoffmeister South County Chapel opened adjacent to the historic non-sectarian Mount Hope Cemetery in St. Louis County. Two years later, in 1993, Hoffmeister South County Chapel funeral home became part of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral, burial, cremation and cemetery providers.

The cemetery gets its start

Founded in 1910, Mount Hope Cemetery is an early example of the “rural cemetery movement.” C.D. Sims of the American Necropolis Company—a nationally recognized cemetery consultant—designed the property. Edmund Kinsey was the landscape architect. He also designed the grounds for the 1904 World’s Fair in Forest Park.

St. Louis architect, George Hayden, designed the 30-foot-high Beaux Arts-style terracotta entrance which was built in 1927.

Chicago architect, Sidney Lovell, designed the neoclassical-style limestone and marble community mausoleum building which was completed in 1931. Subsequent additions were completed in 1968, 1973 and 1987 by Acme Marble and Granite Company of New Orleans.

In 2003, Mount Hope was named to the National Register of Historic Places for its architecturally significant entrance and original mausoleum building, along with the ethnic heritage represented in the Serbian Eastern Orthodox section.

The tradition continues today

Though many years have passed since Christian Hoffmeister began a tradition of dignified and personalized service in St. Louis, our dedication to offering the finest services has never wavered. Today and for years to come, we’ll be here, ready to serve you and your family with professionalism and compassion.