About Us

King Funeral Service has been a trusted family business for over five generations. It all began in 1892 when James J. King founded the James J. King Funeral Home at 2129 South 11th Street in Philadelphia. His son, Michael, joined him in 1929, and the business name was changed to James J. King and Son.

After James passed away in May 1945, Michael continued the business, eventually adding the family home at 2651 South 64th Street as an additional location. In 1950, Michael’s son, James, became a licensed funeral director, marking the next generation’s involvement in the family business. By the early 1950s, the original 11th Street building was sold.

The facility at 64th Street was expanded in 1959, and Jim, along with his wife Pat, and their seven children made it their home. In 1970, Michael passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a legacy deeply embedded in the Southwest Philadelphia community, particularly within St. Barnabas Parish.

In 1972, Jim’s daughter Denise married Thomas Sinclair. Jim invited Tom to join the family business, and after completing his studies in Mortuary Science, Tom became a licensed funeral director in 1974. After Jim’s untimely passing in 1994 at the age of 66, Tom took the reins of the business and, in 1999, welcomed his daughter, Lauren, into the fold.

In December 2001, King Funeral Service expanded to a new location at 209 North Newtown Street Road in Newtown Square, Delaware County, where it shares a building with James J. Sweeney Funeral Home and Stuart Funeral Directors. The three family-owned businesses work independently, as most funerals are held at local churches, with the shared facility used only when needed.

In 2018, the decision was made to close the 64th Street location after much consideration. Although it was a difficult choice, it became clear that the building was no longer needed as the business had transitioned away from the physical location. Despite this change, King Funeral Service continues to serve families across Southwest Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester Counties, and even New Jersey, offering the option to conduct all services remotely.

Our commitment has always been to offer exceptional care to the families we serve. As one advertisement from the 1940s perfectly put it: "To render the highest type of service to humanity in its greatest need—that is our calling. To deliver that service so thoroughly that every detail, no matter how small, is addressed with care, making the burden of sorrow a little lighter—that is our goal."