About Our Founder

Our Founder, Gilbert “Gil” Parthemore


The story of our founder, Gilbert “Gil” Parthemore, starts and ends in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Yet the people whose lives he touched extend well beyond the confines of his hometown.

 

A 1952 graduate of the former New Cumberland High School, he went on to serve for two years in the U.S. Army, playing trombone in the 75th Army Band. His musical vocation continued for many years, and he was a founding member of the New Cumberland Town Band. He also played with the West Shore Symphony, Zembo Shrine Band and the Harrisburg Consistory Orchestra.

In August 1957, Gil married his childhood sweetheart, Sondra Askin, and the two started their family. Gil was a family man, instilling in his sons that, aside from God, your spouse is the most important person in your life. He loved and relied on Sondra in so many ways. She remained by his side always, assuming any role needed (on top of raising three boys) to support her husband and ensure their family’s success.



Early in their marriage, Gil held different jobs, working for Bethlehem and Harrisburg Steel, Hershey Medical Center and Dauphin Deposit Bank/Lemoyne Trust. He also somehow found time to earn degrees from Elizabethtown College and the former Eckels Mortuary College in Philadelphia.

Gil’s introduction to funeral service began at age 15 when he started working at the local cemetery cutting grass and digging graves. Early employment at Hoff-Stone Funeral Home, New Cumberland and Mt. Olivet Cemetery helped him to fully realize his interest in funeral service. He would work for several funeral homes in the area, Hanover, Milesburg and Somerset before becoming a licensed funeral director in 1968.

Wasting no time after becoming a licensed funeral director, he opened his own establishment, Gilbert W. Parthemore Funeral Home, in August 1969. It took almost two months for him to receive his first call, but starting from there, the community of New Cumberland (and beyond) began to find comfort within the doors of 1303 Bridge Street.


During the early years, Gil and Sondra were the sole employees and worked together to provide services. They met with the families to make arrangements, wrote obituaries, managed viewings and services, parked cars and tended to details, all the while raising three young sons.

All three of his sons would become funeral directors, with a grandson following suit as well, and as much as he took pride in starting and establishing his own business, he equally enjoyed watching his sons take over the funeral home following his retirement in 1998.


Without surprise, he redefined the role of “Pap,” providing his grandchildren with all the history, wisdom and tasteless jokes they could handle; he would also become their biggest supporter and advocate as they grew and pursued their dreams. He was a gentleman (on most occasions) with strangers and the community alike, the quintessential “fun uncle,” and a role model for so many who were fortunate enough to have known him.

 

His presence in the lives of so many will be deeply missed. Gilbert, Dad, Pap, Uncle Gil – we love you.

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