Losing someone is heavy. It's a weight that doesn't just sit on your chest; it reshapes the way you see the neighborhood. When you drive down Old York Road in Abington, you pass a lot of landmarks, but for many families, the most significant one is a building that has stood as a silent witness to their hardest days. Craft Givnish of Abington is more than just a place with a sign and a parking lot. It’s part of a legacy that traces back through generations of the Givnish family, who have essentially become the stewards of grief in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Honestly, funeral homes are usually the last place people want to talk about until they absolutely have to. But that’s exactly why understanding what makes a place like Craft Givnish of Abington different is so important. It isn't just about the mahogany caskets or the floral arrangements. It’s about the specific way they handle the intersection of tradition and modern "celebration of life" services. They've been doing this for a long time. They know the rhythms of the community.
The Givnish Family Legacy in Abington
You can't really talk about the Abington location without talking about the Givnish family name. They aren't some massive, faceless corporation headquartered in a different time zone. They are a family-owned operation, and in the funeral industry, that actually means something tangible. When a family is "Life Celebration" certified—a term you'll see associated with the Givnish brand—it means they’ve shifted the focus from just mourning a death to actually documenting a life.
It’s a subtle shift. But it’s huge.
The Craft funeral home specifically merged into the Givnish network to combine local Abington history with the broader resources of the Givnish Life Celebration homes. This partnership allowed the facility to upgrade its approach while keeping that neighborhood feel. They have locations scattered across Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties, but the Abington branch has a very specific identity tied to the suburbs of Montco.
People often get confused about who owns what in the funeral business. It’s a messy web of acquisitions. However, the Givnish family has maintained a steady hand over their locations, including the one on Old York Road. This continuity matters because when you’re dealing with the paperwork of death—the death certificates, the social security notifications, the veterans' benefits—you want someone who isn't learning the ropes on your dime.
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What to Expect at Craft Givnish of Abington
Walking into a funeral home shouldn't feel like walking into a cold museum. That's a mistake a lot of older establishments make. At Craft Givnish of Abington, the atmosphere is geared toward what they call "the experience."
What does that look like?
- Customized Tributes: They don't just put a photo on an easel. They use digital displays, music, and physical mementos that actually reflect the person's hobbies. If the person loved the Phillies, you’re going to see that represented.
- The Layout: The facility is designed to handle different crowd sizes. Some families want a massive, 200-person viewing. Others want a quiet, private goodbye with just five people. The Abington location is flexible enough to keep both from feeling awkward.
- Grief Support: They don't just hand you the ashes and say "good luck." They provide resources for the weeks and months after the service, acknowledging that the funeral is just the beginning of the process.
The Reality of Funeral Planning Today
Planning a funeral is expensive. Let’s just be real about that. In 2026, the costs of labor, transport, and facilities haven't exactly gone down. One thing Craft Givnish of Abington is known for is their transparency regarding these costs. They offer "General Price Lists" as required by law, but they also try to package things so families aren't nickeled and dimed during a crisis.
Pre-planning is a big thing here. It’s basically the act of choosing your own funeral details before you die. It sounds morbid. Kinda is. But it’s also one of the most selfless things you can do for your kids or spouse. By sitting down with a director at the Abington office, you can lock in prices and make the "big" decisions so your family doesn't have to guess if you wanted to be buried or cremated while they are in the middle of a breakdown.
Modern Services: Cremation and Life Celebrations
The "traditional" funeral—open casket, church service, long procession to the cemetery—is still very much an option, but it’s no longer the only way. A lot of families in Abington are moving toward cremation.
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Craft Givnish has leaned into this. They offer "Life Celebration" services that can happen with or without the body present. You could have a memorial service three weeks after the passing if that’s what it takes to get all the relatives into town. This flexibility is a hallmark of how they operate. They understand that the 21st-century family is spread out across the country.
One thing that surprises people is the level of tech involved. We're talking about high-quality live-streaming for relatives in California or Europe who can't make it to Old York Road. It’s not just a guy holding an iPhone in the back of the room anymore. It’s a professional setup.
Navigating the Hard Conversations
When you're looking for a funeral home, you're usually looking for two things: competence and empathy. You need the director to know exactly how to coordinate with the local cemetery and the crematory without you having to call them five times. But you also need them to speak to you like a human being.
The staff at Craft Givnish of Abington are trained to handle the logistics of the "Order of Service," but they are also trained in the psychology of loss. They know that sometimes, a family will spend two hours arguing over which hymn to sing. They’ve seen it all. They know how to de-escalate those moments and keep the focus on the person who passed.
It's also worth noting their involvement with veterans. Abington has a strong veteran community, and the Givnish family has always made a point of ensuring military honors are performed correctly. This includes the folding of the flag, the playing of Taps, and coordinating with Washington Crossing National Cemetery or other local veterans' grounds.
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Practical Steps for Families in Abington
If you find yourself in the position of needing to contact a funeral home, or if you're just trying to get your ducks in a row for the future, here is how to actually handle the process with Craft Givnish.
First, don't feel like you have to have everything figured out before you call. Their job is to guide you through the "Vital Statistics" needed for the death certificate. You’ll need things like the deceased's social security number, parents' names (including mother's maiden name), and their highest level of education.
Next, consider the "Life Celebration" aspect. Think about what that person actually loved. Was it gardening? Classic cars? High-stakes poker? The directors here are actually pretty creative at incorporating those themes into the room. Don't be afraid to suggest something "non-traditional."
Finally, be honest about your budget. It’s okay to say, "This is what we have to work with." A reputable home like Craft Givnish will work with you to find a service that honors your loved one without putting the survivors into massive debt. They have various tiers of services and packages that can be adjusted.
The most important thing to remember is that you aren't alone in this. The Abington community has relied on this location for decades for a reason. Whether it's a sudden loss or a long-expected one, the transition is never easy, but having a team that knows the local landscape—both the literal streets of Abington and the metaphorical landscape of grief—makes a massive difference.
Take the time to visit the facility if you're pre-planning. Walk the halls. Talk to the directors. See if the "vibe" feels right to you. Trusting your gut is a huge part of this process. Once you've made a connection, the rest of the logistics tend to fall into place much more smoothly. Focus on the memories, and let the professionals handle the paperwork and the podiums. That is, after all, what they are there for.