IN Penn Hills Spring 2019 | Page 9

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT Charles W. Trenz Supervisor FUNERAL HOME, INC. Celebrates Over 50 Years of Service in the Eastern Suburbs O ver the last 51 years a lot has changed in Penn Hills, but the dedication of the Trenz family to the community has not. In 1967, Charles W. Trenz and his partner opened Waples and Trenz Funeral Home. By 1972, Mr. Trenz was the sole proprietor of the funeral home, which became known as Charles W. Trenz Funeral Home. Today, the second generation of the Trenz family continues the funeral home’s mission of providing detailed and compassionate service in Penn Hills. The funeral home is located at one of the highest points in Allegheny County, at 11110 Frankstown Road. Charles W. Trenz, Jr. takes great pride in the fact that the funeral home is family owned and operated. “My sister and I grew up in the apartment located in the funeral home,” he notes. “From an early age, we shared in responsibilities such as maintenance of the grounds and building, greeting people at the door, and answering the business phones. My father always stressed that families expect to talk to you or a family member. That’s why, through the years, we’ve continued to do things like answer our own phones and personally visit the family’s home when a loved one passes away.” Trenz continues, “I remember moving out of the funeral home in the mid-‘70s. It wasn’t much of a move, as my mom and dad bought the house next to the business.” Both he and his sister, Teresa, are graduates of Penn Hills High School. Trenz stays connected by attending church locally and working with other Penn Hills organizations. He and his father have each served as president of the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce. While they pride themselves on being a small family business, that doesn’t mean they don’t provide the same services you would expect from a larger one. The Charles W. Trenz Funeral Home provides the traditional burial services that one would expect, performs cremation services, and offers pre-need counseling and advising. It helps survivors navigate the paperwork and confusion of veterans benefits and Social Security issues. Trenz feels it is his responsibility to help families work through the multiple decisions that need to be made when a family member passes away. He adds, “Today, families want to personalize their services. This may mean filling the viewing area with pictures and personal items, or even having military symbols or scripture passages embroidered in the casket lid.” The funeral home has an annual program for veterans and their families. It is used to highlight the benefits available to veterans locally, as well as promote the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. “We hope to continue to use venues like the Penn Hills Library, the local American Legion, and the Penn Hills Senior Center to present this information,” Trenz says. This year’s program will be held at a site and time to be determined. For more information on the Charles W. Trenz Funeral Home, including pre-planning questions, topics of interest to veterans such as flags, markers and benefits, Social Security benefits, and grief support, go to www.trenzfuneralhome.com. You can also call anytime at 412.242.5100. PENN HILLS ❘ SPRING 2019 7