There’s a new face behind the Lamar Christ Funeral Home in Hometown.

But despite purchasing the decades-old business in 2023, Paul Derlunas has no plans of changing the name — or any of the personalized services folks have come to expect over the years from the 31 Mahanoy Ave. (Route 54) funeral home.

“That is a big thing for me: The sign is never going to change as long as I have a say in it. It will always be the Lamar Christ Funeral Home,” Derlunas said. “It’s important that everything stays the same.”

The Coaldale native bought the funeral home from Mark Christ, son of the late Lamar Christ, who founded the facility in 1947.

“There aren’t too many undertakers — old timers like me — who are going to say that they sold their place and that they’re happy” with the new owner, Christ said. “But I’m pleased. Paul is a good fit. He spends time with people. He cares.”

Derlunas even retained Christ, who is semiretired after 42 years but continues to help at the funeral home.

“I’m here but nothing is changing,” Derlunas explained.

Derlunas also operates Allentown Funeral & Cremation Services, which he established in 2018. When he learned that the Rush Township funeral home was for sale, he saw it as a way to offer affordable services to the area where he grew up.

“I want to be very economically conscious for our community so they have someone to turn to,” he noted.

Derlunas also appreciates the opportunity to return to his roots.

“Back home is back home,” Derlunas said. “No matter how long I’m in the Lehigh Valley, I’ll always say this is home. It’s always nice to sit down with a family and get talking.”

He finds that there are a lot of connections — whether it be where a person worked, who they were friends with or who their relatives are. It’s a small-town feel, he said.

“You get those kinds of connections that you don’t get in the Lehigh Valley,” Derlunas said. “You still have those close family ties and the pride of your family. It’s just a little slower here.”

Derlunas graduated from Panther Valley High School. At the time, his older brother, Brian, was working as a funeral director in northern Virginia.

“My brother said, ‘If you like helping people, give this a shot,’ ” Derlunas recalled.

He moved near his brother and worked alongside of him for about a week.

“I thought, ‘Yes, I can do this,’ ” Derlunas said.

He earned a degree in mortuary science at the Community College of Baltimore County and worked for six years with his brother.

Derlunas and his wife, the former Laura Tatusko of Nesquehoning, then moved to the Lehigh Valley.

He worked in the funeral business for several years before he started Allentown Funeral & Cremation Services.

He met Christ, who also taught music at the Panther Valley School District, while working as a funeral director.

“I did this for a lot of years and it was good. I worked with my dad for 20 and it was a blessing,” Christ said.

More information, including prices, is available at www.lamarchristfuneralhome.com.