CARRYING ON A PROUD TRADITION
Funeral home owner Paul Hammerl offers quality presentation, service
“It was important to me to have a lighter, brighter more spacious facility providing an unparalleled level of elegance.” — Paul Hammerl
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> In college, Paul Hammerl took a course that paved the way for his life’s work.
“I was two semesters away from graduating from college and unsure what path to take,” the 54-year-old said recently. “At that time I took a death and dying course and it was then that I realized this would become my lifelong passion.”
That passion has driven Hammerl to become the owner of the SimpsonGaus Funeral Home in 2011. He graduated from Medaille College in Buffalo in 1986.
Hammerl, who lives above the funeral home, has since expanded his holdings in 2018 to include the Copeland Funeral Home in New Paltz.
Just last year, Hammerl attached his name to the two well-established funeral services, keeping the original to “pay homage” to their founders.
Hammerl, who hails from Buffalo, decided to change the names after an extensive renovation project at the Simpson-Hammerl facility was completed in 2019.
In 1953, Frank H. and Julia Guido Simpson opened the Frank H. Simpson Funeral Home, according to a historical account. The residence, which was built circa 1911 by the Fields family, was then remodeled to accommodate two small viewing rooms.
In the mid 1960s the funeral home was renovated. A two-story expansion was added to the back of the building, which added a new chapel and arrangement office. The basement, which is the casket selection room, and the main chapel were enlarged.
Last April, Hammerl says he embarked on more renovations which were completed.
“This renovation included all new windows, doors and custom woodwork,” said Hammerl. “The ceilings were raised throughout the building to create a more spacious and open environment.”
“It was important to me to have a lighter, brighter more spacious facility providing an unparalleled level of elegance,” Hammerl added. “All of this was accomplished, with the most significant change being the creation of our grand entrance way.”
“Transforming the look from a hallway view to an open sitting room with a fireplace, staircase and an over-all elegant grand entrance way atmosphere complete with Swarovski crystal chandeliers,” said Hammerl, who has managed two other Connecticut funeral parlors in the past.
In May of 2017, Tim Copeland, owner of what is now Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home at 162 S Putt Corners Rd, New Paltz, approached Hammerl about selling his funeral home.
Hammerl said he didn’t jump at the chance because he was “content” just running the Kingston facility.
But Hammerl was convinced because Copeland told him he liked the way he “took care of families.”
The Copeland family has been a part of the New Paltz community since 1966, according to the funeral home’s webpage
“Terry Copeland was well known and established in the community already, as a funeral director and on June 1, 1991 founded the Copeland Funeral Home.” the website says.
The building was built as a funeral home. In 1998, it was expanded to better serve the community.
“The addition included a bigger chapel with a cathedral ceiling and the front chapel was expanded to twice its size,” the website says.
In early 1992, Tim Copeland joined the staff to assist his parents with their ever growing business. Upon Terry Copeland’s death in 2001, his son carried on the “family tradition for the next 17 years,” the website says.
On March 12, 2018, Hammerl, purchased the Copeland Funeral Home.
“A great deal of pride and care has been put into this facility and more importantly into the quality of our staff. We pride ourselves in maintaining a state-of-the art showroom within a beautiful and comforting setting,” the website says.
“I was honored and appreciative of this wonderful opportunity to continue the Copeland family legacy and provide the best possible funereal experience to the New Paltz community,” Hammerl said.