Our Story

For three generations the Bence family has answered the call of service to families during their greatest time of need. For four generations, the Rairigh family has served the families of Northern Indiana County with their funeral needs. Beginning in late 2012, the Bence family has chosen to pass the baton to David A. Rairigh to continue their legacy of service.

Carl R. Bence began the family tradition of providing funeral services in 1931, out of his furniture store in Clymer, using his ambulance service as funeral transport. His sons Harry J. and Carl P. took over the funeral aspects of the multifaceted business and established the Bence Funeral Home in Clymer. Its location on Franklin Street still stands today fully operational in the funeral service.

Carl R. Bence

In the early 1980's Carl W. and Harry J. Bence, grandsons of the founder, accepted their father's invitation to become the third generation of funeral directors and operate the funeral home in Clymer, PA. They have since expanded the facilities to include a chapel with the seating capacity of 100 and a parking lot in the rear. 

In the early 1990's, with an eye on the future, the Bence brothers purchased the Frank T. Mihalcik Funeral Home in Indiana, which was renamed the Bence-Mihalcik Funeral Home. This business operated under their ownership through 2012.

In 2012, the Bence brothers decided to retire and agreed to sell the business to David and Jennifer Rairigh.  David's family and the Bence family have cooperated for generations to do whatever was necessary to meet the needs of the families in our region.  This friendship and their familiarity with the high quality service provided by David and his family gave the Bences confidence in placing their business into  David's hands.