Toppitzer Funeral Home, now located on the grounds of Arlington Cemetery, has served the Delaware County Community for over 80 years. While our location has changed, the care and commitment of our family of funeral professionals has not. Independently family owned and operated, we consider the work we do to be a sacred trust.
Whether your family chooses Arlington Cemetery or elsewhere, the funeral home facility or family house of worship, we will provide unparalleled quality of service to you. Our convenient location makes us the perfect choice for Arlington families.
For families anticipating or experiencing an out of town death, make Toppitzer’s your first phone call, so that we may show you ways of controlling expenses. For information and/or a family record guide, please call 610-259-1111. Our staff is available 24 hours a day to assist you.
About Us
The Toppitzer Funeral Home has been part of the Delaware County Community for over 80 years and was founded by George C. Toppitzer, who was an integral part of the Drexel Hill area.
George was a founding member of the Community Y of Eastern Delaware Co., which has grown to include the Ridley Area Y. Toppitzer Funeral Home, continues to support this valuable asset by providing financial aid and volunteers to their effort. Following George Toppitzer’s death in 1966, the business continued under the supervision of his wife, Catherine M. Toppitzer. Mrs. Toppitzer, a registered nurse as well as a licensed funeral director, worked tirelessly with the Soroptimist Club in providing nursing scholarships to area students.
The funeral home and its staff continue to be active participants in the community, supporting local auxiliary groups, service clubs, athletic teams and school events. From the earliest days of George Toppitzer, our philosophy has always stressed the personal nature of service. We have rejected offers to be part of a superstore funeral conglomerate and remain a family owned business. Our alliance with Arlington Cemetery has provided our mutual families opportunities of quality and convenience.
While Toppitzer’s and Arlington are separate business entities, we work together to insure that all your family’s needs are met. At the same time Toppitzer Funeral Home continues to serve families whose cemetery lots are located elsewhere; families who choose to hold services in their church; and families who have come to rely on the personal service of our directors.
Joan M. Hagan
Joan M. Hagan, licensed funeral director and supervisor of Toppitzer Funeral Home, has been a longtime volunteer in the Delaware County Community. Born and raised in Media, she has served her church in music, home visitation and leadership positions. A lifelong Girl Scout, she served as Delaware County’s President and volunteers with their canoe team. Joan has been active with the Community Y of Eastern Delaware County as committee member, trustee and former chair of the board. She volunteers and serves on the advisory board of a local elder care facility, has been active politically and served as board member and president of the Media Fellowship House. She is a graduate of Rosemont College, American Academy-McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science and has done graduate work at Neumann University in Pastoral Counseling. She is a member of the Honor Society of Mortuary Studies and has been recognized by the Delaware County Women’s Commission as a Woman of Achievement; Joan received the Thanks Badge from the Girl Scouts; was named Volunteer of the Year by the Community Y of Eastern Delaware County and honored by the Y at their annual gala as recipient of the Spirit, Mind & Body Award in 2009. The Hagan Family has been associated with the Toppitzer Funeral Home for almost 60 years.
“Everyone was extremely kind and caring. I knew I was in good hands with Ed. He willingly gave me his time and advice. Because I was feeling distraught over the loss of my mother, I was appreciative of the guidance I received. I love the fact that you have a chapel within the funeral home.”
– June G.
“Top-Notch – Showed genuine concern and care for the family – handled all matters pertaining to my husband’s funeral, etc. Helped us have a celebration of my husband’s life. …you gave the family what we wanted – to celebrate this man’s life. And you embraced his wife, children, and grandchildren, and gave them comfort.”
– Margaret T.
“Mr. Papp, on behalf of my entire family, I wanted you to thank you for your kindness and gentle handling of my Mother’s service on Nov. 4th. Everything was as beautiful as you promised. Mom would have loved everything. We thank you for all of your assistance. We would not have been able to do this without your help. In gratitude, …”
– the K. Family and the V. Family
“I would recommend Toppitzer’s without reservation. Joan Hagan was great. She has helped me bury two family members and did an excellent job. She’s professional and compassionate – a perfect combination.”
– Denise G.
“Joan, my family and I thank you for the beautiful farewell to my wife, Alice. Your kind understanding of our needs was so very helpful to me. And there is not enough words that I can find to say how I feel about your service and kindness to me during the saddest time of my life. Again, my heartfelt thanks to you and your staff.”
– Samuel B.
“Our funeral director, Edward Papp, is a courteous, warm, caring, and competent representative of Toppitzer, who treated our family with respect and sympathy. He focused on those items which were important for our family to address during the time of the funeral, checking with us to determine that we had not forgotten anything. He was extremely helpful in the arrangements for the funeral, and, during the funeral, made certain that the order of the service and burial were in order.”
– Ruth K.
“We were 200 miles from Arlington. It was comforting to have a professional like Joan satisfy all our needs during an emotional time. When I was a child sixty years ago, I heard family members say Toppitzer Funeral Home was the best. I believe this to be true!”
– Earle H.