A Jeannette-based cemetery company that is one of the largest privately owned gravesite operators in the country has a new name.
CMS East is now known as Life Remembered. The 66-year-old company announced the name change one year after it was acquired by Pittsburgh private equity firm Stonewood Capital Management.
Jude Abraham, CEO of Life Remembered, said the name CMS East “didn’t resonate” with the families they serve.
CMS East began in Western Pa., and since has branched out to operate 26 memorial parks in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“We felt it was important to rebrand the entire company so that families in these small communities would know that it wasn’t just a single-owned cemetery,” said Abraham, of North Huntingdon.
He believes CMS once stood for “cemetery management services,” but the abbreviation got lost in the shuffle over several decades.
Life Remembered was previously the company’s tagline.
In addition to the name change, the company also has a new logo: a butterfly whose wings make an infinity sign.
Abraham said the butterfly symbolizes longevity.
“We’ll be here forever for our properties and families,” he said.
Life Remembered employs about 150 people total, with 50-60 employees in Western Pa. Its nearby locations are Westmoreland Memorial Park in Hempfield, Penn-Lincoln Memorial Park in North Huntingdon, Jeannette Memorial Park, Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell, Mon Valley Memorial Park in Donora, and Bedford County Memorial Park.
The CEO said he is grateful the company has stayed private after last year’s acquisition.
The private nature keeps jobs local, he said.
In his position, Abraham believes it is important to address issues and speak to families every day.
“I take a lot of pride in everything we do,” he said. “There’s a lot of emotion around what we do.”
