A historic location

Located on the north side of Pekin in a historic home, Preston-Hanley is a beautiful place to plan and host a funeral, memorial or reception. Impeccably maintained, the two-story white house on North Fourth Street was built in 1868 and was once the residence of the Honorable Teis Smith, one of Pekin's founding fathers. Each person who enters the home is greeted warmly. If it's cold outside, there may be a fire burning in the reception-area fireplace.

We've been in this beautiful location since 1957 and through the years have remodeled and updated so our building is not only comfortable but also ADA compliant. It even has an elevator for those who find steps difficult to manage.

The main chapel seats up to 300 people. A second chapel works well for smaller gatherings. The welcoming lounge offers families a place for refreshments, and there is plenty of parking for guests.

Personalized funerals and celebrations of life

Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory offers many types of services. We'll work with you and your family to create a personalized ceremony that deeply reflects your loved one's life. There are endless ways to personalize a service. Start by sharing the details that you'll always remember—the way her nose crinkled when she smiled, the way he sang in the car when his favorite songs came on. We'll take the time to get to know your special person and design a tribute like no other.

When you first meet with a funeral director, we'll ask questions about your loved one: what they liked to do, what they cherished, how they thought about the world, how they liked to spend time. From there, we'll help you design a service that speaks to the unique life of your loved one, whether a traditional religious funeral, cremation memorial or any upbeat celebration of life.

Tell us if that special person was a sports fan, an outdoors enthusiast, a world traveler, a pet lover or a baker extraordinaire. We take the things that mattered to your loved one and weave them together to create a singular, heartfelt memorial. We're here to help remember the details through cherished traditions, favorite music, photos, flowers, a tribute video and more.

Whatever kind and size of service best suits you or your loved one, our funeral planners will work with you to put together a personalized plan that considers your religion, culture, personal preferences and budget. We even offer catering.

Cremation in Pekin

There are many options for cremation in the Peoria area—and they're not all equal. We specialize in cremation services that honor loved ones in personalized ways, and families love our all-inclusive pricing. With expertise in scattering ashes and a friendly team who pays attention to every detail, we provide service that is second to none.

Preston-Hanley owns a state-of-the-art crematory, which is staffed by certified crematory operators. The 2,500-square-foot facility is located at 200 S. Veterans Dr., on the grounds of Prairie Haven Cemetery. It includes a private viewing chapel along with an urn and memorial display.

More and more people are choosing cremation over traditional burial, but most aren’t familiar with the many options:

• a cremation without a funeral or memorial service of any kind.
• a funeral with your loved one present, followed by cremation.
• a cremation followed by a scattering, cemetery memorialization or celebration of life—or all three.

If you're interested in cemetery placement, Prairie Haven Cemetery is among the prettiest in the area. It offers niches, gardens and other choices.

And for those who wish for something more momentous, Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater cremation garden off the coast of Florida. A Celestis Memorial Spaceflight takes ashes into space for a little while or forever.

Learn more about our cremation services.

Veterans burial benefits

When it comes to honoring veterans, our level of dedication and commitment is unrivaled. We go above and beyond to recognize and pay respect to the courageous men and women who risked their lives for their country. We truly believe that those who answered our nation’s call embody the ideals Americans hold dear. Because they have proven their devotion to their fellow citizens and to a grateful nation, we provide them with respect and devotion in return.

Watch our video to learn how we honor veterans and get a free planning guide.

Funeral and cremation planning in advance

At Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, we recognize that funeral arrangements and associated expenses can be overwhelming. In addition to assisting during a time of immediate need, our funeral directors work with families to plan ahead. By preparing in advance, you provide a sense of relief, peace of mind and comfort for your loved ones while ensuring your wishes are met and your budget is maintained. We offer in-person and virtual consultations, as well as a free Personal Planning Guide.

Find out everything you need to know about prepaid funeral plans.

Preston-Hanley pet crematory

Pets are family members, too, and Preston-Hanley offers individual private cremation for pets at a state-of-the-art crematory dedicated to companion animals. Our compassionate funeral directors offer the same attention to detail in your pet's final arrangements as for any member of the family, and you can be assured that your pet never leaves our care.

We will pick up your pet from your veterinarian's office or your home and return your pet's cremated remains to you within 48 hours Monday through Friday. Pricing is reasonable for both small and large animals, and we have pet urns in a range of sizes. Service dogs, police dogs and military dogs are cremated at no charge.

Annual Gathering of Remembrance

Each December, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory invites the families we have served during the previous year to our Annual Gathering of Remembrance. During this special event, each family gets a pamphlet titled "Coping With Grief During a Holiday," along with a personalized candle honoring their loved one. The candle is inscribed with the loved one's name and birth and death dates.

The Annual Gathering of Remembrance features live holiday music, refreshments and the chance to be with others who've experienced losses in the previous year. It's our hope that the gathering is a source of strength and comfort for families to cherish the special memories they hold dear during the holiday season.

We're here for you

Thank you for considering Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory for your funeral and cremation needs. We are honored by the trust placed in us by the people of Pekin, and we strive to uphold our legacy. Please contact us if you need immediate assistance, wish to tour our funeral home or would simply like more information about our services. Arrangements can be made in person, by phone or by email. We're here to help.

Reach out now.

History

Clarence and Roland Preston opened their funeral home on St. Mary Street in Pekin, Illinois, in 1934.

In 1957, the business was moved to the Teis Smith mansion, a gorgeous two-story house built in 1868 that at one time belonged to one of Pekin's founding fathers, the Honorable Teis Smith. Smith was born in Hanover, Germany, and settled in Pekin in 1849. He was a leading business man and benevolent community member. At that time, the mansion was extensively remodeled and a large chapel was added.

In June 1965, the D. Neale Hanley family purchased the business. A few years later, in January 1973, they opened Creve Coeur Chapel in Creve Coeur to expand the area of service.

Neale Hanley Sr. instilled the principles of integrity and hard work in his twin sons, Neale "Buster" Hanley II and Charles R. Hanley, who followed in their father's footsteps, upholding a legacy of professionalism, dedication and commitment to unequaled care.

Through the years, Preston-Hanley has earned numerous Pursuit of Excellence awards from the National Funeral Directors Association. In 2020, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory joined the Dignity Memorial^® family, creating personalized funerals and memorials and offering benefits that no other provider can.