Our welcoming Florida funeral home

The historical yellow building at Buchan’s Landing is a comfortable venue for memorials, gatherings and cremation services. Whether you are looking to hold a traditional funeral service, contemporary celebration or cremation gathering, we are here for you.

The Lemon Bay Funeral Home chapel is a flexible space . It can be arranged with rows of chairs for a traditional memorial with up to 86 guests or with tables and chairs for a funeral and reception for up to 40 guests. For the latter, we are happy to arrange catering—from a breakfast buffet to a sit-down dinner, cake and coffee to an ice cream social. We can decorate the room any way you choose, turning the space into a beachcomber’s paradise, a fisherman’s dream, a book club tribute or a poker den. We accommodate larger celebrations at Kays-Ponger & Uselton in Punta Gorda or any other location that you choose—indoors or out. Our goal is to create a memorable event that tells a unique story.

Unique lives deserve unique celebrations

The compassionate professionals at Lemon Bay Funeral Home & Cremation Services will guide you and your family through every step of the funeral planning process with loving care. They pride themselves on asking good questions and catering to your needs.

Certified funeral celebrants specialize in creating personalized services that deeply reflect the personality of yourself or your loved one. These services are as unique as the lives lived. They are a priceless opportunity to share a person’s passions and create a lasting, healing memory. With a custom memorial service, you can celebrate in the way that fits your family’s traditions and preferences. Think: a sunrise memorial followed by mimosas, a seafood lunch after a funeral or even a cocktail party after a cremation.

Start with a story—we’ll take it from there, arranging every detail from venue to food to music and more.

Cremation services

Not everyone knows that there are many cremation choices. If you are interested in cremation, the funeral home team can explain the process and the different memorial and burial options. From a direct cremation without a service or a witness to a full funeral service before or after the cremation and more, we help you understand this increasingly common choice.

Cremations are performed at the private crematory at Kays-Ponger & Uselton in Punta Gorda. If desired, cremated remains may be buried at Gulf Pines Memorial Park.

Distinguished veteran services

Our part of Florida is home to a large population of U.S. military veterans. When it comes to honoring those veterans, our level of dedication and commitment is unrivaled. There is no limit to what we will do to recognize, honor and pay respect to the courageous men and women who risked their lives for our country.

To that end, we offer extra services and recognition to fallen veterans that include:

• Veteran’s first call—When we transport the deceased veteran, we drape the stretcher with the American flag.

• Veteran’s final march—When we accompany the veteran to his or her final resting place, the coach is identified with the American flag and the emblem of the veteran’s branch of service. For those who want a truly special march, we offer a horse-drawn carriage.

• Pallbearer identification—We identify pallbearers by providing each with a lapel pin of the American flag as our gift to them in recognition of their service to a veteran.

• Patriot’s walk—Prior to the arrival of the funeral procession, the cemetery staff installs a double row of flags from the road where the coach will stop to the graveside, creating a patriot’s walk in honor of the veteran. The gravesite is also decorated with special draping for the chairs and lowering device.

• Honor guard—Our local Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Posts maintain a volunteer group of veterans to serve as an honor guard to provide a final salute to a comrade.

Other options range from a dove release and cannon firing to the playing of Taps. Veterans are also eligible for valuable savings on pre-planned funeral and cremation services.

Pet cremations and memorials

Lemon Bay Funeral Home & Cremation Services wants to be there for your whole family—including your cherished pets. We offer cremation services for all sizes of dogs, cats, birds and other small animals. Forever celebrate your beloved pet with an online tribute, where friends and family can post memories and photos of your pet.

Pet cremations take place at the private crematory at Kays-Ponger & Uselton in Punta Gorda and are never co-mingled. You may bring your pet to us or have us pick up at your home or veterinarian’s office. Should you wish to memorialize your pet’s cremated remains, Gulf Pines Memorial Park’s Companion Meadow accommodates both pets and their owners among its tall pines.

Lean on us

We are always available to take your call right away, day or night, and we welcome you to tour the funeral home. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, whether you are planning ahead or have an immediate need.

History

Founding partners Steven Annecone and Robert Brady opened Lemon Bay Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Englewood in 1972.

The building that houses the funeral home’s newly renovated Englewood Chapel was built by the Father of Englewood roads, Peter E. Buchan, and originally opened as a store at Buchan’s Landing in the 1920s. The building became Tate’s General Store in the 1930s and later Tate’s Market. During the 1960s, the building housed an antiques store; it became the location of Lemon Bay Funeral Home when Steven and Robert launched their business.

Lemon Bay Funeral Home & Cremation Services is part of the Kays-Ponger & Uselton group of funeral homes, which became part of the Dignity Memorial network in 2018.