Personalized memorials and celebrations of life

At Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services, we believe that every service should be as unique as the life lived. Our associates capture the essence of your loved one to create an event that honors your special person and gives friends and family a chance to come together and remember.

Perhaps it’s a barbecue in honor of the pit master, complete with bottles of homemade sauce for guests to take home. Maybe it’s a garden-themed party for a beloved green thumb. Or perhaps it’s a quiet outdoor scattering ceremony with the closest family and friends. No matter your wish, no matter the detail, we handle it all.

Whether you want to arrange a traditional funeral service or modern celebration of life, large reception or small gathering, we will work with you one-on-one to ensure your needs and budget are met. From floral arrangements to music selections, decor, catering and more, we guide you through your choices with care.

Cremation in Lewiston 

Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services specializes in cremation services that honor loved ones in personalized ways, and families love our all-inclusive pricing options. With expertise in scattering ashes and a friendly team who pays attention to every detail, we provide service that is second to none.

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

• 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.

There are many cremation providers from which to choose. Here’s what you can expect when you choose Pinette Dillingham & Lynch for your loved one’s cremation:

• Custody of care guaranteed. Our identification pendant and custody-of-care program help safeguard the identification of your loved one.
• Exclusive custody of your loved one. Once your loved one is in the care of a Dignity Memorial® provider or trusted partner, they’re in our care until they’re returned to your family.
• Licensed, certified, conscientious staff. All Dignity Memorial crematorium operators in Maine are licensed and certified by the Cremation Association of North America, or CANA. Unless there are special circumstances and your family has requested otherwise, only one person at a time is cremated. Additionally, the crematorium chamber is thoroughly cleaned before the next person is cremated.

Veterans funerals and burials

We deeply appreciate those who have sacrificed for our freedoms and feel privileged to honor veterans and their families in need of funeral, cremation and burial services. Our experienced funeral directors are dedicated to ensuring that every veteran is honored in a manner befitting their service and giving their families the support they need.

Grief support and aftercare

The loss of a loved one can be devastating, and many people don’t know where to turn or how to cope. We’re here to help you during difficult times—you aren’t alone. Though the experience of grief can be very isolating, the articles in our grief library can make a difference in your day-to-day life, and families who plan services with us get access to our 24-hour Compassion Helpline (services provided by Charles Nechtem Associates) for up to 13 months after a service.

Funeral and burial planning in advance

In addition to assisting with an immediate need, Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services works with families to make final arrangements in advance. When you plan ahead, you relieve your family from financial and emotional burdens while ensuring your wishes are fulfilled. We offer in-person and virtual consultations, as well as a free Personal Planning Guide.

Lean on us

Our caring and dedicated team of experienced professionals is mindful of every need, respectful of every wish and watchful of every detail. They provide exceptional, compassionate service at one of life’s most difficult times. We consider it a great responsibility when families entrust to us the care of their loved ones. As part of the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers, Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services offers benefits you won’t find anywhere else.

We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please reach out, day or night, if we may assist with funeral, cremation or burial arrangements in Lewiston. Contact us

History

The story of Fortin Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services weaves together the legacies of four family-owned funeral homes that have served the Lewiston, Maine, community for more than a century.

United by a commitment to service excellence and personal care, these establishments have helped generations of Androscoggin County families honor the memories of their loved ones. The roots of this legacy can be traced back to the early 1900s, when funerals began to shift from in-home services to dedicated spaces.

An early partnership

It all started in 1912, when Napoleon Pinette and Reginald Fortin Sr., two young livery workers, purchased an undertaking business charter from F.X. Marcotte Furniture and Undertaking, establishing Pinette Funeral Home.

Francis Xavier Marcotte had opened FX Marcotte Furniture and Undertaking in the early 1900s in Lewiston. Once he sold the undertaking side of his business, he turned his focus to the furniture side of the business. It’s still going strong today.

After owning a business together for more than a decade, Reginald and Napoleon parted ways in 1925.

A new union for Fortin

Reginald joined with Louis Poisson to form Poisson and Fortin Funeral Home on Park Street in Lewiston. After Reginald died, in 1937, his sons, Donat and Roland, purchased 70 Horton Street in Lewiston from Dr. Leo Rio and established Fortin Funeral Directors.

Over the years, ownership of the business passed through the hands of several dedicated individuals, including Roland G. Fortin, who sold his shares to Raymond Duprez, Denis Croteau and Roger Bouffard. In 1985, Raymond A. Perreault joined the ranks as an owner, further strengthening the Fortin family's commitment to serving the community.

A significant milestone occurred when Fortin Funeral Directors merged with Plummer and Merrill and Teague Funeral Homes in 1992, giving rise to The Fortin Group. This move allowed the newly formed entity to serve families in both Lewiston and Auburn from multiple locations.

In 1997 The Fortin Group was acquired by Equity Corporation International, which was acquired two years later by Service Corporation International. At that time The Fortin Group became part of the Dignity Memorial network.

Over the years, The Fortin Group's Lewiston funeral home has undergone extensive renovations to enhance its facilities and services. These improvements included expanding parking capacity, increasing visitation space and creating a state-of-the-art celebration of life center, designed to provide families with a comfortable and modern setting in which to honor their loved ones.

Pinette branches out

The same year Poisson and Fortin opened, Napoleon opened Pinette Funeral Home at 413 Lisbon Street. He strategically located his new business on Lewiston's main trolley line, which traveled all corners of the twin cities. This location allowed new families from Canada to find the funeral home, because trolleys had to pass there on their way to the car barn.

As the city grew and expanded, Pinette adapted to serve the changing needs of the community. In 1940, the funeral home relocated to Bartlett Street, and in 1964, Pinette Funeral Chapel was added to serve the growing suburban population.

The Dillingham legacy

The Dillingham family's story in the funeral industry began even earlier, with roots dating back to the Civil War era. In 1871, Charles K. Dillingham, a Civil War veteran, founded Dillingham & Son Memorial Chapel. For an impressive 125 years, the business remained in the capable hands of the Dillingham family, providing compassionate care to the Lewiston community.

In 1996, Kevin and James Lynch, who’d previously acquired Pinette Funeral Home from Raoul Pinette, purchased Dillingham & Son Memorial Chapel, bringing together two of the area’s most well-respected names.

A new chapter: Fortin Pinette Dillingham & Lynch

In 2023, a new chapter began as The Fortin Group and Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home united, combining their rich histories and strong community ties. The Fortin Group's Auburn location, known as The Fortin Group Plummer & Merrill Funeral Home, will continue its legacy of exceptional service. Meanwhile, the Horton Street Lewiston location has merged with Pinette Dillingham & Lynch at its state-of-the-art funeral home on Alfred Plourde Parkway.

Now operating under the name Fortin Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services, the 10,000-square-foot funeral home has ample parking and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The dedicated staff is committed to carrying on the traditions of exceptional care and personalized service that have defined these family names for over a century.

Upholding the highest standards

As Fortin Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services embarks on this new chapter, the focus remains on providing excellent service and personal care to the community. With deep roots in the Lewiston area and an unwavering commitment to helping families remember the unique lives of their loved ones, Fortin Pinette Dillingham & Lynch ensures that every funeral, cremation or celebration is a truly meaningful tribute.

Furthermore, by upholding the highest standards of compassion and professionalism, Fortin Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services honors the legacies of the four families that have come together to serve the community.