MARK J. HUMMEL

Funeral Director / Owner

Mark J. Hummel is a Frackville Native growing up and graduating from North Schuylkill Jr. Sr. High School, and later a graduate of Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA. in Funeral Service. 

I am a current member of PFDA the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and Past President and Vice President of the Berks County Funeral Directors Association.

I started my career in 1991 working for the Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home of Ashland and the former Charles H. Post Funeral Home, Mahanoy City, PA.  I had also worked for the former Nice Funeral Home of Frackville under the direction of the late Ronald H. Nice.  

After working for various funeral homes, I opened my first funeral home in Reading, PA., and then purchased the former Cramp Funeral Home in Centre Park Reading and renamed it the Cramp Hummel Funeral Home.  

I was fortunate to be able to purchase the Albert L. Gricoski Funeral Home, Frackville where it remains a well-known funeral home serving the families where I grew up and is now the Mark J Hummel Funeral Home where I reside.

I also am on the staff of the Drexel College of Medicine located in Wyomissing, PA., where my skills are utilized to help prepare for the college students who are in Medical School at Drexel.

I am a member of the Frackville Elks BPOE 1533 and other various civic organizations within the Schuylkill County Area.

SCOTT K. BARTHOLOMEW

Supervisor

Scott has been part of the Funeral Home for over 20 years as the Supervisor and resides in Kutztown, Pennsylvania with his family.  He enjoys helping families through his love for the Funeral industry.

Lewis G. Fains

Musician

Lewis is a native of Reading where he graduated from Oley Valley High School and attended Kutztown University.  He is a musician and has served the community for many years in various musical positions.  Lewis is also a US Army Military Veteran.  He has been associated with funeral services as a former pre plan assistant as well as cemetery sales.  He served over 20 years in the management of Penske Truck Leasing where he perfected his customer service skills.  He looks forward to helping families and provide knowledge and quality services to families in our community.

Melissa Smeltz

Funeral Intern

I began my career in healthcare in 2009 as a registered nurse, dedicating many years to patient advocacy and compassionate care. For the past seven years, I served as a transplant coordinator, a role that deepened my commitment to supporting individuals and families during some of life’s most critical moments.

With the unwavering support of my husband and three children, I chose to pursue a new calling in funeral service and enrolled in mortuary school. In August 2025, I graduated with honors from the American Academy McAllister Institute and successfully passed my national board examinations shortly thereafter.

I have been fortunate to work as an intern at Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, where I continue to build on my foundation of service, compassion, and professionalism while helping families navigate times of loss with dignity and care.

Jeff Rutter

Part-Time Associate

We are pleased to have Jeff Rutter join our staff several years ago upon his retirement from his family business with he and his brother Alan.  The jointly owned the famous Chef Alan's Restaurant of West Reading, PA.  Jeff is a welcomed face to many as most people remember him from his days as a business owner in Berks County.