There are times when nothing short of the best will do. The professionals at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors know this. Established in Houston almost 90 years ago, the funeral home is a remarkable place, characterized by its distinctive history, exquisite facilities and incomparable commitment to making a difference in the lives of the families it serves.
Even before you step over the threshold of the building at 1010 Bering Drive, you get a sense of the excellence and attention to detail that live up to the discerning standards of its founder — and its clientele. When you enter the doors at Geo. H. Lewis, it’s instantly apparent you’ve come to a place of extraordinary service in extraordinary surroundings.
Gleaming limousines, doormen dressed in white gloves and flawless uniforms, polished woods and rich textiles, and the 350-seat Jasek Chapel with a soaring coffered ceiling and Steinway piano give the funeral home a feel reminiscent of a five-star hotel. A full-service, in-house concierge stands ready to arrange everything from hotel suites to private jet service, personalized Crane & Co. stationery to a string quartet, event security to fine catering.
Celebrating special lives in special ways
The death of a loved one is among the more difficult experiences a family can go through, and Geo. H. Lewis is there to guide its clients every step of the way. The families of Houston pioneers, business leaders, politicians, philanthropists, celebrities and so many other elite residents trust the team to provide discreet, personalized care. However, you don’t have to be a luminary to be a VIP in the eyes of the experienced staff here. Every family can expect a curated and seamlessly orchestrated event — or events — produced with incomparable care, consideration and the utmost regard.
No two lives are alike. The same can be said of the funerals and memorial celebrations Geo. H. Lewis hosts for cherished loved ones. The only limit is the imagination. Planning an exquisite celebration of life takes experience and finesse. Few are experts at it, but the professionals at Geo. H. Lewis are.
Depending on a loved one’s final requests and a family’s religious, cultural and personal preferences, a service might include ritual washing and a kosher menu, a chapel service with incense burning and chanting monks, or green burial in a woodsy preserve. A celebration of life might take the form of a swank cocktail party with vintage wines and Houston Symphony musicians, a Gulf of Mexico scattering with a champagne toast, ashes sent into deep space via a Celestis Voyager spaceflight, or a simple ceremony before an entombment in a private mausoleum at the family ranch.
No matter the request, the staff provides legendary service without limits.
Unique heritage and history
Geo. H. Lewis dedicated his life to funeral service, beginning when he started working with his uncle, C. Ed Settegast, in 1901. In 1936, Lewis joined H.L. Fortinberry Funeral Home, located in the old Waddell family home at 2404 Caroline St. in Houston. The firm then changed names to Lewis & Fortinberry.
After a year, Lewis bought Fortinberry’s share of the business and changed its name to Geo. H. Lewis & Co. The four Lewis sons got involved in daily operations, and after World War II, the name of the firm was changed to Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.
Lewis’ mission was singular: to provide the highest quality service and merchandise available in the funeral profession by the most compassionate, professional and dedicated funeral directors and staff. Many decades later, that ideal is still readily apparent in each phone greeting, black-car pickup, catered event and custom casket.
To learn more, visit dignitymemorial.com.