Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc. - Funeral Services - Cremation Services – Canajoharie

This is our home town, and we care about the people who live here in the Central Mohawk Valley . We have dedicated ourselves to serving the community by providing caring, dignified and personal services for families in their time of need.

We are deeply honored to serve you.

William James Smith – Owner and Funeral Director

“Serving the families in our community brings me deep satisfaction. I know our services are truly the best in the Central Mohawk Valley .”

Bill has over 30 years experience as a licensed funeral director and owner of Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc. in Canajoharie , New York , and Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home in Fort Plain , New York .

Bill was raised in Albany , New York and graduated from Colonie Central High School . He then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served honorably during the Viet Nam War. Afterwards, he returned to the Albany area and graduated from Hudson Valley Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science. Bill earned National Board Certification shortly after graduation, and has served families like yours ever since.

Bill and Greta Smith moved to Canajoharie in 1975 and joined Floyd and Doris Houghtaling at Houghtaling Funeral Home. Bill became an owner of the funeral home soon after that and, in 1986; he purchased Swartz Funeral Home in Fort Plain.

Bill and Greta continue to serve families in their home communities as they have for well over 30 years.

Bill serves on the Board of Directors of Arkell Foundation, is a member of the Canajoharie-Palatine Chamber of Commerce and is supportive of many local charities. He is a life member of the Fort Plain Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Fort Renesselaer Club, and the Montgomery County Disaster Task Force.

Greta has recently retired from her position as Chairperson of the Committee on Special Education at Fort Plain Central School. In addition to serving families at the funeral home, she now teaches at The College of Saint Rose and works as a part-time administrator in the Greater Amsterdam School District.

The Smiths raised their two daughters in this community. Kirsten is an Occupational Therapist at Schenectady ARC. Michelle lives and works in Connecticut with her husband, Collin.

Christopher Hanley – Funeral Director

“It is an honor to serve families that I have known my whole life.”

Chris is truly a “native son”, having been born and raised in the Fort Plain-Canajoharie Area. He is a graduate of Fort Plain Central School and Hudson Valley Community College .

Chris received his National Board Certification and has been a licensed funeral director at Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc. and Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home since 2000.

Chris is very active in the community. He is a former Boy Scout and was awarded the high honor of Eagle Scout as well as being elected to The Order of the Arrow. Chris is a member of the Fort Plain Masonic Lodge #433 and The Fort Renesselaer Club. He is also a new member of Canajoharie-Fort Plain Elks Club.

Chris' parents, Phil and JoAnn Hanley, live in Fort Plain.

The Houghtaling Brothers, Floyd, Sr. and Chauncey owned a combined furniture store and funeral home on Main Street in Canajoharie next to the Methodist Church . It was a small frame building. The furniture store was eventually sold to Conover's and the funeral home was moved up on West Hill.

The present funeral home building was used by the family as their home and as the funeral home. The front of the house was the funeral home and the family lived in the back using the back staircase. Stories were told of Grandma Houghtaling serving dinner at the big dining room table downstairs as families came in for funeral services.

Floyd, Jr. and Doris Houghtaling raised their family after the building was remodeled. The downstairs was the funeral home with the top two floors being their home.

William Smith came to Canajoharie to work with Floyd in 1975 and became a partner in Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home shortly after. Floyd and Bill remodeled the funeral home adding a chapel seating over 175 people in 1990. Beneath the chapel, we built state-of-the-art preparation rooms. Our commitment is to provide complete care for your loved ones on our premises.

The funeral home is handicapped accessible with gracious décor and spacious restrooms that are handicapped-accessible.

In 1986, Bill Smith, owner of Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc. in Canajoharie, purchased part ownership of the Swartz Funeral Home on Center Street in Fort Plain. He became sole owner of the funeral home in 1991. He was later to use this facility to house the newly formed company known today as Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home.

The Gray Funeral Home had been a Fort Plain institution since 1894 when it was known as the Dwandler and Gray Funeral Home . It operated under different owners through the 102 years until the business was blended with Houghtaling Funeral home.

Our funeral home building on Center Street in Fort Plain dates back to the Erie Canal days. There have been many additions to the historical building over the years.

Additionally, the building is handicapped accessible with spacious handicapped restrooms. The chapel seats over 100 people. There is a parking lot for the convenience of family and friends.

Funeral Directors, Bill Smith and Chris Hanley continue to provide their professional services to the communities of Fort Plain and Canajoharie, at both facilities.