On February 1, 1834, Thomas F. Keeler extended a helping and necessary hand to the community of Mount Holly and the surrounding area when he started a funeral service in conjunction with his furniture business at 107 High Street in this historic town.

Thomas F. Keeler was also one of the founders of the Burlington County Funeral Directors' Association in New Jersey. He served as the organization's first secretary in 1877. Six generations of Keelers and Perinchiefs have guided the destiny of the funeral business in Mount Holly and each of the six generations has served as president and secretary of the Burlington Association. In addition two have served as president of the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science: Morris Keeler Perinchief From 1938-1942 and Harry Tuttle Perinchief 1942-1952.

The patriarch of the business, Thomas F. Keeler, died in 1885. He was succeeded by his son Morris H. Keeler, who headed the business until his death in 1914. Morris K. Perinchief, a grandson of Morris H. Keeler joined the firm in 1905 as the third generation to be engaged in the family enterprise. Morris K. Perinchief introduced modern embalming to Burlington County in 1906. The firm was the first in the area to utilize motorized equipment in its service, replacing its horse drawn vehicles in 1912. In 1937 their Chapel became the first fully air-conditioned funeral home in the vicinity.

Harry T. Perinchief joined his father in 1933 and upon the death of his father in 1945 became head of the firm. In 1949 Harry completely remodeled the existing facilities. The remodeled home served the community for over 20 years, but in 1961, after 127 years of operation at the original location, Harry purchased a beautiful 60 year old Victorian mansion with very attractive gardens that were well known throughout that area of the state. A newspaper account, written at that time about the opening of the new funeral home, said that visitors came far and wide to see the gardens. So, the local showplace, located two blocks from the original location, became, in 1961, the Perinchief Chapels today. One addition to the mansion was erected in 1971 to provide more space for funeral chapels.

David T. Perinchief is the current president of the Perinchief Chapels corporation. He joined his father in 1966 after his graduation from Dartmouth College and American Academy-McAllister Institute. His father died in 1968 and at that time he assumed the reins of leadership as the fifth generation serving the family business. Dave has three children; twins Patrick and Kerri and a daughter Alison.

David's son Patrick joined the business in 1994 after graduating from Randolph Macon College and American Academy-McAllister Institute. Patrick was the six generation of the family working in the business. He also served as President of the Burlington County Funeral Directors' Association. Patrick died suddenly in October of 2007.

The entire Perinchief family and staff remain committed to serving the greater Mount Holly area community for generations to come.