The DiMaggio family has a gift for making a very difficult time as smooth as possible. We were…read moretreated with kindness and compassion by every person we worked with - no pressure, confusion or rushing. When we were unsure, Mr. DiMaggio had kind advice and suggestions, and when there was a difference between what we wanted and what was actually feasible, Mr.DiMaggio both explained the difficulty and found the right solution. Staff was present but completely unobtrusive during the wake - they were immediately there to see to any needs, but not hovering or intruding. I have also attended other funerals at Par-Troy and have seen that same level of care and compassion each time. At one funeral, the drive to the cemetery would take us on a toll road and Mr. DiMaggio offered anyone without an Easy Pass toll money from his own pocket to ensure everyone who wanted to attend graveside services could. It has been years since my experience planning a funeral, but I think of the DiMaggio family fondly for their help at a difficult time. Since that time I have attended other funerals there and I see them delivering the same excellent care to my friends and family members.

Owner Ron DiMaggio, his daughter Renee, and his staff are nothing short of compassionate. They did…read morethe arrangements for my father nearly 30 years ago, so I knew when my mom passed recently that this was the place to go. They made a sad occasion bearable and I can't thank them enough.

I don't know for how long they've been in business, but it seems as if it has been forever, at…read moreleast to my memory. I grew up in the area and I can't remember a time when they didn't exist. The housing development standing behind their establishment now used to be a large empty field way back when. My grade school (Packanack) is just a stone's throw away, across Ratzer Rd. The Catholic Church my oldest friend had to attend as a kid is also directly across the street (when I briefly flirted with the idea of converting to Catholicism but had trouble with the idea of confessing my deepest transgressions and sins to a celibate priest I didn't know, I asked my friend what he used to confess to when he went to confession, and he said, "I made stuff up."). My 1st job at 13 was delivering Wayne Today newspapers up Ratzer Rd. in the opposite direction from Vander May (I was a scrawny nerd trying to maneuver my ramshackle bicycle up the heavily traveled roadway with a heavy canvas bag of newspapers on my shoulder in all kinds of bad weather). Still, I've only been inside Vander May twice, and never had to arrange a funeral for one of my relatives here. When my oldest friend's mother died...a kind, sweet woman I had known all my life practically...her wake/funeral was held here. I hadn't had much experience with funeral homes at that point, but everything proceeded as it's supposed to, in a professional and respectful way. My main memory of that day is seeing my friend's mother in death, and maybe for the first time confronting the reality of mortality. People you grew up around and came to love weren't going to be here forever, no matter how much you wanted to deny that bitter fact, or retreat from it. Years later, my friend's father passed, and his wake/funeral was also held at Vander May. I was older, my mother was dying torturously of cancer, and this was the man who had once referred to me as "his 3rd son," so maybe it hit me harder than it might have under different circumstances, but at his wake, I had to leave abruptly, as I started crying like a little kid. I rode up Ratzer Rd., past my old school, past where he had lived and raised his family, with tears streaming down. He was a unique man, in my experience--- very tough, a man who had been hardened by life, but maintained a good heart and spirit in spite of all that. He once owned 3 bars in Paterson, and knew a wide variety of people: actors, politicians, policemen, mobsters. His opinions of them weren't always what you would expect-- he didn't like Lou Costello, was supportive of crooked political boss Joe Bozzo, and thought mob boss Willie Moretti was a good guy (in his younger years, he palled around with Moretti's nephew, and once told me that Moretti had built a dollhouse for his daughter that was "as big as the room we're sitting in right now."). He also knew FBI agent Joe Pistone aka Donnie Brasco, who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in NYC and was the subject of a movie starring Johnny Depp. In fact, Pistone arranged for my friend's father and his friend (my friend's godfather-- real godfather, not Mario Puzo's version) to have bit parts in the movie. (My friend's father grew impatient with the movie making process and didn't stick around, but my friend's godfather remained, and you can see him briefly in the scene where Depp and Mike Madsen walk through a room where flunkies are counting gambling proceeds.) Because of the emotional turmoil I was going through at the time with my mother's situation and the death of my friend's father, I was in a bit of a daze, but I do remember that...once again...everything was handled in a professional and compassionate manner. I remember my friend giving the eulogy for his father, something I would never have had the grit or strength to do. There's ample parking, and my last memory of Vander May is walking out to my car as we were to proceed to the cemetery. I remember seeing a familiar looking guy with sunglasses standing in the parking lot, and later, I asked my friend, "Was that guy in the parking lot who I thought it was?" "Yeah," my friend answered, "It was Pistone. He came to pay his respects." I guess the bottom line is that if you're in business for as long as Vander May has been, you're obviously doing something right, whether you're running a store, a restaurant, or a funeral home. I would imagine that successfully running a funeral home can be uniquely daunting. In addition to conducting the nuts-and-bolts business aspects of it, you have to deal sensitively, compassionately and professionally with a wide variety of people facing the often unexpected, tragic loss of loved ones, the harsh reality and finality of death, the accompanying emotions of grief and despair, pain and trauma, good memories and bad ones. My experiences with Vander May haven't been direct in the sense that I've had to arrange funerals here myself for loved ones, but I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them to anyone.

Go here for a funeral for your loved one! Charlie and the staff did an amazing job working with me…read morethrough this difficult process. The constant graceful communication and patience despite all my questions at all hours of the night and many requests was greatly appreciated. I was worried that I wouldn't have sufficient photos collages and they went above and beyond even surprising me with custom creations that I will likely frame or use again at an annual memorial celebration. The attention to detail and quality helped to facilitate a beautiful tribute to my father. While the overall process felt like an intense wedding to plan, Charlie directed the process with grace and tact each step of the way providing me with some comfort and reassurance as I wanted perfection for this final walk down the aisle with my dad. The Cemetary and church were also coordinated by Charlie and he made this easy as there were multiple moving pieces. The morning of I was a little upset because some of the posters I printed were too large and weren't laying right but Gareth went to the rescue and was able to trim the edge and posted it on a hard board so it would be perfect. I loved the photo handouts for all guests and the laminated cards and laminated obituary. They offered quality touches that I haven't seen at Vander Platt which is where I was trying to originally go. Everything happens for a good reason. I'm happy I landed here for my dads funeral/wake. They give you a checklist and make everything easy for you...there are SO many decisions to make. Even the donation cards were a nice touch. They provided me with an extra glass bowl so I could supply gum for guests and accommodated my every need and question. I loved the program and directions that were provided to the guests. Also, they packaged up everything extra in a neat bag with a bow and provide an unlimited number of custom thank you cards. This place is top notch and I'm SO GLAD I put my trust in Charlie and the staff at Vander May! Thank you for a beautiful day to remember my dad!

serves were perfect. If you are asked if you want to use In Memory Of to manage donations DECLINE…read more Company did not communicate donation details and delayed sending the contributions.

I have been to too many funerals and memorials lately. No one wants to go to one. A few weeks…read moreago, I attended a funeral that started here, and it was very well done. The funeral service continued with a beautiful procession to the family's neighborhood, the firehouse and then on to the cemetery. Pretty much went like clockwork. The staff were efficient, friendly, warm and helpful getting us all parked from arrival to heading to the cemetery.

My wife and I unfortunately needed to use Shook's for both of our mother's passing within two…read moremonths. Joe Wood was extremely helpful during this difficult time. He answered all of of questions and had great recommendations for issues we had not considered. The whole staff at Shook's are all top notch. We were very pleased with there services.

Not a review I would have ever wanted to write but feel compelled to acknowledge the outstanding…read moreservice and compassion that Shooks provided my family. Joe Shook and Joe the funeral director were impressively professional. They followed our lead on what mom wanted and made suggestions along the way. They made the planning and arrangement process stress free. During the services they made themselves available for whatever questions we had or anything we needed. They weren't over and above to make sure we were comfortable. The day of the funeral we were kept informed every step of the way. Thank you for your compassion at this very difficult time. If in immediate need or are pre-planning you can't go wrong with Shooks

PROS: This was definitely one of the nicer funeral homes I've been to in a while. Nice size parking…read morelot, elegant inside, prepared the person who passed away very nicely, and was ran by two gentleman who were very nice to all of us. CONS: The bathrooms were out of the way downstairs tucked into a corner so for those who have a tough time walking down the stairs that could be a problem. However, i wouldn't let that one thing turn you away from them. OVERALL: If I was in the area and needed their services, especially for pre-planning, i would certainly give them a call

Family owned, Leonardis is what a funeral home should be. A funeral can be so overwhelming.. from…read moretalking to the hospital, the grave site, florists, car services, airports, to contacting friends and family. It's hard to imagine that you have to trust so many strangers with what may seem like your loved one's final memory. The Leonardis family is in touch with the community. We even shared a laugh or two chatting about the neighboring towns (and one of my brother's delinquent behavior as a child..haha). I just thought the wake was done so well. After all, they are a business. When it was time to leave for the night and then again the next day before the funeral, they were sympathetic and helped my family along without being too pushy. You've gotta be a certain kind of person to handle that. Not to mention there was no one wiping their eyes with a sleeve because there were tissues were placed throughout the room. The one thing I will say is the bathroom is the teensy bit creepy to me. Probably because it's on the first/bottom floor of the memorial home. Just descending the short stairs can do things to your brain.. but overall if you want less stress, let the Leonardis family take care of you.

During one of the most difficult times in our lives, Stellato provided a level of care, compassion,…read moreand professionalism that was truly impeccable. From the moment we first contacted them, we felt supported and heard. Dori was kind, attentive, and incredibly respectful, guiding us through each step of the process with patience and grace. Her staff was equally professional and respectful, especially on the day of the funeral since it was raining. They handled every detail with precision--from the preparation and presentation to the service arrangements--ensuring that everything was seamless and dignified. She even handled the flower arrangements and the church services which made the process less overwhelming. The facilities were immaculate and peaceful, creating a comforting environment for our family and guests. Most importantly, they honored our loved one's memory in a way that felt deeply personal and meaningful. Our mom wanted a closed casket, but Dori and her team made her look so beautiful, they way we remembered her when she was well, so we had an open viewing. Also, during the procession to pass by the house, Dori got out of the car and placed a rose by the Madonna in front of her home. These extra touches to honor her memory really left a lasting impression on us all. We are incredibly grateful for their exceptional service and would not hesitate to recommend Stellato to anyone in need of compassionate, high-quality care during such a sensitive time. With sincere thanks, Christina S.

I would like to share the wonderful experience my family and I had with Stellato Funeral Home in…read moreFairfield, NJ. Dori was our funeral director. She was very sweet and empathetic while preparing the arrangements for my grandmother's funeral service. It was overwhelmingly touching that she, on her own doing, added special sentimental details during the services. On the day of the service, she prayed with us and guided through each step, ensuring we felt supported as a family. Following that, we were then led in a procession to pass my grandma's house. It was then that Dori got out of her car and put a beautiful pink rose in front of my grandma's house to honor her. The procession led us to her church service and the pallbearers were professional and respectful while carrying her casket to and from the hearse to the church. The next moment was so sweet and carrying on behalf of Dori. During our first initial meeting, my mother had mentioned where my grandma, her mother, had worked for over 40 years. My mother explained just in conversation how she built her career and loved her job, while still being a wonderful mother and wife. As the mass ended and we headed to the cemetery, we were led past the building in which my grandma worked for so many years. Dori was so attentive and listened to my mother so intensely on our first meeting and added the special detail of passing the building that she had worked so many years ago. We then found out at the cemetery that Dori had planned that sweet gesture to honor my grandmother. We were all so taken back in a wonderful way. My family was so grateful that Dori went above and beyond in doing this gesture to honor my grandmother. My family and I highly recommend using the Stellato Funeral Home in Fairfield. Dori was an angel during our time of need.

Working with Maria at Diamond Monuments in Clifton, NJ was a wonderful experience. She consulted…read morewith us in person to help design my late father's memorial gravestone and worked patiently with us until we were certain of our final design. Our monument was delivered and installed sooner than anticipated. I have referred friends and family to Diamond Monuments because of the excellent customer service we received. Thank you so very much Maria. The Teixeira Family

Diamond Memorials was absolutely fantastic. They were so helpful and friendly. My father in law…read moreis buried several hours away from me and it was impossible for me to drive up there to see the stone and if there was room for his name on it. Diamond Memorials took a picture, made a recommendation and did a really great job. The stone looks brand new and the writing matches the antique writing perfectly. They sent me a photo when all the work was completed. They went above and beyond to help me and I really appreciate it.

Not reliable with money...... doesn't call back in a timely…read morefashion....................................................,,,,,..

Couldn't have asked for a more professional/understanding person during this difficult time. Toby…read moreensured everything was taken care off, and left off no detail - something that made it much easier four our family during this time. I'd recommend them to anyone! He allowed our final time to be quite peaceful.