The last thing anyone needs is to deal with insensitive people when you are grieving. I was in this…read morecemetery for the burial of one of my dear cousins and met with some of the nicest cemetery staff I have ever come across (I AM A FUNERAL DIRECTOR/EMBALMER SO THAT SAYS A LOT). I walked in and the staff were immediately available to answer my questions and even took me over to my cousins grave. They did not rush us to leave the cemetery and I was even able to lighten the mood talking to Chaz who would be with us the next day. They accommodated my large family and made us feel like we could really mourn our loss in a safe place. I also learned some of the history of the cemetery and the city of Newark while chatting with the cemetery attendants at the graveside. They understood the cultural differences from the West Indies and made sure my family was not left wondering anything. Great job Fairmount. That is how you serve.

Stopped by today to find a grave sight that had been covered over from the winter, had to go to the…read moreoffice to get help and the staff (Edwin) was very helpful and professional. We noticed that the overall maintenance was a big difference to what we were used to seeing, he explained that they were under new management with a higher standard. The place looks great and he did an excellent job of taking us directly to our site and removed all of the obstruction from the marker and even placed markers for the crew to raise up the (DeNoyells) markers. Thanks again Edwin,

Communication horrible and then threaten bc of emergency that would not be able to bury my loved…read moreone??? CEMENTARY SAID THATS RIDICULOUS.

Grandfather was buried here in 2007. Two things stand out that make me not even want to give them…read moretwo stars: -They took on a very circuitous route (local roads) when we could have taken the highway and been there in 15 minutes for the actual burial. Due to this, half of our funeral procession got lost and didn't even go to the burial and straight to the reception after. This is not reason #1 of #2 why I was annoyed, though. -At the actual funeral, they had the nerve to approach my father (whose father we were burying) with a bill. Beyond unacceptable. We had been going to this funeral home for years apparently, but that alone is enough for me to ever want to go there again. They also turned the lights out on us when we were outside talking after the wake was over the night before, which was very childish too. Could have just came out and told us it was time to leave. We were paying them thousands of dollars for a nice setup, and that is the treatment we got? Obnoxious.

I just got home from my grandmother's funeral and I was so surprised and grateful that she looked…read moreexactly like she always had. You hear so much about what to expect and I've definitely seen some not-so-great jobs on people I've known and passed before, and it was such a relief to see her just as she was. I didn't say anything until multiple friends and family members came up and said it, as well. The place was also set up beautifully and the people were so helpful with all of our questions. I couldn't have asked for anything to have gone better.

I have attended several funerals in this home and they always know how to do it properly. The place…read moreis kept up to date, appropriate amount of parking, they prepare the body very well (weird to say but still important), and they are always friendly when you come in.

Top notch all the way Can't say enough about the entire…read moreexperience Everything was so professional and genuine care

My friend had a service here and the staff was very friendly and helpful…read more The lot is huge and the place is clean. They took care of all the paperwork. Great place to use if you need a funeral home

This is the place. I have had the experience of helping to bring 3 close family members to their…read morefinal rest in the past 6 years. Heads and shoulders above and beyond is the experience this funeral home, Bizub Quinlan in Clifton (Van Houten), provided. We are so grateful for Wayne and the rest of the staff. Here are some words which describe our recent experience: respectful, professional, kind, warm, humble, caring, sincere, the ability to connect, and all with absolutely comprehensive service provision.....from making a revolving photo gallery available during the viewing to inviting guests to the repast. They took great care of my family and although it was a sad occasion, their detailed and thoughtful work eased our collective burden. Seriously, look no further than this funeral home for your needs. Thank you so very much.

I cannot express enough gratitude for the outstanding service provided by Bizub Quinlan Funeral…read moreHome, especially Wayne, who went above and beyond to guide us through such a difficult time. Everybody there were really thoughtful and caring, Tim and Ed, we did feel comfortable talking to them and leaving our dad funeral in their hands. Five stars service for sure!

My situation was somewhat unique, and Emily immediately offered to provide the assistance required…read more In summary, I needed to have my husband's cremains transferred from the crematorium container into a floating urn container for a water ceremony. Emily, bless her heart, without hesitation agreed to help. Her warm friendliness was reassuring and she transfered the cremains professionally, with care as requested. Note that I had traveled from Florida where my husband had passed and was cremated. This was my first time dealing with Emily. Thank you and God Bless you Emily. Maria

I selected this funeral home because it was close to my house. I am so happy I did. It is sad and…read moreheartbreaking to plan a wake and funeral but Liz Konopka made it a pleasant experience with her warm and welcoming personality. I was so relieved after all the arrangements were completed. She was always available to answer questions. I would highly recommend Joseph Konopka Funeral Home for their attention to detail and their fair pricing.

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!

Very professional and sensitive staff. They are very accommodating and pay close attention to…read moredetail. I highly recommend the team here. They are very experienced and have a respectful attitude towards the families they serve.

We used them for my moms funeral and Jennifer could not be more helpful, compassionate. We were…read morepleased with the complete service. It is and was a tough time that was handled professionally. Thank you Jennifer