Shannon walked me through the whole process and did everything besides hold my hand which I'm sure…read morewith her kindness she would have . Having someone like her help was a blessing.

I'm going to start my review of a cemetery (why? some might ask) by giving a (very) brief…read moreautobiography. (Actual review of cemetery starts in the next paragraph, for those uninterested in my trip down memory lane). I was adopted during an era when all adoptions were closed ones. In my early 20's, I got my non-identifying information, which indicated I was born in Newark to unmarried teenagers; one was Irish-Catholic, one was Irish-German Protestant; etc. etc. In the years after I obtained this limited information, I'd play a game with myself. I'd be somewhere in NJ, and wonder, "Did somebody I'm genetically related to ever come here where I am now? Did they ever walk where I'm walking now? Did they ever eat in this restaurant? Did they ever stay in this hospital? Did they ever attend a movie at this theatre, in this town?" Ironically enough, this cemetery was the place where a lot of the people responsible for me ended up, although I didn't know that when I first came here, which was the early-to-mid 80's (my birth mother didn't track me down and contact me until 2004). I came to take photographs because it provides wonderfully clear, unfettered shots of the NY skyline. But after taking those photos, I didn't see any pressing need to come here again. Until, as I mentioned, my birth mother contacted me (for those who are adopted, or gave someone up for adoption, and are daunted by the anticipated process of finding your genetic relatives; my birth mother simply contacted the agency through which I had been adopted, paid the money for the detective they had on staff, and a day later they knew my identity) and I became aware of the family history. This is a pleasant, sedate cemetery, with abundant trees and foliage, although I've always found it a little nondescript. I'm not sure how many acres it is, but it's pretty big. It's peaceful, but I also have to note that it's hard to ignore Rt 3 traffic passing to and from NY (or passing to and from whatever they're calling Meadowlands Stadium now). The cemetery sort of slopes down towards the actual Meadowlands, where the Rt 3 Drive-In used to be (there's an office building there now). In the upper portion of the cemetery, my genetic maternal family is buried--- grandfather, great grandfather and grandmother, great aunt (who was very nice to me in the few years I knew her), etc. It's a mixture of old and new gravesites. At the other end of the cemetery, my birth father and genetic paternal grandparents are buried. So, obviously, the cemetery is invested with personal meaning for me. For others? It's clean, well kept, well maintained. It's not extravagantly beautiful or especially unique, but it's a more than adequate, respectful place to mourn and remember the dead, or to quietly contemplate life and that eternal reward we're all ultimately heading for. Or the majestic NY skyline. Or the Rt. 3 traffic rushing by. I have to admit that I used to sometimes seek out specific cemeteries because of the famous (and/or infamous) people buried there. As I've mentioned in another review, cemeteries can be great repositories of history, architecture, art, beauty. And, when I was younger, it was cool to see the graves of people i had admired--- James Cagney, Billie Holiday, Johnny Thunders, Malcolm X, John Garfield, etc. Here? Some local "celebrities" like Fairleigh Dickinson and William Carlos Williams are among those interred. Of more immediate interest to me, Joey Ramone is buried here. I was never the biggest "fan" of the Ramones, but I respected them, liked a lot of their music, and always liked that they always put on a good, exciting show the few times I saw them, no matter how much they may have hated each other. They always gave their fans their money's worth, and then some. Hillside has its own Jewish section, and you won't be able to miss Joey's monument. I met him in life, but if you didn't, this is as close as you're going to be able to get to him (and unless these "ghost hunter" types are correct, and your spirit or entity or whatever lives on after death, you aren't getting an autograph...). The monument is quite large (it has the name "Hyman" on it), and usually covered with small rocks (the Jewish tradition of placing small rocks on a grave when you visit to show that the deceased are still remembered is one I've always liked) and other memorabilia. I'm not sure how respectful such things are...I'm always a little troubled by the memorabilia cluttering the grave...but I imagine Joey probably wouldn't mind. So I come here often enough because I have a personal investment (relatives buried here). Outside of that, I don't find it as distinctive or as lovely as I do such cemeteries as Greenwood in Brooklyn, or Woodlawn in the Bronx, or Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery upstate, but it is a nice, pleasant, peaceful cemetery. If it weren't for busy, annoying Rt. 3 traffic running alongside it, I'd probably appreciate it even more.

Had a great time picking up our tree. This was my first Christmas tree shopping experience and I'm…read moreso glad we came to Hester's. Dave helped us out and he was terrific - super helpful, explained everything well and encouraged us to open up some of the new trees they got in to ensure we got the perfect one for us. Dave also made sure the tree was safely secured to our car for our trip home via the highway. We will definitely come back here and highly recommend to anyone.

Every year, the only Black Friday shopping my wife and I do is for a 10 foot tree. We had never…read morebeen to Hester's before but he came highly recommended from a trusted friend. We were greeted by Hester who, although wearing a grinch shirt, was very friendly. He asked Mike to help us find a tree and he did a great job finding a beauty. Mike then worked with our needs in scheduling delivery. We are very happy to add Hester's Christmas Trees to our only Black Friday shopping list.

An old, well-kept Jewish cemetery that is part of, but separate from, non-sectarian Hillside…read moreCemetery (which I wrote about in another review). Its most famous "permanent resident" is Jeffrey Hyman aka Joey Ramone, who died way too early in 2001. Years before Joey died, and before my re-union with my genetic family, I came here with my camera to take pictures of the NYC skyline, not knowing I had a connection to some of the people buried here. At the time, I thought of it as "once and done" cemetery visit. When I first started visiting cemeteries way back when, I experienced some confusion as to Jewish cemeteries "attached" to non-sectarian ones. When I visited California and tried to find Bugsy Siegel's grave in Beth Olam Cemetery, it took me longer than it should have to realize Beth Olam was, technically speaking, a section of Hollywood Memorial, now known as Hollywood Forever. Hillside was founded in 1882, and Mt. Zion, if anything, appears even older, and much smaller. You enter through a separate gate, drive down to the end, make a turn, and drive back up the other side. I drove through Mt. Zion once. I thought it was a perfectly nice, scenic and historic cemetery, but, like Hillside, I didn't think I'd be returning after taking my photos. Then my birth mother located and contacted me. I started a relationship with my genetic family and learned that a majority of my relatives from both sides of my family were buried in Hillside. My birth father and paternal grandparents are buried in one section, and my maternal side is buried in the other. When my maternal great aunt (who was very nice and welcoming to me in the unfortunately short time I knew her) died, I came here to mourn. So too when my maternal grandmother, who I loved, died about a year ago. And, on a less personally somber note, I came here when Joey Ramone died. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Ramones, but I appreciated their groundbreaking role in what became known as punk rock, their influence on subsequent generations of musicians, and the fact that...even though they seemed to hate each other...they always put on an energetic, entertaining show (I saw them in concert several times and met them once; I almost got into a fistfight with Johnny, but that's perhaps another story for another place and time...). After Joey died, I visited his grave, which is hard to miss in unostentatious, low-key Mt. Zion. His gravestone is large, his name prominently displayed on it, and adorned with all sorts of memorabilia/paraphernalia. Once was enough for me, though. As much as I admired and respected Joey, I was more of a Stooges or NY Dolls fan, than I was a Ramones fan. I visited Hillside often, but not Mt. Zion. My old friend, however, is a Ramones fanatic. He hung out with them and relates...constantly...how Dee Dee once tried to buy an old-fashioned leather jacket that my friend had borrowed from his father for a concert and was annoyed when my friend wouldn't sell it (although my friend was sorely tempted). Recently, around the anniversary of Joey's death, my friend decided to make an impromptu visit to the grave, with me along as company. We parked on the edge of Hillside, walked across the grassy border area, and came to Joey's final resting place. A woman was standing alongside it and introduced herself as Judy. She'd been visiting the grave every day for a week. I've heard of dedicated, devoted fans, but that astonished me. Look, Legs Diamond was my childhood hero, but I've only visited his grave a handful of times over the years. Like my friend, Judy knew the Ramones and said they had written a song that mentioned her (not "Judy Is A Punk" but a later one; I stopped buying Ramones records after "Road To Ruin" so it wasn't a song I'm familiar with). She was friendly, a bit of a character (in a good way), and we took pictures of each other standing by the grave and they (she and my friend) started exchanging stories. My friend is long winded under the best of circumstances, and as I've heard these stories a million plus times, I walked over to Hillside to visit the graves of my family members and paused to meditate on the beauty of the NYC skyline. Walking from one end of Hillside to the other took some time. When I returned to Joey's grave, Judy and my friend were still talking (she was complaining that she had left items at the grave that had been stolen). At that point, it was getting late. A Hillside employee in a cemetery truck drove by several times, pausing at the edge of Hillside to watch us. He wasn't intrusive; I guess they're used to this sort of thing, given that Joey's grave has become a sort of shrine. But it was near closing time. Finally, we said our goodbyes and left. For those with loved ones buried here, it's a peaceful, sedate cemetery with an aura of history and of families going back for generations. And for those searching for Joey's grave...it'll be easy to find. Just be respectful and remember where you are.

I cannot say enough good things about Angelo, Debra, and Camilla. They were so kind and loving…read moreduring a tough time for our family in the loss of my brother David. They were incredibly helpful and compassionate in guiding me through saying goodbye to my brother, and they felt like part of the family. I would not put my trust in anyone else but them for my family and me. Thank them from the bottom of my heart and will always keep them in my prayers, May God Bless Them !!!

When my Husband, James Barbito, passed away unexpectedly, my family and I needed the comfort and…read morehelp that only very special people can provide. We found that in Angelo and Debra Mania. They are exceptional people who will not only help you with the decisions that have to be made but actually make you feel as if they are part of your family. we highly recommend using Calhoun Mania funeral home in your time of sorrow. Barbara Barbito & Family

It's difficult to review a funeral parlor as the sadness of the visit. Was tastefully furnished…read moreand staffed with considerate and caring staff. Parking lot attached . Across from Catholic Church.

I am so thankful that, when my Dad unexpectedly passed away, a family friend recommended Parow…read moreFuneral Home to us. Denise and Elizabeth were absolutely wonderful, and made an incredibly sad and stressful time for my Mom and I as bearable as anyone could. Everyone I encountered in working with them, down to their answering service, were warm, kind, and professional. I cannot overstate how much I appreciated their honesty and deep knowledge of all the laws and regulations, as well as of all the burial and cremation options available. They were always quickly available, and promptly took care of every problem that arose, even though it was the week of Thanksgiving! The care with which my Dad was handled, and the dignity with which his cremation was conducted, were a blessing. I also have to thank them for steering us to Rosedale Cemetery, which was as tranquil, historic, and beautiful as almost any place I've seen in Northern NJ. The staff there were very good, too - but I wouldn't expect the Parows to work with anyone not up to their very high standards!

So nice, so helpful and warm. Second time in two years I have needed their help for my elderly…read morefamily passing. First through Susan and then with Mary and both have been great. Highly recommend them for their service and kindness. Many thanks to you both!

From the owner: Albert H. Hopper Monuments provides the finest memorials for cemeteries throughout the tristate…read morearea. We oversee the complete process from start to finish with our own manufacturing facility. We are dedicated to serving your family with the care, patience, and integrity that you deserve when choosing a monument or memorial for your loved one. A memorial is a highly specialized purchase. There are many considerations when designing and crafting a memorial. We are passionate about providing our customers with personalized, quality care. We choose not to sacrifice this value for mere expediency.

Everyone was so kind. I found my grandmothers grave with the help and guidance from their staff. I…read morewas so happy after paying to have her grave cleaned.

As we know that the dead need to be respected aswell as the personal things we leave for them in…read moreothers ones eyes a simple bear,flower,angel statue ,barrier and or shrine has a immense sense of value and cannot ever be replaced...I have in multiple occasions pit things neatly and not out of order blocking or onstucting others burial sites ( that's common respect and common sense) but unfortunately the care keepers in thos cemetary feel as if they cam destroy one special DEAD ONES things now I am a man of logic and humble as my mother brought me up to be peaceful but there's only so much a person can take...I beg you please utilized your mind on these simple yet very important things .be careful a barrier means to keep in ,or to keep out siple....but nethertheless somehow they feel as if they can destroy something you paid for it's not free and it cant ne replaced and it comes from the heart and soul...what's this world coming to these days...,please tread carefully deciding leaving a loved one here because if they disrespect things like this what are they capable of really doing ???? Food for thought and this app doesnt let me go back and fix my unspelled words even the app is sketchy wth....excuse my spelling aswell...