My previous reviews of Chiacchio Southview (and other reviews I've written for other businesses)…read moreseem to have been detached from my account. Maybe my absence for some time did that. In any case, I've been to several funerals here and it's a great inner-city funeral home. The building has style and substance, and it just feels more personal than other homes I've been in. Most seem so sterile and bland, it feels like you're at a funeral. Here, it's still sad that you're saying goodbye, but it feels more personal. The staff is extremely accommodating and friendly. I don't know what else to say. It's been a good experience (as good as it can be considering it's a funeral) all around.

During a very unexpected and difficult time for my family, David and Rhonda came into our lives…read morewith such compassion and grace. They brought kind words and actions with them. It is a terrible situation for anyone to go through and I am sorry you are reading reviews....it means you too are suffering a loss. I can assure you Chiacchio Southview will respect your loved one and your wishes, they will treat you honestly and with dignity. I want David and Rhonda to know that we appreciated how you made this process just a bit easier, thank you both. Best wishes for the New Year.

My father passed in 2010, and his services were handled by Peppler Funeral Home in Bordentown, New…read moreJersey. The Peppler family took a very difficult time and made it as painless as possible. My Father was cremated, and through a strained familial relationship, I was under the impression his cremains were collected soon after by another family member. Many years later, I learned no one had collected his remains. Now in 2025, and being fairly certain it was a fruitless call, but desperately trying to correct for my great failure, I contacted Peppler to see if they could at least point me in the direction of where my fathers remains may have ultimately been placed. To my great shock and greater relief, his cremains were still in the possession of the home; 15 years later! Their kindness and dedication carried forward into coordinating the quick shipping of my Father's cremains to me in Florida where my family now lives. There aren't words that can truly describe my deep appreciation for the service Peppler Funeral Home of Bordentown provided to my family. They are incredible people doing a difficult job, with a level of compassion and integrity, rarely seen today. Thank you.

Peppler Funeral Homes have being preforming the majority of the funeral services for my family for…read morewell over 40 years. They are very compassionate about the needs of the deceased and for those who are preplanning their services ahead of time. The whole family is dedicated in helping those who have faced the hard and trying times that loosing a loved on can cause. I would definitely refer anyone to seek the services of Peppler Funeral Home!

Brian did an excellent job handling every detail. Thank you very much for everything you did to…read moremake a difficult time less stressful. I sincerely appreciate you.

I had a mom who recently passed away and the pastor that spoke was just frustrating. He literally…read moretrauma dumped by telling a story that sounded so unbelievably laughable that I was shocked because at that point it wasn't about my mom it was about a ring he lost as a kid. I empathize with him and his story but I personally thought it was very inappropriate based on the current timing. It's not about relating it's about helping us get through an extremely rough time. At the end of it all he didn't even give his condolences even though he knew I was her son. Any other person could've done a better job and coming from a man who lost his own mother in his arms I would've expected at-least a little more empathy towards me and my stepfather.

We visited the cemetery a number of times over the last few years because we were told by family…read moremembers that my wife's father, who is buried there also owned other burial plots in Greenwood Cemetery. On our previous visits we spoke with multiple staff members who indicated that because of the time that had passed they would have to research the issue and get back to us. It appears that due to staff turn over we were not provided with the requested information. In our attempts to settle the estate of the person who would be the owner of any burial plots if there were any, we again contacted the cemetery and this time we were spoke with Andrea Harvey who was very receptive to our need to resolve this matter. After checking the files she indicated that there were no other records indicating that he owned other burial sites at the cemetery, but she would continue to research the matter. A few days passed and we received a call that she had located additional information and there was in fact additional burial sites. I don't know how often this issue occurs and it is probably easier to just say, "that's what the records say", but Andrea went the extra mile and determined that our family members were in fact correct. She should be commended for her efforts to effectively resolve our long standing questions. David L.

During this difficult time, we could not have asked for better service. Scott made everything…read moreperfect and could not do enough to help. His kindness, patience and compassion made this process more bearable. No request was too much . Scott did everything my niece asked immediately and without hesitation. Thank you

Non resident review: I'm not really sure what constitutes a…read more5 star graveyard. No notable occupants or breathtaking views here. Lots of flowering trees and planters at most sites. Well water supply and trash cans evenly dispersed for light gardening needs. Even before this time of social distancing I would come here to remember my most loved people. Then and now it's a very quiet place even though the sites are current and still attract family members from time to time. Across the street is a much older cemetery that you can tell has few visitors. Walking around noticing the dates you are made aware that after a few generations, not many families remember or visit their fore-bearers. But as I said, OLoL is more contemporary, and also still taking reservations. There's even a spot for me here if I so desire. But I don't. I like the idea of sky burial the best, maybe in a few decades that will be option in this country? Short of that just cremate me and dump my ashes in the Delaware River or other moving body of water.

This Cemetery has been located here before I was even born. I remember passing it with the school…read morebus when I was a kid. Than in my first year of high school I got really sick. The Dr. told my parents I had leukemia. Since they believed I was dying they bought six plots here immediately. The good news is that I didn't die. The bad news for my parents was that they thought they bought six plots across instead they have three in front and three behind them. So about twenty years later my Mom bought a headstone in planning for the inevitable. Nice black granite pretty fancy for this place. I always thought it was like " Las Vegas" as you can see it driving down highway nine. My Dad passed three years ago being he was Catholic he got the side of the stone nearest the cross. My Mom being Jewish will go on the other side near the Star of David. As for the other four plots who knows if the four kids will use them. As for me I hate NJ happy I left, so scattered ashes in my happy place will due much better for me. The cemetery obviously is full. People dying to get in lol. Anyways it is non- sectarian which is good for my family. Even though Lakewood now has the largest population of Hasidic Jews outside of Israel. The grounds are minimally maintained but I never saw one maintained any better. If you plant anything it will die. I went the other day and bulbs I planted have sprouts coming up. That made me happy I know my father would agree.

It feels insane to write a five star review for a funeral home, given that my interaction with them…read morewas at one of the saddest and hardest parts of my life to date. But Anthony and Albert were truly first-class. They were kind, empathic, warm, and gentle. We went from a death on Sunday to a funeral on Thursday and they helped with so many things, large and small. Some examples: -familiar with Jewish and Christian burial and death customs (and didn't bat an eye that we were mixing the two) -let a family member view the body prior to final preparation so that he could say goodbye -handled placing obituaries for us and paying the cemetery fees -brought over pedestals for flower arrangements at the last minute -serving as ushers -carried flower arrangements from the gravesite to the car for us -patiently responded to my many chaotic emails -provided little things like a register book for the funeral and thank you cards and a shiva candle I hope I never have to use them again, but I absolutely would.

Director Anthony & his team felt like the family we needed to make an amazing memorial and to keep…read moremoving forward through our bereavement. He gave us options at ever step. Anthony made timely arrangements with the USMC, Catholic Church, flower shop and many short times special requests. His communication was excellent. His team is also excellent - from the greeting staff, hearse transport, limo drivers and even the valet.

Lester's Memorial Home did an excellent job with my beloved mom who passed away unexpectedly. They…read morewere very professional , accommodating, respectful, patient, and caring. They handled every detail for me and made the process very easy and very respectfully. Lester's Memorial Home deserves 10 stars I can't express enough the gratitude for their exceptional service and there kindness and compassion they showed. I highly recommend Lester's Memorial home Jennie L

Being a close friend of the family, I was privy to the funeral arrangements at Lester Funeral Home…read moreand the subsequent service there after; or should I say substandard services. My criticism is of my own volition on what I know and observed and do not reflect, in any manner, the thoughts and feelings of the grieving family. The term Lester's refers to the facility and any of the employees for I do not know them by name or face. In a business that's supposed to be caring and empathetic to families at their time of crisis; Lester's was not this. During the arrangement process there was no caring or support; just treated like a business transaction. It was cold and impersonal. The family was not afforded the opportunity to review the obituary before being released. Had they, they would have noticed the spelling errors but most importantly, the family wanted donations to be sent to the Helmetta Fire Department but they put "donations to be sent to St. Jude's". An organization; although great in their own respect and supported by the family; not who they wanted at this endeavor. Is Lester's going to reimburse the donations that do go to St. Jude's to the proper recipient of Helmetta Fire Department. For Funeral Directors, they provided no direction to the family. No one told them where to be or when to be there. At many times friends and family had to tell them what to do so things would proceed properly. They also bitched that "people didn't listen and now they had to bring out more flower stands!" This was in reference to the obit saying "In lieu of flowers" and then the wrong organization. The "In Lieu" gives the sender the option but does not negate their desire to send one or the other, or both. This was a Fireman's funeral which is paid for by the Fireman's Fund. All funeral homes know this and receive the payment upon release by the fund. Lester's demanded the payment up front. Fortunately the family was able to procure the funds so they could bury their loved one. Having had to pay for several funerals on my own in the past, money was never demanded up front except for some odds and ends that needed to be paid. Most work with the families to go as far as setting up a no interest payment plan but apparently, Lester's greed outweighed their compassion. There was an argument about a pair of white glove the department opened up brand new and placed in the casket of the deceased. Lester's tried to claim the gloves were ones they had loaned the department. My bet is they took them after everyone left. Overall, Lester's is not a place to receive compassion during your time of greasing. They are truly in it for the money in a business where eventually everyone has to come to you. They are touted as being cheaper than their competitors but when all was said anddone, they were more expensive. No cars were used or procured because all transportation, including the deceased, was provided by the fire department. Cremation is being done so no grave sites were purchased, no holes and cement tombs were required, just a viewing casket rental which was exorbitant. There are plenty of funeral homes (DeMarco 1/4 mile away and in Spotswood) where service and compassion are their motto and understand that helping relieve the grief is the bottom line, not immediate financial gratification. Lester's is in business only because of reputation that has expired. Go elsewhere to make one of your most tragic moments in life a little more palatable. The one star is only because I don't know how to give a half, quarter or less.