My mom and i want to thank Tom and the entire staff at John J. Fox and Sons for the fine work they…read moredid in regard to the funeral arrangements for my uncle George. Most of the time, whether i enlist the services or a doctor, lawyer, or other professional, i find myself having to oversee and micromanage everything, due to varying levels of incompetence. In the case of John J. Fox, this was not necessary. They made it easy for us, and helped us get through a difficult time.

From beginning to end the process was seamless and we are very grateful for that. We also loved how…read morethe person helping us had a great attitude answered all our questions and made us feel comfortable during our difficult time! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for making this process as wonderful and smooth as possible. We appreciate your…read moreefficiency and organization of all the details. Thank you from the Brinson Family.

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences anyone can go through, but in our time of…read moregrief, Sept and Samantha at Ivy Cremation & Memorial Services of NY were a true source of comfort. From our very first conversation, they treated us not just as clients but as family. Their process is so thoughtful and compassionate, and every step was handled with such tenderness and care. They patiently answered all of our questions, no matter how many we had, and always made sure we felt heard and understood. Their warmth and guidance brought us so much reassurance at a time when we needed it most. What truly set them apart was the genuine care they showed in handling every detail. Sept and Samantha made a difficult time much more manageable, ensuring that nothing was overlooked and that our family felt supported at every step. Their professionalism, empathy, and attention to detail are unmatched. I am deeply grateful for their kindness and the dignified service they provided.

If 1 were to ask me the 2 most beautiful, historic, aesthetically pleasing, and artistically…read moreenriching cemeteries in the northern U.S. (maybe the entire U.S.), I'd have to say it's a toss-up between Greenwood in Brooklyn, and Woodlawn in the Bronx. My personal favorite? Impossible to say; I love them both, even though I haven't been to either 1 in several years. Maybe Greenwood, because it's easier to get to. I first came to Woodlawn in the late 80s with my father, who wanted to look up the grave of his maternal grandfather. We stopped at the main office, which looked as if it hadn't been updated or refurbished since the time "Cemetery John engaged "Jafsie" Condon through the cemetery fence during futile negotiations for the return of the Lindbergh baby. However, cemetery staff were very helpful and we found the gravesite easily thanks to the map they provided. The cemetery itself is enormous, and enormously impressive. Its 1st burial occurring in 1865, Woodlawn is a 400-acre oasis of architectural splendor, pastoral loveliness, and restorative tranquility in the center of the Bronx. It's the last resting place for robber barons from the "Gilded Age" like Jay Gould and John "Bet A Million" Gates to humble artists like Herman Melville (his modest tombstone has the engraving of a blank sheet of paper on it) to statesmen like Fiorello LaGuardia (a friend said, "The Christian concept of Heaven was very real to him, except he believed it was achievable on earth, and, if he only hurried, possible in his lifetime.") and Ralph Bunche, to criminals like Ruth Snyder (her murder of her husband, accomplished with the aid of her lover, served as the basic plot for the classic film "Double Indemnity") and Charles Becker (a crooked cop executed in 1915 for the murder of gambler Herman Rosenthal, although he may have actually been innocent of that particular crime) to mobster Frank Scalise (his fatal shooting while buying fruit from a Bronx fruit stand was re-created in "The Godfather") to those you least expect, like Western lawman Bat Masterson. The more ornate, elaborate mausoleums resemble hilltop castles, a stark contrast to the tombs of the more humble "permanent residents" (like my great grandfather). Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and George M. Cohan are buried here. So is poor, luckless actress Diane Barrymore, daughter of John Barrymore and author of the book "Too Much, Too Soon." She died too young as a suicide and is buried in the plot of her mother's family. A multitude of family names are on the stone, with the exception of hers. I've always been haunted by some of the highly realistic and sometimes disturbingly lifelike statuary populating the cemetery. One in particular is of a lifesized nude woman (tastefully rendered) sitting alongside a grave in eternal mourning, or until she ultimately crumbles into dust. In turns mournful, sad, historic, lovely (in spite of the sometimes grim reality of the Bronx surrounding it), Woodlawn is a must visit cemetery on your list, if you visit any cemetery at all (although Greenwood in Brooklyn is in the running, as I've mentioned). If you're interested in the history of cemeteries, or of NYC, or just in history itself, Woodlawn is a repository of it all.

Small chapel and lovely service for a dearly departed friend. Several prayers, singing and eulogy…read moredone. The funeral service to the crypt was by car to a very large plot area. The service was short due to the cold but a great memory to our friend. Rest In Peace. Lot parking.

It is no wonder that this establishment has been serving us for so many years. My mom's final wish…read more40 years ago was that I not allow anyone other than Farenga Bros. to take care of her remains. Respect, compassion, dignity and empathy is given to families by the entire staff. Thank you for being there for so many members of my family. Professionalism and comfort at its best is what Farenga Bros. Is all about.

In a very trying and painful time for our family, our experience with Farenga Brothers was a…read morecomforting one. I was not able to personally manage any of the details of our son's funeral. My family worked with them to make sure that we were able to honor our child the way we wanted. The staff at Farenga was very helpful and above all, understanding and kind. These qualities were so important in this difficult time, where all we could do was grieve. We were so distraught and in a lot of pain that I was dreading our baby's funeral. It was something I never imagined I would have to do. However, the funeral service was a beautiful moment of peace. I didn't expect to feel this way yet it was the perfect way to pay respect and honor our baby's physical body and the amount of love he brought to all of our lives. I truly wouldn't have been able to experience this without my family and Farenga. I am extremely grateful for their genuine care and understanding, in particular Sal and Lisa, who I had the pleasure of interacting with directly. Whilst I wish we could all avoid going through the loss of a loved one, if you ever find yourself in this darkness, I highly recommend reaching out to Farenga Brothers. Their service has the human element which can be hard to find nowadays. And this is what makes all the difference. It did for us and I pray it does for you as well.

The staff here are amazing. They showed great patience and care during this devastating time for my…read morefamily. They were helpful every step of the way and more than generous to us. Their support went far beyond what we expected. Nick, in particular, was very helpful--he listened to all our concerns, answered our questions, and made sure we felt understood. I would highly recommend their services.

We were broken, after the sudden, devastating loss of our dear daughter/niece. Chris Diconstanzo…read moremet with us and guided us through the necessary paperwork. He was so kind and professional. It was very comforting to know he would take care of all the details. He was also very accommodating, quickly understanding our wishes and making all the arrangements. We can't thank Chris and everyone else at John Dormi & Sons enough for their consideration and care. The gathering rooms are beautifully decorated and can be expanded to fit a large group. We had about 150 people come through over the course of the memorial. Families of veterans may be pleased by the collection of WWII and Vietnam War memorabilia displayed repectfully in the entrance hall. Our whole family is grateful for the graceful way the John Dormi & Sons family eased us through this incredibly painful process.

This place sucks. You know the saying, "late to your own funeral", well that is exactly true now…read more They don't prepare the body in that place, they prepare the body at the grand concourse facility then drive the body to the one on Westchester Ave. my grandmother was almost an hour late. No website. No monitor to hook up a usb to for a photo montage. Over priced and so dated. Dirty walls and ceiling. Go to farenga bros. Much better experience when laying your loved ones to rest.

This is probably one of the worst reviews I have ever written for any place, but here we go…read more I will start by saying there was absolutely no crowd control at this place. My family and I weren't even able to get through to my family members viewing room because the first room was flooded with people. They didn't not fit in the room and were all in the walking area and no way around them all. Please do not get me wrong. I know they were all their for a loss just like my family. My issue was not with them at this point, but with the lack of staff to control the amount of visitors they had at once. We were unable to properly and comfortably mourn out relative because of how loud they were. We then found out two fights broke out during their viewing. The parking lot wad full of liquor bottles (some broken) which we had to move to the side in hopes we did not run over and catch flats. Now to the worst part and I will not get into specific details, but here we go. My relative wad not taken care of the way they should have been. The body was decomposing meaning they did not do something right on their part. Those who saw this relative when the casket was opened were in shock. Yes we know the Deceased person will not look like what the would if alive, but this was something unexplainable. The odor coming from the body was horrific. This was not what the family paid for, this was not what anyone wanted to know as their last memories of this person. If you ever think about coming to this or any of their locations at that I truly hope you reconsider. I have no clue how they are even still in business. Families and the deceased deserve much more respect.

Wednesday 1/11/23 was a sad day for many people. Some lost a husband, father, uncle, and a friend…read more The Lucchese Funeral home on Morris Park Ave in the Bronx provided a dignified and comforting wake for those who attended. The entire process and setting made it easier for those who had to make the arrangements and those who attended the wake less stressful. There's a small private parking lot next to the funeral home. I highly recommend this establishment. I've gone to many wakes in many locations and this was one of the better places I've been. The floral arrangements were spread out and displayed with care.

Our experience with them during our family's difficult time could not have been any better! They…read moreare full service and they make the entire process "easier". We had Ashely and she was amazing!