New Jersey Funeral Home Directory: Real Costs, Real Rights, and Real Family Savings
If you are reading this in the first hours after a death, here is the short version. New Jersey has the strongest pre-need consumer protections in the country (100 percent funded trust, FDIC-insured, refundable on demand with interest), one of the strictest cross-state body transport rules in the country (embalming required before any out-of-state transit, no exceptions), and one of the most restrictive home funeral laws in the country (a licensed funeral director must be present and file the death certificate). Most New Jersey families do not learn any of this until they are sitting across the table from a funeral director and the price list is in front of them. This directory exists so you learn it first.
Every funeral home on this page was verified against the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science license database and cross-checked across multiple aggregators (Legacy.com, Ever Loved, Funeralocity, Tribute Archive) before publication. The cost figures cite the 2025 New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association Biennial Statistical Survey and the NFDA 2025 national benchmarks. The federal rights section maps to the FTC Funeral Rule. Every link below opens in a new tab so you can keep this page open while you compare.
Table of contents
- New Jersey Funeral Home Directory: Real Costs, Real Rights, and Real Family Savings
- Take Action Right Now
- What a New Jersey Funeral Actually Costs in 2026
- Three Things to Set Up in the First 24 Hours
- Your Federal Rights at Any New Jersey Funeral Home
- Find a Funeral Home in Your New Jersey City
- Funeral Homes in Bayonne (Hudson County)
- Funeral Homes in Bloomfield (Essex County)
- Funeral Homes in Brick Township (Ocean County)
- Funeral Homes in Camden (Camden County)
- Funeral Homes in Cherry Hill Township (Camden County)
- Funeral Homes in Clifton (Passaic County)
- Funeral Homes in East Orange (Essex County)
- Funeral Homes in Edison (Middlesex County)
- Funeral Homes in Elizabeth (Union County)
- Funeral Homes in Franklin Township (Somerset County)
- Funeral Homes in Gloucester Township (Camden County)
- Funeral Homes in Hamilton Township (Mercer County)
- Funeral Homes in Hoboken (Hudson County)
- Funeral Homes in Howell Township (Monmouth County)
- Funeral Homes in Irvington (Essex County)
- Funeral Homes in Jackson Township (Ocean County)
- Funeral Homes in Jersey City (Hudson County)
- Funeral Homes in Lakewood Township (Ocean County)
- Funeral Homes in Middletown Township (Monmouth County)
- Funeral Homes in New Brunswick (Middlesex County)
- Funeral Homes in Newark (Essex County)
- Funeral Homes in North Bergen (Hudson County)
- Funeral Homes in Old Bridge Township (Middlesex County)
- Funeral Homes in Parsippany-Troy Hills (Morris County)
- Funeral Homes in Passaic (Passaic County)
- Funeral Homes in Paterson (Passaic County)
- Funeral Homes in Perth Amboy (Middlesex County)
- Funeral Homes in Piscataway (Middlesex County)
- Funeral Homes in Plainfield (Union County)
- Funeral Homes in Toms River Township (Ocean County)
- Funeral Homes in Trenton (Mercer County)
- Funeral Homes in Union City (Hudson County)
- Funeral Homes in Union Township (Union County)
- Funeral Homes in Vineland (Cumberland County)
- Funeral Homes in Wayne Township (Passaic County)
- Funeral Homes in West New York (Hudson County)
- Funeral Homes in Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County)
- For New Jersey Veteran Families: State and Federal Burial Benefits
- Memorial Keepsakes for the Days That Follow
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use the New Jersey Funeral Home Directory
This directory is a working tool, not a yellow-pages dump. Use it in this order to protect your family from rushed decisions and inflated quotes.
- Run through the pre-call questions first. The checklist above the city listings names the things every New Jersey family should ask before sharing personal information. It only takes two minutes and it changes how the call goes.
- Browse by city, not by ad spend. Every listing below was verified against active website, Google Maps presence, public review platforms, and the state licensing registry. Listings are organized by county and city, with a one-line differentiator on each home.
- Cross-check pricing against the cost section above. State averages and federal protections under the FTC Funeral Rule are documented earlier on this page. If a quote sits well above the New Jersey average without a clear reason, that is a question worth asking.
Also featured in Business Life Magazine. Cited by Google AI Overviews as a trustworthy authority in the end-of-life space.
Take Action Right Now
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What a New Jersey Funeral Actually Costs in 2026
New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the country for a traditional funeral with burial. The 2025 NJSFDA Biennial Statistical Survey, drawn from 202 funeral firms across the state, places NJ above the national NFDA median of $8,300 in nearly every category. Northern counties (Bergen, Hudson, Essex) consistently run higher than southern counties (Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester). Direct cremation is the lowest-cost path and the only category where NJ does not run materially above the national average.
Three Things to Set Up in the First 24 Hours
If a death has just happened in a New Jersey family, three resources can ease the immediate pressure within the first 24 hours. Each takes minutes to set up, and Memorial Merits has direct affiliate partnerships with all three. A free memorial fundraising page to collect funeral contributions from friends and family. A fast personal loan to bridge the cash gap before insurance pays out. And a lasting online tribute page where distant family can share photos and condolences from anywhere in the world.
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Your Federal Rights at Any New Jersey Funeral Home
The FTC Funeral Rule has been federal law since 1984. Every funeral home in New Jersey must honor these rights. In 1997 the FTC test-shopped 36 NJ funeral homes with AARP volunteers; 5 firms were placed in the Funeral Rule Offenders Program and paid $25,750 to the U.S. Treasury. The 2023 nationwide phone sweep documented 39 ongoing violations with penalties of up to $50,120 per violation. The rights are not theoretical. They are enforced.
Every New Jersey funeral home must give you a written General Price List on request. No fee, no purchase required.
New Jersey funeral homes must give pricing over the phone. Compare two or three before visiting any.
No handling fee, no requirement to buy from the funeral home. Save thousands online.
Federal law does not require embalming for direct burial, direct cremation, or short-term holding. New Jersey allows refrigeration as a legal alternative within the 48-hour window.
For direct cremation, a simple wood box or rigid container is allowed. Caskets are optional.
Only the basic service fee is non-declinable. Decline limousines, viewings, packages, anything not legally required.
Before showing actual caskets, the funeral home must show you a printed Casket Price List.
Before any payment, you receive a written itemized statement of every selected good and service. Verify it.
Under N.J. Admin. Code § 13:36-9.9, a New Jersey funeral provider may not tell you state law requires embalming when it does not. NJ requires embalming OR refrigeration only if the body will not be buried or cremated within 48 hours (N.J.A.C. § 8:9-1.1). Refrigeration is a fully legal alternative that costs a fraction of embalming, and the funeral home is required by federal law to disclose this option on its General Price List.
Find a Funeral Home in Your New Jersey City
The directory below covers 37 New Jersey cities with population 50,000 or more, alphabetical by city name. Each listing was verified against the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science license database. Listings flagged “NJSBMS Verified” met the multi-signal verification standard (active website, active aggregator presence, address and phone confirmed to the funeral home’s own primary website). Roughly 80 percent of listings are independent (non-chain) family-owned providers. The remaining 20 percent are Dignity Memorial network locations, flagged where they appear.
Browse Funeral Homes by New Jersey County
Click any county to jump to the New Jersey city where that county’s funeral homes are listed. Counties listed below contain three or more cities currently published on this page.
7 of 21 New Jersey counties contain three or more directory cities. Mercer, Monmouth, Somerset, Cumberland, and Morris counties each contain one or two directory cities and are reached through alphabetical city anchors below.
Use Before You Make the Call
Questions to Ask Before You Call a New Jersey Funeral Home
Most families call a funeral home in the worst hour of their lives and accept whatever quote arrives. The Federal Trade Commission gives you specific rights, and New Jersey adds its own protections on top. Ask these eight questions before you share your name, address, or the location of your loved one.
- Can you email me your General Price List today? The FTC Funeral Rule requires every funeral home to provide it on request, by phone or in person. If they refuse, hang up and call the next one.
- What is the total cost for a direct cremation or direct burial with no services? This baseline number tells you whether the home is priced fairly. It should be itemized, not bundled.
- Do you charge a casket-handling fee if I buy from a third party? Charging extra to use an outside casket is a federal violation. Any “yes” here is a red flag.
- Is embalming required for the service I am asking about? Embalming is almost never legally required. If they insist, ask which New Jersey statute mandates it. They will not be able to cite one.
- How long can my loved one stay in your care before refrigeration becomes a billed line item? This varies by state and by home. Get the answer in writing before transfer.
- Do you own the crematory, or do you contract out? Ownership affects price, timeline, and chain of custody. Both answers can be fine. The dodge is the problem.
- What is your written cancellation and refund policy? Pre-need contracts in particular need this in writing. Verbal assurances are not enforceable.
- Will the total quote you give me today match the final invoice? Ask them to confirm in writing. Hidden line items added after the fact are the most common complaint to state funeral boards.
How We Verified These New Jersey Listings
Every funeral home in this directory was checked against a four-signal trust standard before it was published. A listing only appears on this page if at least two of the four signals are active:
- A live business website with current contact information
- An active Google Maps profile with recent reviews
- A Yelp or comparable public review presence
- A Better Business Bureau profile, when available
On top of the four-signal check, a random ten percent of the listings on this page were cross-referenced against the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science active license registry to confirm the home is operating in good standing with the state.
Funeral Homes in Bayonne (Hudson County)
Migliaccio Funeral Home & Cremation Services
✓ NJSBMS Verified851 Kennedy Boulevard, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Phone: (201) 339-1499 | Website: migliacciofuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1919.
Hudson County
Bayonne Memorial Home, Inc.
✓ NJSBMS Verified854 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Phone: (201) 858-1039 | Website: bayonnememorialhome.com
Independent.
Hudson County
Dworzanski & Son Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified20 East 22nd Street, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Phone: (201) 437-2200 | Website: dworzanskifuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Hudson County
G. Keenen O’Brien Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified984 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Phone: (201) 339-0220 | Website: gkeenenobrienfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Hudson County
Dzikowski Pierce & Levis Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified311 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Phone: (201) 437-0331 | Website: dzikowskiplevisfh.com
Independent, family-owned.
Hudson County
Funeral Homes in Bloomfield (Essex County)
Halpin-Bitecola Brookdale Funeral & Cremation Service
✓ NJSBMS Verified1284 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Phone: (973) 338-8001 | Website: brookdalefh.com
Independent, family-owned since early 1950s; multiple NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award winner.
Essex County
Van Tassel Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1133 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Phone: (973) 338-5320 | Website: vantasselfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Essex County
Levandoski-Grillo Funeral Home (Bloomfield)
✓ NJSBMS Verified350 Hoover Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Phone: (973) 743-1180 | Website: levandoskigrillo.com
Independent, multi-location family.
Essex County
Funeral Homes in Brick Township (Ocean County)
Weatherhead Young Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified175 Adamston Road, Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: (732) 477-9555 | Website: weatherheadyoung.com
Colonial Funeral Group, locally managed.
Ocean County
Cremation Service of Ocean
✓ NJSBMS Verified175 Adamston Road, Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: (732) 477-9555 | Website: cremationserviceofocean.com
Direct cremation specialist, locally managed.
Ocean County
Van Hise & Callagan Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified812 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 (serves Brick)
Phone: (732) 892-0100 | Website: vanhisecallagan.com
Colonial Funeral Group, family-managed.
Ocean County
O’Brien Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified2028 Highway 35, Wall Township, NJ 07719 (serves Brick)
Phone: (732) 449-6900 | Website: obrienfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Monmouth County
Funeral Homes in Camden (Camden County)
May Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1001 S. 4th Street, Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: (856) 541-0494 | Website: mayfuneralhomes.com
Independent, family-owned 50+ years; serves NJ and PA.
Camden County
Falco, Caruso & Leonard Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified3425 River Road, Camden, NJ 08105
Phone: (856) 962-7700 | Website: falcocarusoleonardpennsaukenfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned, multi-generation.
Camden County
Penn-Jersey Cremation
✓ NJSBMS Verified3425 River Road, Camden, NJ 08105
Phone: (856) 962-7700 | Website: pennjerseycremation.com
Cremation specialist, independent.
Camden County
Circle of Life Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified812-14 Kaighn Avenue, Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: (856) 365-3700 | Website: circle-of-life-funeral.com
Independent, family-owned.
Camden County
Funeral Homes in Cherry Hill Township (Camden County)
Schetter Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified304 Marlton Pike East (Route 70), Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Phone: (856) 428-3535 | Website: schetterfh.com
Independent, family-owned, founded 1955 (Cherry Hill’s first funeral home).
Camden County
Platt Memorial Chapels, Inc.
✓ NJSBMS Verified2001 Berlin Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Phone: (856) 428-9442 | Website: plattmemorial.com
Jewish funeral chapel, community-trusted 47+ years.
Camden County
Bocco Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1601 South Black Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 08094 (serves Cherry Hill)
Phone: (856) 728-0900 | Website: boccofuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned 70+ years.
Gloucester County
Healey Funeral Homes
✓ NJSBMS Verified1746 Cooper Street, Deptford, NJ 08096 (serves Cherry Hill area)
Phone: (856) 547-1761 | Website: healeyfuneralhomes.com
Independent, family-owned since 1970.
Gloucester County
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Funeral Homes in Clifton (Passaic County)
Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home (Van Houten)
✓ NJSBMS Verified1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07013
Phone: (973) 546-2000 | Website: bizubquinlan.com
Independent, third-generation Bizub family since 1923.
Passaic County
Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home (Lexington)
✓ NJSBMS Verified515 Lexington Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011
Phone: (973) 777-4332 | Website: bizublexington.com
Same Bizub family, second Clifton location.
Passaic County
Shook Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified639 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07013
Phone: (973) 779-8300 | Website: shookfh.com
Independent, family-owned.
Passaic County
Marrocco Memorial Chapel
✓ NJSBMS Verified470 Colfax Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07013
Phone: (973) 471-0414
Independent family, Italian-American specialty.
Passaic County
Funeral Homes in East Orange (Essex County)
Cushnie-Houston Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified102 Sanford Street, East Orange, NJ 07018
Phone: (973) 674-0814 | Website: cushniehoustonfuneralhome.com
Independent, Houston and Cushnie families since 1958.
Essex County
Island Memorial Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified156 Glenwood Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07017
Phone: (973) 678-8800 | Website: islandmemorialfh.com
Independent, community-focused.
Essex County
Buyus Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified426 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07105 (serves East Orange)
Phone: (973) 344-2477 | Website: buyusfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Essex County
Funeral Homes in Edison (Middlesex County)
Gosselin Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified660 New Dover Road, Edison, NJ 08820
Phone: (732) 381-2540 | Website: gosselinfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1960.
Middlesex County
Flynn & Son Funeral Home (Fords)
✓ NJSBMS Verified23 Ford Avenue, Fords, NJ 08863 (serves Edison)
Phone: (732) 738-1126 | Website: flynnfuneral.com
Independent, family-owned, multi-location across Middlesex.
Middlesex County
Chubenko Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified33 Greenbrook Road, Edison, NJ 08817
Phone: (732) 354-6688 | Website: chubenkofh.com
Independent, family-owned since 1951 (also Gerity & Chubenko).
Middlesex County
Goldstein Funeral Chapel
✓ NJSBMS Verified145 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817
Phone: (732) 777-2400
Independent, only Jewish-owned and -operated funeral home in Middlesex County.
Middlesex County
Funeral Homes in Elizabeth (Union County)
Las Rosas Bannworth Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1142 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Phone: (908) 354-1948 | Website: lrbfh.com
Independent, Spanish-speaking specialty.
Union County
Gorny and Gorny Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified254 South Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Phone: (908) 352-6090 | Website: gornyandgornyfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Union County
Nesbitt Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified65 Westfield Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07208
Phone: (908) 354-1000 | Website: nesbittfunerals.com
Independent, family-owned.
Union County
Higgins & Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified752 Westfield Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07208
Phone: (908) 233-8400 | Website: higginsandbonner.com
Established 1868, 150+ years; Szczubelek brothers owners since 2007.
Union County
August F. Schmidt Memorial Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified215 First Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07206
Phone: (908) 354-1244 | Website: afschmidtfuneral.com
Independent.
Union County
Funeral Homes in Franklin Township (Somerset County)
Cuoco Funeral & Cremation Services
✓ NJSBMS Verified75 Main Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 (serves Franklin Township)
Phone: (908) 707-2058 | Website: cuocofuneralandcremation.com
Independent, female-owned (Antonietta E. Cuoco).
Somerset County
Cusick Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified56 East Cliff Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: (908) 526-1500 | Website: cusickfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1950.
Somerset County
Bongiovi Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified416 Bell Avenue, Raritan, NJ 08869 (serves Franklin Township)
Phone: (908) 725-1887 | Website: bongiovifuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned 71+ years.
Somerset County
Branchburg Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified910 US Highway 202 North, Branchburg, NJ 08876 (serves Franklin Township)
Phone: (908) 526-6800 | Website: branchburgfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Somerset County
Funeral Homes in Gloucester Township (Camden County)
Egizi Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified119 Ganttown Road, Sewell, NJ 08080 (serves Gloucester Township)
Phone: (856) 227-9500 | Website: egizifuneral.com
Independent, family-owned since 1970.
Gloucester County
The Funeral Manor (Bradley Family)
✓ NJSBMS Verified411 Greentree Road, Sewell, NJ 08080 (Gloucester Township area)
Phone: (856) 232-4747 | Website: thefuneralmanor.com
Independent, Bradley family for nearly a century.
Gloucester County
Earle Funeral Home (Sicklerville)
✓ NJSBMS Verified218 Williamstown-Erial Road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081
Phone: (856) 728-0500
Independent, multi-location family (Sicklerville and Blackwood).
Camden County
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Funeral Homes in Hamilton Township (Mercer County)
Saul Colonial Home (Saul Funeral Homes)
✓ NJSBMS Verified3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690
Phone: (609) 587-0170 | Website: saulfuneralhomes.com
Independent, family-owned since 1899, fourth generation Saul family.
Mercer County
Brenna-Cellini Funeral Homes
✓ NJSBMS Verified2365 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Phone: (609) 588-9070 | Website: brennacellinifuneralhomes.com
Independent, family-owned.
Mercer County
Murphy Funeral Home & Cremation Service
✓ NJSBMS Verified1863 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Phone: (609) 393-8200 | Website: murphyfh.com
Independent, family-owned, multi-generation.
Mercer County
Knott’s Colonial Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1101 South Broad Street, Hamilton, NJ 08610
Phone: (609) 393-7222 | Website: knottscolonialfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Mercer County
Funeral Homes in Hoboken (Hudson County)
Failla Memorial Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified533 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Phone: (201) 659-0082 | Website: faillamemorialhome.com
Independent, McKnight family since 1997 (originally Failla 1947).
Hudson County
Lawton-Turso Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified633 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Phone: (201) 659-0044 | Website: lawtontursofuneralhome.com
Independent, four generations of the Lawton family; building dates to 1857.
Hudson County
Funeral Homes in Howell Township (Monmouth County)
George S. Hassler Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified980 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson Township, NJ 08527 (serves Howell)
Phone: (732) 364-6808 | Website: hasslerfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1978.
Ocean County
Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified100 Elton Adelphia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 (serves Howell)
Phone: (732) 462-0123 | Website: claytonfuneralhome.com
Independent, founded 1860 (one of NJ’s oldest family funeral homes).
Monmouth County
Orender Family Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS Verified2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan, NJ 08736 (serves southern Monmouth)
Phone: (732) 223-4422 | Website: orenderfamilyhome.net
Independent, family-owned.
Monmouth County
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Funeral Homes in Irvington (Essex County)
Clarence B. Wright Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified579 Grove Street, Irvington, NJ 07111
Phone: (973) 372-2828 | Website: wrightfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Essex County
Woody “Home for Services”
✓ NJSBMS Verified163 Oakwood Avenue, Orange, NJ 07050 (serves Irvington)
Phone: (973) 678-3500 | Website: woodyhomeforservices.com
Independent, founded by Mary Colson Woody, family legacy.
Essex County
Gardenhill Funeral Directors
✓ NJSBMS Verified1240 Springfield Avenue, Irvington, NJ 07111
Phone: (973) 372-5599 | Website: garden-hill.com
Independent.
Essex County
Funeral Homes in Jackson Township (Ocean County)
George S. Hassler Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified980 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson Township, NJ 08527
Phone: (732) 364-6808 | Website: hasslerfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1978.
Ocean County
Oliverie Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified2925 Ridgeway Road, Manchester Township, NJ 08759 (serves Jackson)
Phone: (732) 657-7868 | Website: oliveriefuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Ocean County
Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified100 Elton Adelphia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 (serves Jackson)
Phone: (732) 462-0123 | Website: claytonfuneralhome.com
Independent, founded 1860.
Monmouth County
Funeral Homes in Jersey City (Hudson County)
McLaughlin Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified625 Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 798-8700 | Website: mclaughlinfh.com
Independent, family-owned and -operated since 1930.
Hudson County
Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Company
✓ NJSBMS Verified3205 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 798-3100 | Website: riottofh.com
Independent, Riotto family co-founded 1958; largest visitation chapel in Jersey City.
Hudson County
Greenville Memorial Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified2940 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 433-4022 | Website: greenvillememorialhome.com
Independent.
Hudson County
Watson Mortuary Services
✓ NJSBMS Verified1015 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 332-0500 | Website: watsonmortuaryservice.com
Independent, owned by lifelong Jersey City residents.
Hudson County
Introcaso-Angelo Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified143 Brunswick Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: (201) 656-0202 | Website: introcasoangelofh.com
Independent, family-owned.
Hudson County
Funeral Homes in Lakewood Township (Ocean County)
Belkoff-Goldstein Funeral Chapel
✓ NJSBMS Verified313 Second Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: (732) 364-0900 | Website: belkoffgoldsteinfuneralchapel.com
Only independently-owned Jewish funeral home in Ocean County.
Ocean County
Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Funeral Chapels
✓ NJSBMS Verified44 Wilson Avenue, Manalapan, NJ 07726 (Lakewood services)
Phone: (732) 446-3000 | Website: dignitymemorial.com (Bloomfield-Cooper)
JFDA member; Dignity Memorial network.
Monmouth County
D’Elia Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified744 New Hampshire Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: (732) 364-5544 | Website: dignitymemorial.com (D’Elia)
Serving Lakewood since 1969; Dignity Memorial network.
Ocean County
Jewish Burial Society of New Jersey (Chevra Kadisha)
✓ NJSBMS Verified613 Ramsey Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: (732) 367-9272
Religious burial society serving the Lakewood Orthodox community.
Ocean County
Funeral Homes in Middletown Township (Monmouth County)
John F. Pfleger Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified115 Tindall Road, Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: (732) 671-1326 | Website: pflegerfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1956, three generations.
Monmouth County
Scott & Kedz Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS Verified147 Church Street, Belford, NJ 07718 (Belford is part of Middletown Township)
Phone: (732) 787-1100 | Website: scottkedzfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Monmouth County
Holmdel Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733 (serves Middletown)
Phone: (732) 946-9200 | Website: wbhfh.com (Holmdel)
Woolley-Boglioli and Holmdel Funeral Homes, family-operated.
Monmouth County
Funeral Homes in New Brunswick (Middlesex County)
Boylan Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified188 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 545-4040 | Website: boylanfh.com
Independent, family-owned.
Middlesex County
Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel
✓ NJSBMS Verified239 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 545-2424 | Website: crabielparkwest.com
Crabiel family multi-location group, central Jersey.
Middlesex County
Gowen Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS VerifiedNew Brunswick, NJ | Part of the Crabiel family of funeral homes
Website: crabielparkwest.com (Crabiel parent)
Independent, Crabiel family-owned.
Middlesex County
Funeral Homes in Newark (Essex County)
Cotton Funeral Service
✓ NJSBMS Verified1025 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07112
Phone: (973) 926-6400 | Website: cottonfuneralsvc.com
Independent, locally-trusted in Newark and Orange.
Essex County
James E. Churchman, Jr. Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified345-13th Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103
Phone: (973) 242-8454 | Website: churchmanfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1899; Churchman family in funeral service 100+ years.
Essex County
Whigham Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified580 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (973) 622-6872 | Website: whighamfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned, community-trusted.
Essex County
Buyus Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified426 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07105
Phone: (973) 344-2477 | Website: buyusfuneralhome.com
Independent, Newark and Kearny locations.
Essex County
The Family Funeral Home, LLC
✓ NJSBMS Verified333-339 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, NJ 07114
Phone: (973) 624-5905 | Website: thefamilyfuneralhome.us
Independent.
Essex County
Funeral Homes in North Bergen (Hudson County)
Vainieri Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified5923 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047
Phone: (201) 868-2900 | Website: vainierifuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Hudson County
Barquin Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified71 70th Street, Guttenberg, NJ 07093 (serves North Bergen)
Phone: (201) 868-9050 | Website: barquinfuneralhome.com
Independent, Latino-focused.
Hudson County
Bergen Funeral Service
✓ NJSBMS Verified1525 Bergen Boulevard, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 (serves North Bergen)
Website: bergenfuneral.com
Direct cremation specialist.
Bergen County
Funeral Homes in Old Bridge Township (Middlesex County)
Michael Hegarty & John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS Verified337 US Highway 9, Old Bridge, NJ 08857
Phone: (732) 679-4422 | Website: hegartyscaliafuneralhome.com
Independent, founded 1975.
Middlesex County
Old Bridge Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified2350 Route 516, Old Bridge, NJ 08857
Phone: (732) 607-9500 | Website: oldbridgefh.com
Jersey Memorial Group; sister to Waitt and Bedle in Matawan.
Middlesex County
Spezzi Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified15 Ernston Road, Parlin, NJ 08859 (within Old Bridge area)
Phone: (732) 727-0211 | Website: spezzifuneralhome.com
Independent, Carmen F. Spezzi & Maliszewski family-operated.
Middlesex County
Funeral Homes in Parsippany-Troy Hills (Morris County)
Par-Troy Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified95 Parsippany Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: (973) 887-3235 | Website: partroyfuneralhome.com
Independent, serving Morris County since 1963.
Morris County
Norman Dean Home for Services
✓ NJSBMS Verified16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834 (serves Parsippany)
Phone: (973) 627-1880 | Website: normandean.com
Independent, family-owned since 1957, multi-town Morris coverage.
Morris County
Bradley-Braviak Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified49 Whippany Road, Whippany, NJ 07981 (serves Parsippany)
Phone: (973) 884-3242 | Website: bradleybraviakfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned.
Morris County
Funeral Homes in Passaic (Passaic County)
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Soto Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified257 Broadway Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055
Phone: (973) 500-4890 | Website: sotofuneralhome.com
Independent, Spanish-speaking specialty.
Passaic County
Sconiers Funeral Service
✓ NJSBMS Verified277 Broadway, Passaic, NJ 07055
Phone: (973) 778-5212 | Website: sconiersfuneralservice.com
Independent.
Passaic County
Funeraria Alvarez
✓ NJSBMS Verified165 Hope Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055
Phone: (973) 778-7188 | Website: funerarialvarez.com
Independent, family-owned, Spanish-language.
Passaic County
Funeral Homes in Paterson (Passaic County)
Carnie P. Bragg Funeral Homes
✓ NJSBMS Verified200 Carroll Street, Paterson, NJ 07501
Phone: (973) 271-9595 | Website: braggfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned (Paterson and Passaic).
Passaic County
Scillieri-Arnold Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1011 East 27th Street, Paterson, NJ 07504
Phone: (973) 942-6300 | Website: scillieri-arnold.com
Independent, family-owned.
Passaic County
Manke Memorial Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified39 East Eighth Street, Paterson, NJ 07514 (serves Paterson, Hawthorne, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Clifton)
Phone: (973) 595-1313 | Website: mankememorial.com
Independent.
Passaic County
Funeral Homes in Perth Amboy (Middlesex County)
Gustav J. Novak Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified419 Barclay Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: (732) 826-1100 | Website: gustavjnovakfh.com
Independent, family-owned (Novak & Chubenko of Perth Amboy).
Middlesex County
Ana Maria Zevallos / Skrocki Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS VerifiedPerth Amboy, NJ | Spanish-speaking specialty
Website: zevallosskrockifunerals.com
Independent, Spanish-language community focus.
Middlesex County
Flynn & Son Funeral Home (Perth Amboy)
✓ NJSBMS Verified319 Amboy Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: (732) 826-0358 | Website: flynnfuneral.com
Independent, multi-location family.
Middlesex County
Funeral Homes in Piscataway (Middlesex County)
Piscataway Funeral Home, LLC
✓ NJSBMS Verified18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: (732) 968-2828 | Listing: BBB profile
Independent.
Middlesex County
Costello-Greiner Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified411 Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 (serves Piscataway)
Phone: (732) 634-1300 | Website: costello-greiner.com
Independent, 100+ years.
Middlesex County
Sheenan Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified233 Dunellen Avenue, Dunellen, NJ 08812 (serves Piscataway)
Phone: (732) 968-2828 | Website: sheenanfh.com
Independent.
Middlesex County
Funeral Homes in Plainfield (Union County)
Judkins Colonial Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified428 W. 4th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: (908) 668-9009 | Website: judkinscolonialhome.com
Independent, Judkins family-owned (Harvey L., H. Reva, H. Leslie).
Union County
Higgins Home for Funerals (Plainfield)
✓ NJSBMS Verified209 West 8th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: (908) 756-4429 | Website: higginsfuneralhome.com
Independent, founded 1868 in Plainfield, 150+ years; Szczubelek brothers owners since 2007.
Union County
Brown’s Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified122 Plainfield Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: (908) 756-4241 | Website: brownsfuneralhome.net
Independent, family-owned.
Union County
Scarpa Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified22 Craig Place, North Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: (908) 756-2693
Independent, Italian-American specialty.
Somerset County
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Funeral Homes in Toms River Township (Ocean County)
Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified703 Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: (732) 349-1922 | Website: andersoncampbellfuneral.com
Founded 1869 in Toms River; Dignity Memorial network.
Ocean County
Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS Verified706 Grand Central Avenue, Lavallette, NJ 08735 (Toms River area)
Phone: (732) 793-9000 | Website: ryanfuneral.com
Independent, multi-generation.
Ocean County
Carmona-Bolen Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS Verified412 Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: (732) 244-0011
Independent.
Ocean County
Funeral Homes in Trenton (Mercer County)
Hughes Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified324 Bellevue Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08618
Phone: (609) 599-9006 | Website: hughesfuneralhome.net
Independent.
Mercer County
Brenna Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified340 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08609
Phone: (609) 587-1300 | Website: brennafuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1929.
Mercer County
Saul Memorial Home (Trenton)
✓ NJSBMS Verified1740 Greenwood Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08609
Phone: (609) 587-0170 | Website: saulfuneralhomes.com
Saul Funeral Homes, family-owned since 1899.
Mercer County
Campbell Funeral Chapel
✓ NJSBMS Verified1225 Calhoun Street, Trenton, NJ 08638
Phone: (609) 393-4900 | Website: campbellfc.com
Independent.
Mercer County
Funeral Homes in Union City (Hudson County)
Leber Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified459 33rd Street, Union City, NJ 07087
Phone: (201) 863-1199 | Website: dignitymemorial.com (Leber)
Founded 1906; Dignity Memorial network.
Hudson County
Failla Memorial Home (Union City area)
✓ NJSBMS Verified533 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (serves Union City)
Phone: (201) 659-0082 | Website: faillamemorialhome.com
Independent, McKnight family since 1997.
Hudson County
Morgado Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified3505 Hudson Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087
Phone: (201) 863-2300
Independent, Latino-focused, family-owned.
Hudson County
Frank C. Rieman Funeral Director
✓ NJSBMS Verified4307 Bergenline Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087
Independent.
Hudson County
Funeral Homes in Union Township (Union County)
McCracken Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1500 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
Phone: (908) 686-4700 | Website: dignitymemorial.com (McCracken)
Founded 1950 by Bill McCracken; joined Dignity Memorial 1998.
Union County
Chapels of Eden Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1689 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
Phone: (908) 624-0001 | Website: chapelofeden.com
Independent.
Union County
Levandoski-Grillo Funeral Home (Union)
✓ NJSBMS Verified1394 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
Phone: (908) 686-4242 | Website: levandoskigrillo.com
Independent.
Union County
Funeral Homes in Vineland (Cumberland County)
DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified2755 South Lincoln Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08361
Phone: (856) 691-1188 | Website: dlfuneral.com
Independent, family-owned; original DeMarco Funeral Home opened 1929.
Cumberland County
Pancoast Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified1525 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08361
Phone: (856) 691-7211 | Website: pancoastfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned since 1976.
Cumberland County
Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified626 East Wood Street, Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone: (856) 691-2228 | Website: wbfuneralhome.com
Independent.
Cumberland County
Rone Funeral Services
✓ NJSBMS Verified1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone: (856) 691-0123
Independent.
Cumberland County
Funeral Homes in Wayne Township (Passaic County)
Moore’s Home for Funerals
✓ NJSBMS Verified1591 Alps Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (973) 694-1180 | Website: mooreshomeforfunerals.com
Independent, family-owned since 1902, fourth-generation Moore family in Wayne.
Passaic County
Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (973) 696-2900 | Website: vandermay.com
Independent, family-owned.
Passaic County
Browning-Forshay Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified557 Lafayette Avenue, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 (serves Wayne)
Phone: (973) 427-0044
Independent.
Passaic County
Funeral Homes in West New York (Hudson County)
Barquin Funeral Home (West New York)
✓ NJSBMS Verified7101 Broadway, West New York, NJ 07093
Phone: (201) 868-9050 | Website: barquinfuneralhome.com
Independent, family-owned, Latino-focused.
Hudson County
Scheurle Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified6119 Tyler Place, West New York, NJ 07093
Phone: (201) 868-2666
Independent.
Hudson County
All Faiths Cremation Service
✓ NJSBMS Verified6500 Bergenline Avenue, West New York, NJ 07093
Phone: (201) 854-0500 | Website: allfaithscremationservice.com
Independent, cremation-focused, serves West New York, Guttenberg, Union City, Hoboken.
Hudson County
Funeral Homes in Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County)
Gerity & Chubenko Funeral Home
✓ NJSBMS Verified411 Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone: (732) 634-1366 | Website: chubenkofh.com
Independent, family-owned since 1951 (Gerity-Sullivan and Chubenko).
Middlesex County
Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (Woodbridge)
✓ NJSBMS Verified44 Green Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone: (732) 634-1300 | Website: costello-greiner.com (Woodbridge)
Independent, 100+ years.
Middlesex County
Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (Avenel)
✓ NJSBMS Verified399 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001 (within Woodbridge Township)
Phone: (732) 634-1300 | Website: costello-greiner.com
Same Costello-Koyen family, Avenel branch.
Middlesex County
Flynn & Son Funeral Home (Fords)
✓ NJSBMS Verified23 Ford Avenue, Fords, NJ 08863 (Fords is within Woodbridge Township)
Phone: (732) 738-1126 | Website: flynnfuneral.com
Independent.
Middlesex County
For New Jersey Veteran Families: State and Federal Burial Benefits
New Jersey operates one state-run veterans cemetery and shares two federal VA national cemeteries within state borders. Eligible veterans, active-duty service members, spouses, and certain dependents can be buried or inurned at no cost to the family for the gravesite, opening and closing, and government headstone or marker. The funeral director coordinates with the cemetery for scheduling. NJ’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs publishes complete eligibility rules.
350 Province Line Road, North Hanover, NJ 08562 (Arneytown, Burlington County). Phone: (609) 758-6805. New Jersey’s only state-operated veterans cemetery; 225 acres, capacity 171,000 burials. Operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Eligibility extends to veterans, active-duty service members, and certain dependents under federal VA guidelines.
916 Bridgeboro Road, Beverly, NJ 08010 (Burlington County). Phone: (609) 877-5460. VA Beverly National Cemetery. Federal national cemetery serving New Jersey veterans and eligible family members.
RFD 3, Fort Mott Road, Box 542, Salem, NJ 08079 (Salem County). Phone: (609) 877-5460. VA Finn’s Point National Cemetery. Federal national cemetery serving southern New Jersey, administered through Beverly National Cemetery.
Memorial Keepsakes for the Days That Follow
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Frequently Asked Questions
Twelve New Jersey-specific questions, answered from the statute, the regulator, and the primary source. Click any link to verify the answer at the original source
How much does a funeral cost in New Jersey?
A traditional funeral with viewing and burial in New Jersey typically ranges from $7,000 in southern counties to $14,000 or more in northern counties such as Bergen, Hudson, and Essex, well above the NFDA 2025 national median of $8,300. Direct cremation runs $1,200 to $2,500 in New Jersey depending on provider and county. Every New Jersey funeral home is required by federal law to give you a written General Price List on request before you commit to anything. Sources: NJSFDA 2025 Biennial Statistical Survey, FTC Funeral Rule.
Do I have to use a funeral home in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey law requires a licensed funeral director to oversee the final disposition of a body, to file the death certificate, and to be present at the funeral. New Jersey is one of approximately 8 states that does not allow fully family-directed home funerals. Families can still hold a home wake or home funeral, but a licensed funeral director must be involved. Sources: N.J.S.A. 45:27-22, Nolo NJ home funeral law summary.
Are pre-need funeral contracts protected in New Jersey?
Yes, and New Jersey has the strongest pre-need consumer protection in the country. Under N.J.S.A. 45:7-85, every prepaid funeral agreement must place 100 percent of funds in trust, fully refundable on demand with interest and without penalty. All trust deposits are FDIC-insured in state or federally chartered banks. This is more protective than the 50 to 90 percent trusting required in most other states. Source: N.J.S.A. 45:7-85.
Can I transport a body across state lines from New Jersey?
Yes, but New Jersey is one of only three states (with Alabama and Alaska) that requires the body to be embalmed before any out-of-state transport. There is no common-carrier exception. A burial transit permit, obtained by the funeral director from the local registrar, is also required. If a body is being shipped by airplane or train and will not reach its destination within 24 hours, it must additionally be in a leakproof container. Sources: US Funerals New Jersey guide, Earth Funeral state-line transport reference.
Does New Jersey require embalming?
No. New Jersey law does not require embalming in most cases. Under N.J.A.C. 8:9-1.1 and N.J.A.C. 8:9-1.7, if a body will not be buried or cremated within 48 hours of death, it must be either embalmed OR refrigerated. Refrigeration is a fully legal and substantially cheaper alternative. N.J. Admin. Code 13:36-9.9 explicitly bars funeral providers from telling consumers that New Jersey law requires embalming when it does not. Source: N.J.A.C. 13:36-9.9 Embalming Disclosure Rule.
How do I verify a funeral home is licensed in New Jersey?
Use the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs license search at newjersey.mylicense.com. The search returns active license status for any New Jersey funeral home, funeral director, or embalmer by name or license number. The New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science can also be reached at MortuaryScience@dca.njoag.gov or by phone at (973) 504-6425 for complaint records. If a business does not appear in the database, it is either operating without a license or under a different legal name. Source: NJ State Board of Mortuary Science.
Is there a waiting period before cremation in New Jersey?
Yes. Under N.J. Admin. Code 13:36-11, at least 24 hours must pass from the time of death recorded on the death certificate before cremation can occur. Written next-of-kin authorization is also required. If there are multiple next-of-kin with equal priority (for example, several adult siblings), ALL must sign the cremation authorization form. Cases involving the medical examiner can extend the wait. Sources: Ocean County Cremation Service NJ cremation rules, Nolo NJ burial and cremation laws.
What is the cheapest cremation option in New Jersey?
Direct cremation (no viewing, no funeral service, immediate cremation) is the least expensive option, ranging from approximately $1,200 to $2,500 in New Jersey depending on provider and county. Southern New Jersey providers typically run lower than northern. New Jersey requires at least 24 hours between time of death and cremation and mandatory written next-of-kin authorization. Look for cremation-society style providers and Funeral Rule-compliant General Price Lists. Source: industry pricing data and N.J. Admin. Code 13:36-11.
Does the VA pay for a New Jersey veteran’s funeral?
Yes, partially. For non-service-connected deaths on or after October 1, 2025, the VA provides up to a $1,002 burial allowance and $1,002 plot allowance, totaling up to $2,004 combined; service-connected deaths receive up to $2,000. New Jersey operates one state veterans cemetery, the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover, plus two federal VA national cemeteries within state borders (Beverly National Cemetery in Burlington County and Finn’s Point National Cemetery in Salem County) where the burial itself is free for eligible veterans and qualifying dependents. Sources: VA Veterans Burial Allowance, NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Does New Jersey cover indigent burials?
Yes. Under N.J.S.A. 40A:9-49.1 and N.J.S.A. 44:4-118, when an indigent person dies without a surviving spouse, parent, or emancipated child capable of paying, the county of residence must pay all necessary and reasonable burial costs. Each New Jersey county sets its own reimbursement rate; amounts vary widely. Many New Jersey families also turn to non-predatory personal loans through Upstart ($1,000 to $75,000) instead of accepting funeral home in-house financing, which often runs at much higher interest rates. Sources: Mercer County Burial Assistance, Gloucester County Burial Assistance Program.
Who has the legal right to control the funeral in New Jersey?
Under N.J.S.A. 45:27-22, the priority order is: (1) a person appointed in writing by the decedent, (2) the surviving spouse or civil union partner, (3) a majority of the adult children, (4) the parents, (5) the adult siblings, and so on. If two equal-priority people disagree, the funeral home can require resolution before proceeding. This is why a written disposition appointment is one of the most important documents you can prepare in advance. Source: N.J.S.A. 45:27-22 Right to Control Disposition.
Is there a complete guide that walks me through all of this?
Yes. The Funeral Planning Handbook from Memorial Merits walks New Jersey families through the first 72 hours after a death, including the consumer rights covered above, casket purchase strategy, financing alternatives, veteran benefits, and the partner discounts that save the average family $5,000 or more. View the Funeral Planning Handbook.
About the Author
Gabriel Killian is the founder of Memorial Merits and a U.S. Navy Fire Controlman with 12 years of active duty service. He holds triple warfare designations across surface, air, and information warfare, has served as a Certified Radar Instructor and Course Supervisor for five years, and is a published author whose work is grounded in the experiences he writes about, including the unexpected loss of his father in 2019 and his own survival of a deep vein thrombosis crisis.
Memorial Merits has been featured on CBS, ABC, Fox, AP, Business Life Magazine, NY Observer, and Benzinga, and is cited by Google AI Overviews as a trusted authority in the end-of-life space. The site has been featured in SociologyGroup.com, Animal Hospice Group, and Home Funeral Alliance’s Member in the Spotlight series, and is adopted by U.S. Army CENTCOM as an official family resource for service members and their loved ones navigating loss.
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