New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, Inc.

New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, Inc. Founded in 1902, the NJSFDA is a not-for-profit trade organization that is committed to ensuring that

Deaths from drug overdoses in New Jersey have plunged between 2023 and 2025, marking a decided shift in the long upward ...
01/13/2026

Deaths from drug overdoses in New Jersey have plunged between 2023 and 2025, marking a decided shift in the long upward trend of drug deaths in the state.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the office of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association will be cl...
01/12/2026

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the office of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026.

The office will reopen at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Richard J. Codey, a third-generation funeral director who became New Jersey’s longest-serving legislator and, eventually...
01/12/2026

Richard J. Codey, a third-generation funeral director who became New Jersey’s longest-serving legislator and, eventually, the state’s 53rd governor, has died. He was 79.

NJSFDA Executive Director and CEO George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP, released the below statement:

"The State of New Jersey suffered a profound loss on Sunday with the death of former Governor Richard J. Codey.

Having retired from the Legislature in 2024, Dick Codey was the longest-serving state legislator in New Jersey history, dedicating 50 years of his life to public service.

During that time, he served with distinction in the General Assembly and the Senate, rose to Senate president, and ultimately answered the unexpected call to serve as acting governor. Few public servants leave behind a résumé as long, or a record as consequential.

Dick was, at his core, a representative of the people. Unapologetic in his loyalty to his constituents and unwavering in his pursuit of what was right. He stood firmly on principle, even when it was inconvenient or unpopular, guided by a deep sense of right and wrong rather than political expediency.

To me, he was simply “Dick” or “Gov.” He called me “kid,” checked in on the NJSFDA regularly, never hesitating to share the knowledge and hard-earned wisdom he accumulated over decades in public life. He believed mentorship mattered, and that experience carried an obligation to be passed along, not hoarded.

A third-generation funeral director, Dick was not only a friend to me, but a friend to funeral service. He understood the profession because he lived it. His passion, tenacity and clarity of purpose were evident in the issues he took on, especially those that mattered most to working families and everyday people. That connection never faded, no matter how long he served or how high he rose.

While we mourn his passing, we are deeply grateful to have known him, to have stood in his presence, listened to his stories, learned from his counsel and, most importantly, shared more than a few laughs along the way."

Read more in The FORUM.

https://shorturl.at/l4hzb

As of January 1, 2026, the National Cemetery Scheduling Office will no longer have Saturday hours during which funeral d...
01/09/2026

As of January 1, 2026, the National Cemetery Scheduling Office will no longer have Saturday hours during which funeral directors can schedule burials.

What 2025 made painfully clear is that the future of funeral service will not be preserved by gatekeeping, nostalgia or ...
01/08/2026

What 2025 made painfully clear is that the future of funeral service will not be preserved by gatekeeping, nostalgia or resistance. It will be sustained by mentorship, professionalism, adaptability and a willingness to let go of practices that no longer serve the families who rely on us.

Read the full January column, written by NJSFDA CEO/Executive Director George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP, in The FORUM. a

As we kick off 2026, let us all set the bar high. Dream new dreams, establish new goals and foster within us a better un...
01/07/2026

As we kick off 2026, let us all set the bar high. Dream new dreams, establish new goals and foster within us a better understanding of life and how to navigate through it on a daily basis.

Read NJSFDA President Ryan M. Buckland's January column in The FORUM.

Crematories in Washington State have been unable to upgrade their facilities with cleaner, more energy-efficient retorts...
01/06/2026

Crematories in Washington State have been unable to upgrade their facilities with cleaner, more energy-efficient retorts because of environmental regulations, effectively throttling a growing cremation industry in the western state.

New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association members who are interested in learning more about natural organic reducti...
01/05/2026

New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association members who are interested in learning more about natural organic reduction are in luck. They are eligible for a special discount if they attend an NOR conference in February 2026.

TerraCon, billed as the largest NOR conference in the United States, is taking place from February 2 to 4, 2026 in Tacoma, WA.

In what is now a well-established tradition, the Essex, Union and West Hudson Funeral Directors Association held its ann...
01/02/2026

In what is now a well-established tradition, the Essex, Union and West Hudson Funeral Directors Association held its annual holiday party recently and took the opportunity to give back to the community.

The association once again collected toys for children. The toys were distributed through the local Toys for Tots program.

Joining District Association President Shawn'te Harvell, CFSP were (from left to right) NJSFDA Director of Government Affairs Samantha Link, District Sergeant at Arms Melanie J. Bitecola, NJSFDA 2nd Vice President Kyle P. Ledford Sr., District Treasurer Mark Bannworth, NJSFDA President-Elect Samuel C. Arnold, NJSFDA President Ryan M. Buckland, District Vice President Mark H. Erich, CFSP, District Secretary Edith C. Churchman, and District President Elect Kara Lynn Whigham.

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a wonderful 2026 from all of us at NJSFDA.
01/01/2026

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a wonderful 2026 from all of us at NJSFDA.

Approximately half of the country’s funeral homes are not providing the technology modern consumers are demanding and no...
12/30/2025

Approximately half of the country’s funeral homes are not providing the technology modern consumers are demanding and not explaining the use of digital products adequately when they are available, according to a study on consumer preferences in funeral service.

Address

1977 Highway 34
Wall, NJ
07719

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17329749444

Website

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About the NJSFDA

The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association is a not-for-profit trade organization committed to advocating on behalf of its members, the families they serve and the funeral service profession as a whole. Focusing on a multitude of initiatives, the NJSFDA continually ensures that funeral service professionals have a consistent voice in government, gain access to affordable health care solutions, and adhere to the federal and state regulations governing funeral service practice.

Whether you are a funeral home owner, intern, experienced licensee or newly licensed funeral director, membership in the NJSFDA offers numerous opportunities and services designed specifically to help funeral professionals like you reach your full potential.

www.njsfda.org/membership