The information contained in this column is a report of the actions taken by the board members who were present during the open public session portion of the meeting only. It is not a transcript of the official board minutes or an official record of attendance. It does not address board member attendance or actions taken during the executive session that typically follow the open session and are closed to the public.

June 11, 2026, 9:30 a.m.

Members Present

Paul M. Desbiens, chair; Deborah Santangelo, vice-chair; Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold; Jeffrey S. Kasko, Linda McGloin and Anthony Menafro.

Executive Staff Present

Quin Archer, executive director; Dan Roman, deputy attorney general; Michelle Smith, deputy attorney general; James Phom, deputy attorney general; Nicole Pirelli, regulatory analyst.

Public

George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP, New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and 15 other members of the public.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

The Board approved the public session minutes of the April 16, 2026 meeting.

Executive Director’s Report

Five complaints were received in April/May for a total of 11 complaints in 2026.

Regulations Committee

Paul M. Desbiens informed the Board that there was nothing yet to report following the April 30 and May 29 committee meetings.

Committee Report on Mount Prospect Bulk Sales
Mr. Desbiens also informed the Board that at the April 9 conference call meeting between the Committee and Mount Prospect Cemetery both the Board and the Cemetery continue to be in disagreement regarding the bulk sales in question.

Old Business

Colonial Memorial Park (CA #016): Completed Crematory Application
The Board approved the completed crematory application for Colonial Memorial Park.

Traci Iannacone: Re-review Cemetery Salesperson License Application
The Board voted to move this item into Executive Session for advice of counsel.

Beth Abraham Cemetery Association (CA #333): Additional Requested Information
Beth Abraham Cemetery is finalizing its process to reclaim group sale bulk lots where there are no longer any burials occurring and responsible parties cannot be located. The cemetery will be publishing a final 30-day notice in an online public-notice forum in order to conclude this reclamation process.

Ewing Cemetery Association (CA #020): Update to Plot Transfers for Har Sinai Temple
A legal assignee has been appointed to oversee the merger of two religious organization bulk-sale grave owners and to determine if this wind-down is a merger, a dissolution or a liquidation of one of the organizations. The Board president reminded the members that one scenario is to pay creditors through the proceeds of a public auction of the organization’s holdings, including the plots owned at Ewing. The Board will continue to receive updates on this matter.

New Business

Union Cemetery Association (CA #214): N.J.S.A. 45:27-10(b) Inquiry
Union Cemetery requested guidance from the Board regarding the publication of public notices when no local newspaper remains. The Board voted to advise the cemetery that online public notice forums exist, and that online publication of notices are acceptable given the limited availability of print newspapers.

Muslim Funeral Services: Statutory inquiries
Muslim Funeral Services requested guidance from the Board regarding the burial of individuals in plots where the decedent’s name is not listed on a deed, when the original deed must be presented for interment. The Board reiterated that the cited statute does not require every decedent to be listed on a cemetery deed and that the named deed holder is the individual who controls both the right of interment and who can be interred in the plot.

Layton Cemetery Association (CA #417): M&P filing fee waiver request
The Board requested more information from Layton Cemetery prior to considering its request.

Assembly No. 815
A bill that requires professional boards to issue licenses under certain circumstances to veterans with credentials in good standing from another jurisdiction was discussed with Nicole Pirelli, regulatory analyst. Following discussion, the Board voted to remain neutral on the legislation.

St. Francis OMC: Request for the Use of the Word “Cemetery”
Saint Francis Catholic Convent in Trenton, which owns Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Hamilton Township, asked the Board if the word “cemetery” could be used at both properties. The Board voted to advise the convent that “cemetery” can only be utilized at the existing cemetery location and not at the convent’s address.

Greenwood Cemetery Association (CA #028) to Brooklyn on Fun (500 Plots) Bulk Sale: Notice of Appeal
The Board voted to move this item to Executive Session for advice of counsel.

Restland Memorial Park t/d/b/a Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery (CA #117) to Albanian American Cultural Center (295 Plots) Bulk Sale: Notice of Appeal
The Board voted to move this item to Executive Session for advice of counsel.

Restland Memorial Park t/d/b/a Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery (CA #117) to International Islamic Association (57 Plots) Bulk Sale: Notice of Appeal
The Board also voted to move this item to Executive Session for advice of counsel.

For Your Information

Princeton Memorial Park (CA #134): Informational notice was provided of its intention to build a mausoleum.

Public Comment

Shakira White provided background information on her recently filed complaint against Mount Holiness Memorial Park regarding what she believes is recordkeeping negligence. Since 1983 her deceased relatives have continued receiving mail from the cemetery despite her multiple requests to amend the cemetery records. The Board informed Ms. White that the complaint will be discussed in a future meeting and a determination of the Board’s findings will be made at that time.

Having no additional public business, the Board entered Executive session at 9:57 a.m.

The next scheduled Board meeting is Thursday, August 13, 2026.

The inaugural Certified Funeral Service Employee program, developed by the Northeast Funeral Service Partnership, concluded recently with participants praising the six-month initiative as a valuable investment in both their personal growth and professional development.

The program brought together funeral service professionals from all five NFSP member states–Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. A total of 49 participants enrolled in the first-ever offering, demonstrating a shared commitment to strengthening the future of funeral service through continuing education and professional excellence.

In partnership with Worsham College of Funeral Service, the NFSP developed a comprehensive 10-part educational series consisting of six core webinars and four elective workshops. The curriculum was designed to provide practical, real-world skills that participants could immediately apply within their funeral homes and communities.

Topics included:

• Communicating with Compassion and Confidence
• Presence and Presentation in Public and Private Spaces
• Technology in Funeral Service: Tools, Trends, and Trust
• Modern Technical Proficiency: Preparation and Presentation
• Building a Culture of Professionalism and Ethics
• Financial Foundations and Business Insight for Funeral Professionals

Led by experienced facilitators and industry experts, the program challenged participants to think differently about their roles within the funeral home, their relationships with colleagues and ownership, and the evolving expectations of the families they serve.

Presenters encouraged meaningful discussions about workplace culture, professionalism, communication and the importance of understanding and embracing generational differences within today's workforce.

The goal was straightforward: to help employees become stronger contributors to their organizations while elevating the standards and reputation of the profession as a whole.

To earn the Certified Funeral Service Employee designation, participants were required to complete all coursework and assignments associated with the six core webinars. Of the 49 individuals who enrolled, 34 successfully completed the program and earned certification.

New Jersey participants distinguished themselves with an exceptional completion rate. Twelve of the state's 13 enrollees completed all requirements and became among the first funeral directors to earn the designation.

The inaugural New Jersey Certified Funeral Service Employees are:

• Emily Breder, Givnish Funeral Homes
• Megan Calo, Hagan–Chamberlain Funeral Home
• Ashley Caruso Condon, South Jersey Funeral Associates
• KrystalAnn Cherico, Norman Dean Home for Services
• Robert Condon, Falco-Caruso & Leonard Funeral Homes
• Sherry T. DeGraff, DeGraff Lakehurst Funeral Homes Inc.
• Megan Givnish, Givnish Funeral Homes
• Jordana Glovin, Oliverie Funeral Homes
• Niki Gutierrez, Scanlan's Where Life is Celebrated
• Rebecca Kruger, Bailey Funeral Home
• Olivia Lofgren, Norman Dean Home for Services
• Joseph Wood, Jersey Cremation & Funeral Service

Participants who have not yet completed all coursework will have an additional 30 days to fulfill any outstanding requirements and earn certification.

Based on the enthusiastic response to the inaugural offering, the NFSP is already planning future sessions of both its Certified Funeral Service Employee and Certified Funeral Service Employer programs. As funeral service continues to evolve, these programs provide a unique opportunity for funeral homes to invest in their most valuable asset–their people.

Additional information about upcoming courses and enrollment opportunities will be released in the coming months. Funeral directors interested in enhancing their skills, strengthening their workplace culture and earning a respected professional credential are encouraged to watch for future announcements.

By Amanda Marie Eilis King, CFSP, MBIT, MSP

Organ and tissue donor cases present some of the most meaningful and most technically demanding situations in funeral service.

Families are often experiencing layered emotions: gratitude for the ability to provide a life-saving gift and uncertainty about what to expect, all while having deep grief over their loss. Restoring Honor: Restorative, Cosmetic and Funerary Considerations for Donor Cases is designed to equip funeral professionals with practical skills and communication strategies to meet those challenges with both confidence and competence in technical skills and conversations with families.

Why Should You Attend This Presentation?

King brings a unique blend of clinical training, advanced restorative education, artistic background and multi-state licensure as both an embalmer and funeral director. Her apprenticeship training, extensive reconstructive experience and ongoing work as an embalming specialist and educator provide a perspective grounded in real casework, not theory alone.

This presentation is built from hands-on experience with a variety of complex donor case issues, including delayed releases, anatomical disruption, leakage management, edema control from life support and even pediatric donor considerations.

It integrates chemical considerations, injection strategy and cosmetic theory with the ethical responsibility of honoring the donor’s gift. When you learn from someone actively working in the prep room, you gain insight into what actually works in practice. The goal is not only technical proficiency, but also professional confidence in navigating conversations with families and collaborating with organ procurement organizations.

What’s the ROI for Attending?

The return on investment is both professional and practical. First, enhanced technical competence allows your firm to confidently accept and manage donor cases that might otherwise feel challenging.

Improved restorative outcomes can increase the likelihood of viewings, strengthen family satisfaction and elevate your firm’s reputation within your community and with OPO partners. This will hold true even when families do not choose embalming yet still desire a final viewing to have the chance to say goodbye.

Second, mastering communication strategies for donor situations improves trust. Learning how to set realistic expectations during pre-arrangement and at-need discussions reduces misunderstandings and positions you as knowledgeable and compassionate in your community. Clear dialogue about embalming options, non-embalming alternatives, and viewing candidacy ensures families feel supported in their decision making.

Third, stronger restorative and cosmetic skills streamline workflow. Effective pre-embalming analysis, thoughtful case planning and appropriate material selection can reduce complications such as leakage and discoloration, saving time and minimizing corrective work later. That efficiency translates into better use of staff time and preparation resources.

A Real-Life Example of Value

Consider a donor case involving delayed release and significant tissue disruption following recovery procedures. Without specialized planning, this type of case might be considered unsuitable for viewing due to a variety of issues resulting from the recovery. The family may assume that an open casket is impossible and might not even attempt to ask their funeral director to view their loved one again.

Through structured pre-embalming analysis, adjusted arterial fluid selection, strategic injection site planning, decisive co-injections for distribution challenges and targeted restorative techniques–including shape restoration, incision coverage and color correction–the outcome can change dramatically.

In many instances, these methods can transform a complex donor case into one that allows for a dignified, meaningful viewing. This impact extends beyond appearance as families often express that seeing their loved one restored affirms the dignity of the donation and supports their healing process. That final goodbye becomes a moment of gratitude and connection.

Restoring Honor reinforces that donor care is both a technical and sacred responsibility. Attending this session means investing in your skills, your confidence, and your ability to serve families with excellence and ensuring that every donor is returned to their loved ones with dignity, respect and, most importantly, presence.

Amanda Marie Eilis King, CFSP, MBIT, MSP, has extensive education and experience postmortem reconstruction work and restoratives arts. Her seminar, Restoring Honor: Restorative, Cosmetic and Funerary Considerations for Donor and Autopsy Cases, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 16 and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Registration for the event is now open. Register for the 2026 Funeral Directors Convention and Expo by July 1 and receive an automatic 10 percent discount. 

Film star Leonardo DiCaprio has produced a new documentary on funeral service and the coming glut of deaths that will result from an aging baby boom generation.

“Death Boom,” which debuts at the 2026 Tribeca Festival held in June, generated mixed reactions even before it was screened.

Called “eye-opening and comprehensive” in a description on the Tribeca Festival’s website, the film, directed by Jessica Chandler and produced by DiCaprio, explores the impact that dying baby boomers will have on the funeral industry and the changes and challenges facing death care. The film also explores greener options for disposition, such as natural organic reduction and green burials.

“While never losing sight of the topic’s seriousness, Chandler’s shrewdly accessible doc is a wake-up call of a film that’s also highly entertaining and often quite funny,” the description reads.

And that is part of the problem for one funeral director, who said she had initially been part of the project.

“What disappoints me is when education turns into entertainment. When nuance gets lost. When complicated stories are reduced to shock value, villains and headlines,” said Melissa Meadow, who bills herself as The Modern Mortician on Facebook. “The public deserves better than a sensationalized version of death care. They deserve context. They deserve current information. They deserve to see not only the failures, but also the people working every day to improve this profession.”

The purpose of the film, however, was not to sensationalize the issue, said Eli Roth, a film director who narrated “Death Boom.”

“This is not an attack on an industry, but an effort to understand how we got here and how we can move forward together to protect future generations. Jessica and her team did incredible work, and we hope the film galvanizes people to take control of their own death,” Roth told Deadline.

A streaming service and release date for the film have not yet been announced.

Jewish war veterans, mistakenly buried with Christian crosses, get new headstones. A lawmaker in the Philippines has introduced a measure to supply poor families with free caskets and funeral aid. And state police in Connecticut stopped a funeral procession on I-95 after reports of unruly behavior on the highway. These stories and more are in the week in funeral news.

NEWS

Jewish Veterans Incorrectly Buried Under Latin Crosses Get New Headstones
By Nick Mordowanec (Military.com)
Five Jewish service members recently had their headstones altered, and they may be just the beginning. The American Battle Monuments Commission has partnered with the nonprofit Operation Benjamin to provide funding for the partnership to identify, research and correct burial mistakes for such service members. Read more here.

Filipino Lawmaker Files Free Casket, Funeral Aid Bill
By Charlene A. Cayabyab (Sun Star)
A legislator in the Philippines has filed a measure seeking to provide free caskets and funeral service discounts for poor families nationwide through local government units. Read more here.

Former Funeral Director Decapitated Corpse Before Cremation, Threw Head into Woods
By WKRC
A former funeral director in Minnesota was sentenced for beheading a corpse before cremating it and throwing the head into a ravine, where it was found by Boy Scouts. The case remained unsolved for two decades. Read more here.

Family Sues Ohio Funeral Home After Mom Was Allegedly Cremated “Against Her Express Wishes”
By Desiree Anello (People)
An Ohio family is suing a local funeral home after their mother was allegedly cremated by accident. On June 1, 2026, the children of Nancy Anders filed a lawsuit against the Tidd Funeral Home in Hilliard after the body of their late mother was cremated “against her express wishes and without authorization from the family,” according to legal documents. Read more here. 

Alaskan Assembly to Consider Natural Burial Project in South Anchorage
By Bella Biondini (Anchorage Daily News)
Anchorage, AK, is running out of low-cost cemetery space. If approved by the Assembly, a bill would permit the creation of a new natural burial site, the first of its kind in Alaska, in South Anchorage. Read more here.

State Police Stop Funeral Procession on I-95 South in Connecticut
By Jason Levy (News 8)
A section of I-95 South in Fairfield, CT, was temporarily shut down recently as state police investigated a funeral procession. According to Connecticut State Police, Troop G received multiple calls from drivers on I-95 South to report people hanging out of vehicles in a funeral procession on the highway. Read more here.

Human Composting and Water Cremation Considered to Tackle Burial Space Shortages
By Antonia Matthews (BBC Wales)
Human composting and water cremation could be introduced in England and Wales, a report has suggested. Burial, cremation and burial at sea are the only methods currently formally recognized in law in the two nations, the law commission said. Read more here.

In observance of the federal holiday of Juneteenth, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association will be closed on Friday, June 19, 2026.

The office will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026.