Eugene H. Kain Jr., former member of the West Jersey Funeral Directors Association, died on October 7, 2026. He was 79.

A lifelong resident of Haddonfield, Gene graduated from Gettysburg College in 1969 and American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in 1975. He became licensed in 1976 and began work as a funeral director in Collingswood.

He purchased the Stretch-Evans Funeral Home in 1979, eventually changing the name to Kain Funeral Services in 2000. Gene bought the Holl-Murphy Funeral Home in 2001 and merged his two businesses into Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, located in Haddonfield, in 2003.

Active in his community, Gene served as the mayor of Haddonfield from 1997 to 2001. He also served as a medical investigator for the Camden County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

He also belonged to many local organizations throughout his career, serving on several boards, including Interfaith Caregivers and the Haddonfield Library. Gene was the recipient of the Governor Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award from the Haddonfield Civic Association in 2003 and was named Citizen of the Year by the Haddonfield Lions Club in 2015.

Gene, a state champion wrestler while in high school, coached and stayed active in the sport, eventually being named to the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1982. He was an accomplished athlete, competing in the 2012 World Triathlon Games in London.

Gene is survived by his wife, Myra Kain; his children, Dr. Michael Kain and Rachel Downie; a sister, Patricia Kain; two brothers, Robert Kain and Steven Kain; and three grandchildren.

Those wishing to honor Gene’s memory can donate to Interfaith Caregivers, P.O. Box 186, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 (www.giftofalift.org).

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 follows the open session and is closed to the public.

October 6, 2026

Members Present

Bruce Van Tassel, President; Eleanor Rudolph, Secretary; Rita T. Alvarez; Gregory Aseltta; Peter Chubenko; Garrett C. Jones; Aladar Komjathy; Kara Whigham.

Executive Staff Present

Quin Archer, Executive Director; Michelle K. Smith, Deputy Attorney General; Tom Giordano, State Investigator; Nytaino Romulus, Regulatory Analyst.

Public

George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP, and Jonathan R. Bender, New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, and six members of the public were present.

Executive Director’s Report

The Board received six complaints between August and September for a total of 42 complaints received in 2026.

Ms. Archer reminded the Board that there will be no meeting held in the month of November. The next meeting of the Board will take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

A total of 33 candidates are eligible for the October 17, 2026 Jurisprudence Examination, only 26 candidates have registered.

Ms. Archer advised that the updated mortuary science regulations have been returned and will be reviewed by the Board and the regulatory analyst later this month. Upon completion of that review, the regulations will be forwarded to the Office of Administrative Law for publication in the New Jersey Register.

The minutes of the August 4, 2026 meeting were approved for publication.

Applications

• Mary Theresa Waldron, reinstatement: The Board ratified the President’s approval of the candidate to sit for the Jurisprudence Examination.
• Robin Joseph, credential: The Board ratified the President’s approval of the candidate to sit for the Jurisprudence Examination.

Approved Internships

• Kaitlyn Batch, McCracken Funeral Home
• Dylan Betz, Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home Inc.
• Kelly Brown, Scanlan’s
• Frank DeFranco, The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home
• Andrew Geinsenheimer, Bradley Funeral Home
• Ricardo Escobar Gutierrez, Jorge Rivera Funeral Home Inc.
• Spencer Hardison, Bergen Funeral Services
• Gianna Lemley, Riggs Funeral Home LLC
• Lauren Lieto, Leroy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, LLC.
• Kevin McDonough, Greenville Memorial Home
• Emily Polhemus, Polhemus Cremation Services
• Rosetta Shaw, Stanley’s Memorial Chapels Inc.
• Donato Villatoro, Villa Americas Funeral Home
• Janashia Wyche, Perry Funeral Home Inc.

New Licensees

By Application

• Gina Cuzzo
• Jessie Hach
• Isabela Pereira
• Edie V. Zagar

By Credentials

• Helen Andrews
• Johnathan Gangi
• Michelle E. Verna
• Brittany Watters

Licensed by Application for 2026: 21
Licensed by Credentials for 2026: 5

New Funeral Home Registrations

• Clifton FS Management LLC, DBA Harmony Funeral Home, Clifton; Manager, Thomas J. Bizub Sr.
• Bermingham Funeral Home, Wharton; Manager, Brian Lieberwirth

Total for 2026: 12

Continuing Education Report

The Board approved the courses listed on the meeting agenda, with several exceptions, and will post the approved courses on the Board’s website under the licensee tab.

Correspondence

• The Board was informed that Manhattan University School of Business secured approval from the State of New York for an online Funeral Service Bachelor’s Degree program.
• A proposed amendment of N.J.A.C. 13:45 C1.3 was published on Monday, August 17, 2026 regarding a licensee’s duty to cooperate and comply with Board orders.
• The Board was informed that Assemblymen Robert Karabinchak and Sterley Stanley introduced Assembly Bill No. 3909, which allows for operation of crematories at locations not situated on cemetery grounds or funeral home properties. The Board was advised that the bill had been reintroduced in the same form as the prior version previously opposed by the board. The Board voted to oppose the bill.
• Marc Giorgiantonio, Lead Trust Administrator, informed the board that notification letters were prepared for the purchasers of record regarding the closure of Leonard-Lee Funeral Home. Robert Ayers intends to execute and mail letters. Copies of all related documents and the Enforcement Bureau’s closure report dated July 30, 2026 were provided.
• Marc Giorgiantonio, Lead Trust Administrator, informed the Board that notification letters were prepared for the purchasers of record regarding the closure of Lisovetsky, Harris & Jeffer Funeral Directors LLC (Old Bridge). Alla Lisovetsky intends to execute and mail letters. Copies of all related documents and the Enforcement Bureau’s closure report dated July 30, 2026 were provided.
• The Board is in receipt of documents pertaining to the arrest of John J. Ciechanowski. The Board voted to move this matter into executive session.
• The Board received a beginning list of New Jersey cemeteries willing to accept natural organic reduction products. A list will be provided to the NJSFDA.

Disciplinary Actions

• A settlement agreement in lieu of formal disciplinary action has been reached and a civil penalty paid for violating  N.J.A.C. 13:36-4.6A (a) and (b), failure to renew a certificate of registration and continuing to offer mortuary services with a suspended certificate of registration:
• $750 by Alicia Kedz Sarin, Manager of Scott and Kedz Home for Funerals, LLC for performing three funerals while the registration was suspended  
• $250 by Alicia Kedz Sarin, Manager of Bayshore Cremation Services, LLC for performing one funeral while the registration was suspended
• $500 by Paul Loveland III, Manager of Langley-Loveland Funeral Home for performing two funerals while the registration was suspended
• $1500 by Robert V. Knott, Manager of Knott’s Colonial Funeral Home for performing six funerals while the registration was suspended
• $2250 by Leslie Ann Woody, Manager of G.G. Woody Funeral Home LLC for performing nine funerals while the registration was suspended

Public Comment

There were no public comments.

Next Board Meeting

The Board moved into Executive Session at 10:01 a.m. and noted that the next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.

In Bangladesh, families are facing a crisis as a dearth of burial space leads to graves being reused after two years. As the population in Ireland ages, there has been an increased demand for funeral services. And a Georgia woman makes plans to attend her own funeral. These stories and more are in the week in funeral news.

NEWS

The daughters of a man who requested a direct cremation have filed a lawsuit against R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home in Washington Heights, NY, alleging their father's body was mistakenly placed in another man's casket and displayed during a wake intended for a different family. Read more here.

Nebraska Funeral Home Disciplined Following Cremation of Remains Without a License
By Suzanne Gage (KCSR/KBPY)
Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer has placed an Omaha funeral home on probation following a petition filed by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. In June 2026, the attorney general filed a petition for disciplinary action in response to Dorsey Funeral Home and Cremations for cremating the remains of three decedents whose bodies were unclaimed in May 2025 as part of a training exercise. The establishment was not licensed at the time of the cremations. The petition charged the facility with operating without a license and aiding and abetting the provision of false statements on death certificates of the three decedents. Read more here.

Burial Crisis Leaves Families Struggling to Preserve Loved Ones’ Graves
By Daily Sun
For many residents of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the struggle over a loved one’s grave does not end with burial. With the city facing a severe shortage of burial space, ordinary graves are generally reused after two years, while families seeking to preserve a grave for longer periods have to pay substantial fees. Read more here.

Eight Arrested During Funeral Procession for Motorcycle Gang Member After Roads Blocked
By KVII
The Amarillo. TX, Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety arrested eight people during a funeral procession for a member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang after police said they blocked roads, preventing the normal flow of traffic. Read more here.

Survey Gauges Interest in Jewish Funeral Traditions in Israel
By Shmuel Munitz (Ynet News)
Nearly 90 percent of Jews in Israel say they would observe shiva after the death of an immediate family member, according to a recent survey. The findings suggest that shiva, the traditional seven-day Jewish mourning period, remains one of the most widely observed Jewish customs in Israel, with participation approaching the proportion of Israeli Jews who celebrate Passover or Hanukkah. Read more here.

Ireland Facing Sharp Rise in Funeral Demand as Population Ages, New Report Finds
By GlobeNewsWire
Ireland is facing a significant long-term increase in demand for funeral and bereavement services as the population ages, according to a new analysis of official Irish data published by Private Cremation. Read more here.

Central Georgia Woman Plans to Attend Her Own Funeral
By Madisyn Rix (WMAZ)
Shelvy Neal has a front-row seat to her own funeral, and she plans to use it. "I said, 'You know, I'd love to be at my own funeral,'" Neal said. "My daughter said, 'Well, why can't you?' And I said, 'I can.'" Neal's daughter, Tammy Crutchfield, said the idea took shape last summer, as the family sat around the table making pre-funeral arrangements. Read more here.

The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery is banning the release of balloons, doves or other birds on the cemetery grounds, according to its new superintendent.

The Arneytown site has had issue with hawks hunting released birds on the grounds and pollution from balloons has created “environmental and ground-care problems,” said the Reverend Doctor Samuel L. Hayes Jr., a retired U.S. Air Force diamond and superintendent of the cemetery.

Hayes said the cemetery is seeking to get the word out to funeral directors so they can instruct families of the new rule.

The state-run veterans cemetery, located on 225 acres, was founded in 1986. It is designed to hold the remains of 171,000 eligible veterans, spouses and dependent children.

Members of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association should have received their 2027 dues statements by email by Wednesday, September 30, 2026, with instructions for renewing their membership.

The email will have a link directing you to the njsfda.org login page. Once there, you will need to follow these steps:

• Click on the Welcome area with your name
• Click on My Account
• Then click on Renew Now
• Follow the prompts to pay by credit card

Members may also renew by mail to avoid the online convenience fee. A printable invoice will be attached to the renewal email and can also be accessed through the NJSFDA website.

To download your invoice:

• Click on the Welcome area with your name
• Click on My Account
• Click on My Participation
• Click the printer icon
• Print your dues statement
• Complete the dues statement as instructed on the document
• Attach check to the top portion of the dues statement and mail to:

New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association
P.O. Box L
Manasquan, NJ 08736-0642

The NJSFDA has redesigned its member invoices to align with recent upgrades to the membership database.

Previously, members received a separate communication before renewal to verify their directory information for the printed Member Directory. With the NJSFDA App Member Directory, updated in real time, that additional step is no longer necessary.

Directory information, along with private contact information maintained for emergency purposes, is now included directly on the membership renewal invoice. Please review the information for accuracy. If any information is missing or incorrect, email adminmembershipservices@njsfda.org or note the changes directly on the invoice and return it with your payment.

For REG 1 members, a portion of dues is allocated by default to the NJFD-PAC, which supports funeral service advocacy efforts in Trenton. Members who choose not to direct this portion to the NJFD-PAC may instead have it applied to the NJSFDA General Fund.

All other member types have two opportunities to support funeral service beyond their membership dues:

• A contribution to the NJFD-PAC supports advocacy efforts in Trenton on issues affecting funeral service.
• A donation to the NJFSEC supports scholarships for deserving funeral service education students and community outreach initiatives carried out in the name of funeral service. Donations to the NJFSEC may also be made in honor or in memory of someone.

For questions about completing the redesigned membership invoices, click here to view examples.

The 2027 dues rates are as follows:

NOTE: The amounts above do not include district dues.

The NJSFDA continues to provide outstanding benefits to its members, including discounts off continuing education seminars and training sessions and access to the New Jersey Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund, The FORUM, Manager of the Day, Association Member Trust, the NJSFDA app and numerous business resources.

Members are encouraged to introduce licensed colleagues to the NJSFDA and your district to promote the benefits and goodwill that come with membership. Doing so will ensure that the NJSFDA can continue to offer its services and advocate for you and the entire funeral industry.

If you have any questions, please contact Membership Services at 800.734.3712.

Detailed instructions concerning your invoice can be found in the images below. Click on each image to enlarge:

United Cargo is lowering the maximum allowable weight for each piece of shipment on its Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft, but human remains will be exempt from the new limits, the company said in a press release.

The change, from 350 pounds to 330 pounds, was made to “provide a consistent standard across our narrowbody fleet,” United Cargo said. It became effective on October 1, 2026.

Funeral directors, however, will not need to be concerned about the lowering of the weight limits.

United Cargo did mention one note of caution.

“Please note that certain stations may have additional or more restrictive weight limitations based on local regulations, operational requirements or facility capabilities,” the company added.

Those seeking more information can contact their United Cargo representative or send an email to cargo@united.com.