Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc.

"This was my first time making arrangements for a loved one and they made the process as easy as they could for me. I truly appreciate how genuine they were with their sympathies and I know I made the right choice in choosing them. I seen mixed reviews but let me just say that they drove me home after I finished making the necessary arrangements (I walked there) and they offered to without even blinking, the director and the entire staff were nothing but kind to me and I cannot thank them enough"

"I accompanied my husband and his sister for the meeting with all necessary paperwork for their father's service.. I’m not even sure where to start with the list of grievances. The funeral director was to send the draft for review prior to publication but failed to fo so; it was published with errors. No detailed billing was discussed, just here is your $6K+ bill. My husband tried to advise we were expecting a death benefit within 10days. He interjected that this would not be satisfactory and the bill would need to be paid in full.  We eventually placed the full amount on a credit card, rather than argue with him at that time. When we were a bit shocked by the $6k+ bill ( prep of body, 1 day viewing, service, obit, memorial cards, sign in book) the director complained --- to a grieving family ”You have to understand, this my livelihood. He bought his casket elsewhere. That is where we make most of our money.”  Your financial concerns are NOT the concern of your customers. You are NOT try to place guilt upon the shoulders of a grieving family. During the viewing, the director interrupted a family conversation to ask one of the family members if they’d been to the casino recently – just out of the blue. No conversation with anyone else. “Hey XXXXX, been to the casino lately?” (name redacted).  Additionally, we received texts from several family members and friends that the doors to the home were locked and they were unable to gain entry in order to pay their respects – one of whom was my husband’s boss, who took the time to come during her lunch hour and had to turn away. Move ahead to Sunday 7/30/23 – we needed to finalize our dealings with this horrible business. We needed 2 items, the death certificates, which had finally arrived from the VA and also, we needed a paid in full receipt for a bill that was paid in full on 7/17/23. The director advised no one could prepare such an item on Sunday though it had been requested a day earlier. I insisted as we need it to resolve the estate.  He nastily replied, “Well, do YOU work on Sunday?”  As my job requires quite a large amount of overtime, I replied that yes, in fact, I do. The director then decides to make things personal. Rather than remain a professional, he stated to a still grieving family member, “I thought you were nice – I was wrong.” I get the feeling no one ever stands up to this man, especially not a woman. I maintain my calm, as it were. Voices were not raised though I dearly wanted to do so. I do insist that since he had no problem doing paperwork on a weekend when he wanted paid, he can do paperwork to confirm the bill was paid in full. When he said to me that he “Hoped never to see your face again,” my husband, rather than become confrontational, had to leave the building. From our first meeting, our entire family has been saying we could not wait to have this entire business over with so that we never have to see him again.  His open animosity was simply unconscionable towards a still grieving family. I do not care how frustrated you are, to verbally attack your customer is not okay – in any business but as a funeral director you should be trained to have compassion, to have restraint. UPDATE 07/31/2023 --- I received a call today as he did the paperwork wrong YET AGAIN. The secretary is preparing and sending to me. This man is incompetent and downright rude to the bereaved in every sense of the word. When advised that negative reviews would be forthcoming, he had the gall to ask why... I am 100% sure we will have a rebuttal as he has been telling people how I was yelling at him. Pull the video tapes, the truth will out. The place is creepily covered with surveillance cameras. So comforting to be filmed while trying to share memories with friends and family."

"I really enjoy the funeral home as my whole family has been viewed here and people are great here. But, I do not agree with the whole "surveillance" cameras near or in viewing area for that is privacy for people to grieve and talk. Those are not a necessity in that area and many found it odd at the viewing. Put in places like outside and main lobby area (main doors)."

"I was very pleased with the way things were handle at Salandra Funeral Home when my husband passed. My husband was sick for about ten years and looked really bad when he passed. When I walked into the funeral home and saw my husband I broke down and cried because he looked 20 years younger and looked like he was never sick. I was happy I chose Salandra's for the services."

"Going to Joseph Salandra following the passing of my husband was truly a great decision. Joseph was kind and compassionate. He gave me the space to decide on my own or interject opinions when I was stumped. It is not easy making funeral decisions. We were at the start of the pandemic and I respect that Joseph made sure we didn't over spend on things we did not need since our funeral was smaller. I am 100% pleased with the level of service and the care received from Salandra Funeral Services!"