History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
Our History
Mr. & Mrs. Waitt purchased an old estate home property and spent about a year converting the historic (over 100 year old) residence into a funeral home. "The homelike atmosphere was kept so our families would be comfortable." The grand opening was held in June of 1965.
When the funeral home opened, Marlboro Township had a population of about 4000 people. Over the years, the funeral home has grown to accommodate the ever growing population of Marlboro Township and the surrounding communities of Matawan, Aberdeen, Keyport, and Holmdel. In the 1980’s an addition was built on the building to enhance the chapel size and areas for families and their visitors. In 2000, future funeral director and owner, David Hernandez began working as an apprentice and in 2001 Michael V. Grandi started as a funeral director and quickly became the manager of Waitt Funeral Home. Again there was a need to enhance and renovate the building and throughout 2002 and 2003 an extensive restoration was completed. The renovation included repairs to the 100 year old building, new roofs, bathrooms, arrangement room, and lobbies much of how the building looks today.
As word of our service and beautiful facilities spread, families began to use our funeral home from neighboring towns. The need arose for a new location in the town of Old Bridge in Middlesex County. In May 2007 the doors of Old Bridge Funeral Home opened to the community. Old Bridge Funeral Home was built on the solid reputation of families first and has grown to become the premier funeral home for families in Old Bridge and surrounding areas such as East Brunswick, Spotswood, and South River.
David Hernandez, his wife Stacey, and family are committed to provide dignified and meaningful services to honor the memory of loved ones.
“We treat each family as if they were our own, tailoring special services designed as unique as the life lived.”
Our Valued Staff
David Lee Hernandez Jr., Principal/General Manager
David, known to many as “David Lee” began his career in funeral service at the age of 12, traveling to work with his mother in a cemetery to chase geese off of the grounds. David continued to help his mother throughout the summer months until he became 18. After Graduating from Calvary Christian Academy in Philadelphia in 2000, he moved to Morganville, where he lived above the Waitt Funeral Home. David began to work at the funeral home and started his internship in 2001.After attending Brookdale he continued his studies at Mercer County Community College where he earned an Associates of Science Degree and a Certificate of Proficiency in Funeral Services. He became a licensed funeral director in May of 2004, and later continued his education in Legal Studies at St. John’s University, New York.
In January of 2006, David began construction on the future site of Old Bridge Funeral Home, the area’s newest and largest funeral home. In 2007 the funeral home opened and immediately began serving the families of Old Bridge Township, Matawan, Spotswood and surrounding areas. In 2009 both funeral homes’ ownership was acquired by David and his family.
David is active in the community; he is Charter President of the Kiwanis Club of Manalapan, member of the Old Bridge- Sayreville- South Amboy Chamber of Commerce, and The Bridge Business Networking Group. He currently serves as Secretary of the Middlesex Sommerset Funeral Directors Association and is also a member of New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, and International Cemetery, Crematory and Funeral Association. He attends Calvary Chapel Old Bridge and serves as an Usher and in various ministry opportunities. In addition to being a licensed funeral Director in New Jersey he also holds funeral director and embalmers licenses in Pennsylvania and Connecticut as well as a New Jersey Life Insurance Producers License and being a notary.
David enjoys spending time with his wife, Stacey and daughter Sophia. He also enjoys snowboarding and golf.
David and his family strive to meet each family's needs with personalized and detailed services. His desire to help each family has led him to his motto of, "Each life has a story, and that story deserves to be told through meaningful tributes and celebrations of life."
Michael Vito Grandi, Manager Waitt Funeral Home
Michael V. Grandi began his career in funeral service in 1998. He was a 2000 graduate of the Funeral Service program at Mercer County Community College and became a Licensed Funeral Director in November of 2000. His skills in embalming as well as his care and compassion for people elevated him to a Management position with Waitt Funeral Home in August of 2001. Michael also holds a New Jersey Life Insurance License giving his firm the opportunity to offer alternative funding options to consumers who wish to prepay their funerals. In 2006 and 2007 Michael received the Pursuit of Excellence award, the highest honor received in the industry for excellence in funeral service putting his firm in the top 2 percent of funeral homes nationwide. He is a member of both the National Funeral Directors Association and the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. His community involvement is wide spread and he is a charter member and has served 3 years as the President of the Kiwanis Club of Marlboro and 2 years as its secretary. Michael has remained a 9 year member of the Matawan Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and in 2011 has accepted a board member position. He is a member of the Matawan Italian American Association and its charitable endeavors. He sits on the Supervisory Commitee for Entertainment Industries Federal Credit Union as well as the YMCA Camp Arrowhead Board. In his spare time he enjoys boating and playing golf. Michael is an avid toy train collector, his collection has been featured numerous times in various publications.
Nate Hall, Funeral Director
Nate was born and raised in Montreal, where he later moved to New Jersey and began his career in Funeral Service. He attended Briarwood College in Connecticut as well as Mercer County Community College, where he graduated in 2010 on the Dean’s and President’s Lists , and received his Funeral Director’s License. Nate is an active member of the New Jersey Young Professionals, and attends various events each month in the Middlesex and Mercer County areas.
In his spare time, Nate is an avid classic car enthusiast and enjoys working on his 1951 Plymouth. He is also an accomplished online gamer winning many tournaments, primarily with bowling simulators.
Ruthann Dionne, Administrative Secretary
Ruthann is currently not licensed or qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct funerals. Ruthann Dionne graduated with honors in Secretarial Science Studies and worked in high-profile Wall Street firms including working in Special Events Department before joining us.
Ruthann possesses exemplary secretarial and organizational skills, although unlicensed and unable to embalm, arrange or direct funerals in the State of New Jersey, Ruthann assists answering the phones to administrating the behind-the-scenes details of each funeral, Ruthann assists our funeral directors with every family that comes through the Old Bridge Funeral Home. She brings the graceful art of welcoming hospitality to this organization. Ruthann deals with the essential day-to-day “behind-the-scenes” business operations.
Because of Ruthann’s various abilities, she is able to help families with sensitivity and kindness making her a perfect fit for this position.
Ruthann loves to write and is presently seeking the opportunity to become published. Ruthann also enjoys reading inspirational stories and scripture. She presently resides in Jackson, New Jersey and attends Cornerstone Calvary Chapel in Howell. Ruthann has one son.
Jena Johnson, Apprentice
Jena joined our team in June of 2012 after relocaing from Michigan to New Jersey. She is currently pursuing her career in funeral service at Mercer County Community College, and will begin her apprenticeship here at the funeral homes. She holds two associate degrees, and will be completeing her mortuary studies in 2013.
She is an active member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, she attends St. Denis Catholic Church in Manasquan, and is a member of the USO, supporting America’s heroes. In her spare time, she enjoys taking part in various outdoor activities, spending time with her family, as well as sewing mainly curtains and socks.
Although not currently licensed or qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct funerals, you will often see Jena attending to the various family needs and greeting visitors as they enter the funeral home.
Joey DePasquale, Funeral Apprentice/Facilities Manager
Joseph C. DePasquale after having a successful career is a variety of businesses is currently attending Brookdale Community College finishing his Degree in Business Administration. He has achieved the honor of being name to the Dean’s List in each of his semesters. He will continue his education by attending Mercer CC in Sept of 2013.
Currently, he is a member of the Manalapan/Englishtown Board of Education, having served as Vice President for 2 years. He is also a current member of CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team) in Manalapan.
Born and raised in Jersey City he has resided in Manalapan for over twenty years.
He is married to his wife Keri of 24 years and has three children, David, Nicole, and Emily. Joey enjoys raising his goats and farming their milk and cheese. Joey is currently not licensed or qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct funerals.
Stacey Hernandez, Special Events Coordinator
Stacey Hernandez, joins our team as our special events coordinator. She is responsible for the many community events that are held within each of our home's local areas. She works diligently to create and implement programs that are dedicated to the memory of loved ones and for the families they leave behind. She was instrumental in creating one of our most cherished events, the Holiday Ornament Program, which is held every year.
Stacey also works as a licensed Radiologic Technologist in the Meridian Health System. A graduate of Marlboro High School in 2000, she later received her degree with honors in Health Sciences.
Stacey is a member of the Manalapan Kiwanis Club and attends Calvary Chapel Old Bridge.
She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her family and daughter Sophia Gabrielle. Stacey is not licensed or able to make arrangements, embalm or direct funerals.
Paul J. Cardillo, Funeral Attendant
Paul joins our team as a funeral attendant service families during their visitations. He attended The Calvary Chapel School of Ministry and took courses in Inductive Bible Study and Biblical Counseling, among others. Paul’s pastoral background makes him uniquely qualified to offer comfort to families during their time of need. Paul knows many of our families because he currently works in Matawan, as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service. In addition to his full time career position at the Postal Service, he is the Worship Pastor at Calvary Chapel Crossfields, in Jamesburg, NJ.
He grew up and lived in Old Bridge for over 40 years before moving to Monroe where he currently resides with his wife, Clare of over 30 years. He has two adult children and two grandchildren. His interests include music, bike riding, and the Jersey Shore as well as spending time with family and friends. Paul is currently not licensed or qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct funerals.