On May 1st, Nicholas J. Grillo of North Arlington became one of the youngest funeral home owners/directors in New Jersey when he took over the new Levandoski-Grillo Funeral Home in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Grillo brings to Levandoski-Grillo more than 10 years of experience as Funeral Director for Introcaso Angelo in Jersey City, and a youthful outlook to his new leadership position at Levandoski-Grillo in Bloomfield. A resident of North Arlington, Grillo grew up in a close-knit Italian family in Jersey City that moved to North Arlington in 1983. A 2005 graduate of Caldwell College, Grillo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music & Liturgical Studies, and in 2007, he graduated from the prestigious American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in Manhattan.

"I'm honored to be the new co-owner of Levandoski-Grillo where I can help families and friends in our Bloomfield community honor their loved ones in our warm and comforting house on Bay Avenue," Grillo says. "I will continue the Levandoski traditions – and add some new ones – and I will do my utmost to provide personalized and professional service."

Providing burial and cremation services, Levandoski-Grillo can help clients create the most memorable and meaningful service to honor their loved one. Clients can have the service anywhere, and any way they want. Their choices include the place of celebration, day of the week, and time of day; the musical selection, what prayers will be said or songs they'd like sung.

Levandoski-Grillo can arrange to have doves, butterflies, or balloons released at the close of the service. Keepsake gifts of wildflower seeds or a tree seedling can also be given. Tribute videos are another way to honor loved ones at Levandoski-Grillo where family photographs can be skillfully blended with music to create a personalized video/keepsake of their loved one.

Whether clients choose burial or cremation; whether they select a formal funeral or a more relaxed memorial service, Levandoski-Grillo can help create a unique meaningful ceremony to express the genuine individuality of a client's loved one. Levandoski-Grillo also provides Special Veterans Service and works closely with the family to arrange funeral honors and personalize the veteran tribute.

"I understand how important it is that a family has someone to rely on during their time of loss, and how comforting a warm atmosphere can be for a family to gather and be close," Grillo says. "I'm aware of all the decisions a family needs to make at a time of loss and as the new funeral director of Levandoski-Grillo it is my privilege to help families through their difficult time with dignity and compassion."

For information about Levandoski-Grillo's staff, services and for links to resources, go to www.levandoskigrillo.com or call 973-743-6969.