Blog | Allen-Hall Mortuary – Logan, UT

Lacerenza Macari Funeral Home at 100.

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:15:43 GMT

Stamford Institution Celebrates a Century

Growing With the Times

The world was a simpler place back in 1926 when Anthony Lacerenza purchased a funeral business to support his growing family. He would have no way of knowing the impact his small company, Lacerenza Funeral Home, would have on the growing community that was the Town of Stamford.

Then, like now, as more and more immigrants arrived in Stamford, the population increased. Many sought out Anthony for help- in obtaining work permits, drivers licenses- even work. He tirelessly made introductions-even driving people to meetings to obtain help.

In the decades following Anthony’s passing in 1949, his son took up the mantle. Richard D. Lacerenza then set a standard for funeral care in the area from the 1950s to the current century that is still felt to this day.

Over the years, both Anthony and son Richard employed, apprenticed and trained many funeral directors, embalmers and future owners in the area whose sons and grandsons continue their own establishments in town.

Perhaps it is here where the “Lacerenza’s” name became synonymous with values, integrity and with Stamford- and why 100 years later it is celebrating its heritage in the city it still calls home.

“The Lacerenza family has made a tremendous, lasting impact on Stamford and the funeral industry in general,” states Tom Gallagher , a third-generation funeral director and owner of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home. Tom is the son of Richard’s longtime friend, Leo P. Gallagher, Jr.. “When my family’s funeral home building had a fire in the early 1980s, it was Richard who made the first call to my dad. He said: “Leo, you’ll operate out of our funeral home until you rebuild.” He wouldn’t take no for an answer.

He hung out a sign for us on the front yard of his funeral home the next day.”

Today, Stamford is a bustling and diverse community of new immigrants from South and Central America, eastern Europe and Asia. Baby boomer and millennial relocatees are arriving from all around America. They are coming to Stamford seeking the opportunity to build a life.

Richard’s grandson and fourth generation family member, Jerry Macari, Jr, today operates what has become Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home. He and wife Amy are raising their four children in Stamford.

Lacerenza Macari’s business can truly be called a “family” business- not just in the staff and culture it has, but in the many, now thousands of Stamford families past and present who continue to look at them as family in their hour of greatest need.

Today’s Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home and all its family members are involved in the Stamford community. The firm sponsors bocce, youth baseball teams, local wine-making and gala events and a host of programs, and charitable organizations that serve the local community. The younger generation sees this community through the lens of its 2025 sensibilities. Yet, still rooted in the values and standards of the past .

The Stamford operation is still based at its original location in the heart of Stamford, on Schuyler Avenue. Years ago, the family purchased additional parking lots and properties to expand the accessibility for its customers. Adapting to the changing needs of today’s funeral choices, the family created a direct cremation business- Cremations of Connecticut- to serve the increasing interest in simple and direct cremations. And in 2023, the family purchased the Miller Ward Funeral Home in Seymour to serve its customers in the valley region.

In an era of post-Covid regulations, with an evolution in traditional funeral practices, with families often separated by distance; a demand for memorials, streaming services, international returns to countries of origin, Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home is bringing time-honored values, compassion and support to a changing world.

To commemorate this 100 ^th anniversary, the company has commissioned a crystal paperweight etched with the anniversary years and logo. It’s a reminder to family and friends of the longevity of “Lacerenza’s”.

So, what does the future hold?

“We hope to continue to evolve with the industry and the needs of our community,” states Jerry Jr. “We have the great privilege of supporting families and individuals at the hardest times in their lives,” He adds. ”We live the renewal of our commitment to them every day.”

Funeral Advance Planning Today

Wed, 07 May 2025 17:50:11 GMT

Pre-Planning Trusts Made Simple

Stamford, CT. Most families today have more than enough to care for during daily life. When a death in the family occurs- whether expected or sudden- often, surviving family members are left to deal with the plethora of arrangements and decisions surrounding their loved one’s funeral service.

There are so many decisions to be made, and often family members are scattered living outside the area. Would mom want a wake; dad to be cremated? What about choices of caskets and types of services.

Your dedicated funeral directors at Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home have been assisting families pre-plan funerals for nearly one hundred years. We can help you and your family alleviate the questions and uncertainty by helping you put your plans in place while you are still alive and in good health.

No matter what stage of life you are in, Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home on Schuyler Avenue conveniently located downtown just off Broad Street can help you create the plan that gives you and your family peace of mind. “Preplanning allows you to make clear what your intentions are,” states Jerry Macari Jr. , fourth generation owner and Senior Funeral Director at Lacerenza Macari Family Funeral Home. “Involving your family in the process while you are still here gives them a sense of comfort knowing your wishes are shaped and understood in advance.”

By prepaying for a funeral or cremation, families often save hundreds of dollars in funeral costs by locking in the cost of a funeral well in advance of the event. Pre-planning contributions are fixed and placed in legal trusts that protect families from future inflation and price increases which inevitably come with time. Families can designate the fund to cover all costs of a funeral, including memorials, services, even monuments, cremation and cemetery costs. And the detailed records are kept locally, enabling changes to be made at any time.

We invite customers to call to discuss no-obligation pre-planning or, to request a free Preplanning Guide by calling us at 203-324-0158 or by emailing us at info@lacerenzafh.com .

Funeral Care in the Era of Covid; What Has Changed?

Tue, 25 May 2021 20:21:00 GMT

Funeral Care in the Era of Covid; What Has Changed?

Despite Changes, Lacerenza’s Still Offers Versatile Funeral Services –

the Funeral Home Stamford Has Trusted Since 1926

When Angela began to decline in health for what would be the final time, her daughters found planning for her care much different than when their father passed. Even from a short few years before, much has changed in our world, Covid 19 not the least withstanding.

Beyond living care, near end-of-life hospice and eventual funeral needs, there are a myriad of decisions to be made; often by families uninformed or separated by distance. But, this need not be the case.

For sure, the arrival of coronavirus in America has overnight caused unprecedented change in the way we live- and die.

For most, it is difficult at best. True preparation for end-of-life care begins long before the need emerges. Like Pre-Planning to meet the needs and intentions of the deceased, or, an insurance policy or a will, advance planning for end-of-life care comes with identifying the needs and requests of the individual.

Funeral homes, like Lacerenza Funeral Home and Cremation Services which has been providing funeral and burial care to Stamford-area families for nearly one-hundred years, are a wealth of information on pre-planning, contracts, trusts that pre-pay funeral costs and more.

They are reliable, licensed professionals who can help in advance and support families all the way through, providing the agreed-upon management of care at the time of need.

Today, in the era of Covid, making such arrangements can even be done without direct contact. “Contactless Arrangements” is not a new concept.

In fact, when the funeral home is known and trusted, much of the advance work- even at the time of death- can be done by the funeral home itself. Today, with many families out-of-town or separated by distance, families can “meet” – even remotely with their funeral director - using technology- by Zoom, phone and by completing documents on-line.

Though today wakes and services have adapted to Covid and regulations, we expect to see an easing of restrictions on gatherings throughout this year. Nonetheless, at Lacerenza’s, sanitizing, guest safety and, where appropriate social distancing or small gathering sizes will continue to be hallmarks of our services.

Families may still opt for “Private Wakes”, where family members can gather in smaller groups prior to burials and commitments. Full traditional funerals and traditional cremation services offered by Lacerenza’s can be supplanted by small group church and simple graveside services to further prevent the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the safety of family members until society is fully reopened.

Cremation, an ever-increasingly accepted funeral option, can also be tailored to modern sensibilities at both ends of the spectrum. Simple, contactless and direct cremations provide a low-cost affordable option.

Cremations with private or public wakes and visitations prior to cremation also provide the sense of traditional burial yet with the choice of cremation over full services.

Taking out a life insurance policy to cover funeral costs and possibly other end-of-life needs can easily be arranged by Lacerenza -affiliated associates.

Contact Jerry Macari and the licensed staff at Lacerenza’s- a family assisting families like your’ s, Angela’s and a great many more since 1926. Give yourself and your family the confidence you can have knowing you are well-covered, and working with Stamford’s most-trusted funeral home.

Lacerenza Funeral Home and Cremation Services is conveniently located just blocks from Mill River Park in downtown Stamford, and just a few blocks from the new Stamford Health Center. Visit www.lacerenzafh.com or call 203-324-0158 to learn more about services and the options families have.

Call or Email Us to Ask for Our Free brochure- “Six Ways to Finance End-of Life Care”.

Change of norms in end of life care

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 20:26:38 GMT

Change of norms in end of life care

As she lays clinging to life in a hospital bed, Marietta’s thoughts are on her family. Throughout her life, she and Anthony did everything they could to give a good life to their children and grandchildren. Yet now, they will need some extra help to make sure their family is OK.

Many in our community are now living well into their nineties. Their need for enhanced medical care can be overwhelming to families. Surviving children and relatives face difficult issues they are not prepared for. Caring for aging parents today comes with it the many and added complexities of modern life.

And decisions to keep elderly parents’ home with their families is increasingly not the option it once was. With these changing norms come the inevitable choices regarding end-of-life care. Families are often caught off guard, or in the least unprepared for the added burden of funerals at the end of one’s life.

In simpler times, friends and family members gathered at the home of a deceased. There, they paid their respects, celebrated one’s life, even enjoyed a meal in remembering their loved one. It was in these times that Anthony D. Lacerenza purchased his funeral business in 1926. A couple of decades later, his son, Richard D. Lacerenza, saw the family business grow even as the town of Stamford was becoming a city. The needs of 100,000 residents had to be met.

Over the decades since the early immigrant times, our community has become more mobile. Families spread out, pursue opportunities in other areas. We’ve seen family members move on to other towns and cities throughout America — even as many new families arrive here in the greater Stamford area. Still, at the end of life, like Marietta’s, it is those who are here that end up caring for their loved ones’ end-of-life needs.

Services and funeral options today in this community are as many and varied as the people who live here. This is true in both the planned and unexpected end-of-life events of our times.

The current coronavirus crisis has changed the way people celebrate the life of deceased family members and friends, at least for now. Families must choose small group services before private burials, at times without church services. Many still must make the decision to choose direct burial and cremation over traditional services.

With memorial services being published as “to be held at some future date”, certainly, these are unprecedented times. But be assured these temporary challenges will soon return to some new norm.

Families will indeed gather, like Marietta and Anthony’s. Friends will join them to remember and pay their respects. Full funerals will once again be celebrated. And funeral services of every kind will be available to those making arrangements for others.

Through local funeral homes such as Lacerenza Funeral Home and Cremation Services, families are able to choose a traditional funeral and burial, a cremation, cremation with service, a direct cremation, even a local celebration of life followed by transport of a loved one back to their country of origin. From its original location downtown near the Stamford Regional Medical Center – even a memorial service as colorful as the one being celebrated is easily arranged by the Lacerenza family.

For nearly one hundred years, the Lacerenza, and today Macari families have served the greater Stamford area. With Jerry Macari, Jr at the helm — its fourth generation — Lacerenza’s recently-renovated facility in downtown Stamford provides all the amenities of a modern funeral home. Visitation chapels and gathering rooms, private preparation areas, family lounges, ample parking, friendly helpful and professional staff- family.

As times have changed, services have as well. Today, “Lacerenza’s” offers several options in traditional through direct cremation. They support local crematories and continue to research new ways of serving the diverse needs and cultures of the area community.

The Lacerenza website ( www.lacerenzafh.com ) and social media platforms provide new sources of on-line information to interested information seekers, both in the local community as well as those far away. Through its web portal, customers are even able to create pre-need arrangement contracts and payment plans without having to meet in-person, should they wish.

And services can be streamed over the internet for those who cannot attend in-person.

Licensed, professional funeral homes today provide comfort, guidance and help families plan for end-of-life care with even more skill than generations ago. They can offer pre-need trusts in advance of an end-of-life event to help families minimize the stress and guesswork surrounding planning a funeral. They can offer various types of financing, burial insurance and other funding options not previously available to families of other generations. This allows families to choose the right type of service for their loved one without fear of added or unexpected financial burden.

Today, as then, there is meaning in the dignity of life, especially a life like Marietta’s. In meeting the challenges of our times, it is only the norms of the day that change.

At Lacerenza Funeral Home and Cremation Services, there are several ways to keep informed of options in end-of-life care. The public is invited to attend any of the public seminars on end-of-life care put on by the family’s staff throughout the year. You can learn more about options by visiting www.lacerenzafh.com , or simply call or email 203-324-0158, info@lacerenzafh.com and request, free of charge, a comprehensive 38-page planning guide or other materials

100 years in the making

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 20:23:36 GMT

Lacerenza’s: A Community Legacy 100 Years in the Making

Jerry and staff, many that are family members working at Lacerenza’s today, sponsor community dinners, church events, a bocce league team, and fairs. In 2018, The family donated a memorial bench to Richard in the Pellicci (restaurant) family grotto at Fairview Farms, just up the road from both businesses on Stillwater Avenue.

The Lacerenza facility, which has been recently renovated, is still located in its Eight Schuyler Avenue location- nearby to Stamford Hospital and the UCONN downtown campus.

Lacerenza Family Dedicates Farm Bench To Founder in Historic West-Side

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 21:29:53 GMT

Lacerenza Family Dedicates Farm Bench To Founder in Historic West-Side

Stamford, CT. Up the road leading from the historic west-side funeral home that still bears his name, the family of the late Richard D. Lacerenza has dedicated a safe space for the community to enjoy for decades to come.

This past Friday, members of the Lacerenza family attended the dedication of a community bench purchased in Richard’s honor. The eight-foot teak wooden bench will serve the community at “Anthony’s Arbor”, a section of Fairgate Farm. The working farm is located just off Stillwater Avenue, in the “old neighborhood”.

“He loved the west-side, and especially that neighborhood”, states Jerry Macari Jr, Richard’s grandson and President/Director at “Lacerenza’s”. Richard joins lifelong family-friend and legendary fellow west-sider, restaurateur Anthony Pellicci, with spaces dedicated to them under the pergola at Fairgate Farm.

The benches, with bronze-plated dedication plaques, are located in the space that will be used for classrooms, cooking demonstrations and other year-round activities. Fairgate Farm also has a farmer’s market in season, and features locally-grown vegetables and a whole lot more. The farm is managed by Charter Oak Communities.

Lacerenza Family Announces Succession Plan

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 21:28:26 GMT

Lacerenza Family Announces Succession Plan

July 28, 2017. Stamford, CT. Angela Lacerenza, matriarch of long-standing Stamford, CT funeral home, Lacerenza Funeral Home on Eight Schuyler Avenue, is proud to announce that Jerry Macari, Jr has succeeded her late husband and longtime area funeral director Richard D. Lacerenza, as President and Senior Funeral Director for Lacerenza Funeral Home.

Jerry, grandson of Richard and Angela “Chickie” Lacerenza, is the fourth generation of his family to serve the Stamford community in the funeral services industry. Jerry is the son of Toni Lacerenza Macari and Jerry Macari, Sr, themselves veterans of the funeral industry in Stamford.

Jerry will continue the operations of Lacerenza Funeral Home from the establishment’s longstanding facility downtown at Eight Schuyler Avenue, just blocks from the downtown University of Connecticut campus and Mill River Park. “Lacerenza’s” will continue to offer its local area clientele with Funeral Pre-Need Planning, Traditional Funerals, Customized Memorials, Cremation Services and Domestic and International Transport to all states in America, Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Jerry will be assisted by long-time staff and associates. An area Director the past ten years, Jerry lives in Stamford with his wife, the former Amy Serricchio and their three children. For more information, customers are encouraged to contact Jerry at (203) 324-0158 .

Blog | Allen-Hall Mortuary – Logan, UT

Lacerenza Macari Funeral Home at 100.

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Funeral Advance Planning Today

Pre-Planning Trusts Made Simple

Funeral Care in the Era of Covid; What Has Changed?

Funeral Care in the Era of Covid; What Has Changed?

Change of norms in end of life care

Change of norms in end of life care

100 years in the making

Lacerenza’s: A Community Legacy 100 Years in the Making

Lacerenza Family Dedicates Farm Bench To Founder in Historic West-Side

Lacerenza Family Dedicates Farm Bench To Founder in Historic West-Side

Lacerenza Family Announces Succession Plan

Lacerenza Family Announces Succession Plan