J.L. Apter Memorial Chapel

J.L. Apter Memorial Chapel, located at 486 Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, is a distinguished fourth-generation, non-profit Jewish funeral home that has been serving the community with compassion, dignity, and affordability for over 124 years. Founded in 1902 by Philip Apter, the Apter family legacy of funeral service began with Philip Apter and Son and has been carried forward by generations dedicated to honoring Jewish traditions while making end-of-life arrangements accessible to all.

As the only non-profit, family-managed Jewish funeral chapel in New Jersey, J.L. Apter Memorial Chapel operates with a mission to financially assist and serve Jewish communities across a wide geographic area. Their service region includes Essex, Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Warren counties in New Jersey, as well as Warwick (Orange County, New York) and Stroudsburg (Monroe County, Pennsylvania). Through a liaison, they can also provide chapel services on Long Island near several major cemeteries.

The Cedar Grove location is one of several chapels operated by the Apter family, each designed to provide easy access from hospitals, airports, and synagogues. J.L. Apter Memorial Chapel distinguishes itself by offering greatly reduced pricing without compromising the quality of service. Their pricing structure allows funerals starting at $4,695, and they pledge to honor any other chapel's charges. Furthermore, from every full-service funeral, they donate up to $500 to either the family's synagogue or a charitable organization of their choosing.

J.L. Apter Memorial Chapel offers a wide range of modern and thoughtful services to meet the needs of contemporary families. These include optional at-need and pre-need arrangement conferences in the family home, virtual attendance via Zoom or Facebook Live, estate settlement and investment re-registration through Sovereign Global Advisors, elder care counseling through affiliate LMR Eldercare, valet parking at funerals and houses of shiva, and therapy dog availability for comfort during services. They are also the only not-for-profit, family-operated Jewish funeral home in New Jersey offering green funeral services and planning.

The chapel prides itself on being family-managed and operating without the layers of management or shareholders that increase costs at other facilities. They are available 24 hours a day, with multiple locations including Cedar Grove, Dover, Edison, Livingston, Maplewood, Newton, Somerville, Stroudsburg (PA), and Warwick (NY), as well as regional offices in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Their commitment to the community has earned commendations from Great Non-Profits and Chesed Match. With a legacy of trust, tradition, and innovation, J.L. Apter Memorial Chapel continues to provide meaningful and affordable funeral services to Jewish families throughout the region.