Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel

Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, located at 68 Old Short Hills Road in Livingston, New Jersey, is a distinguished funeral home that has served the Jewish community and the greater metropolitan area for well over a century. As a proud member of the Dignity Memorial network, this funeral chapel offers a comprehensive range of services including traditional burials, cremation, pre-planning, and veteran memorials. The facility itself is a testament to more than 140 years of combined family history and dedication to compassionate care.

The roots of this funeral home extend deep into the late 1800s. The story begins in 1880 when Elias Bernheim founded E. Bernheim and Sons Memorial Chapel on Clay Street in Newark. After Elias’s death in 1925, his sons Emil, Charles, and William continued the business. Simultaneously, Philip Apter emigrated from Austria to Newark in 1898 and opened a funeral home on Morton Street. His sons, Barney and Ellie, followed the Jewish community’s westward migration and established a location on Stratford Place. In 1945, Howard Apter joined and later became president. In 1960, Philip Apter and Son purchased property on Springfield Avenue in Maplewood and erected a chapel. Meanwhile, Allan L. Kreitzman founded the first Jewish funeral chapel in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1964. Through a series of mergers—first with E. Bernheim and Sons and Goldsticker Memorial Home, and later with Philip Apter and Son in 1986—the three family lines converged. The current Livingston facility was built in 2001, representing the culmination of these rich histories.

Today, the funeral home prides itself on accommodating services ranging from intimate gatherings to large formal funerals in its chapel, which can seat over 300 people. With a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking, the facility ensures that all families feel welcome. The staff is highly knowledgeable in Jewish funeral traditions, guiding families through customs such as tahara, shomer, and the observance of yahrzeit. The funeral home also offers a dedicated Yahrzeit calendar service to help families determine correct dates. For veterans, the team provides respectful, dignified memorial services and partners with local veterans organizations to honor those who served.

Pre-planning is a key focus, allowing families to lock in today’s prices and alleviate future burdens. The funeral home offers free pre-planning appointments, either in person or virtually. Additional services include burial and cremation, onsite chapel services, and the provision of kosher and non-kosher sympathy baskets. The staff is available 24/7, and the funeral home is backed by the Dignity Memorial 100% Service Guarantee, reflecting a commitment to excellence. With a perfect 5.0 rating from 99 reviews on Google, Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel continues to honor the sacred trust placed in them by generations of families.