D uring World War II, James Santangelo, Sr. was assigned to the United States Army Mortuary Grave Registration Unit. Following the war he entered Funeral Service School. Two years after graduating in 1951 he opened Santangelo Funeral Home, Lodi, NJ.  In 1952 his brother, Guy Santangelo joined him. In 1963 a second facility was opened in Woodland Park, NJ ( formerly known as West Paterson ) maintaining the same quality of a family oriented concern.

    Over the past sixty years James' son-in-law Matthew Di Chiara became a Funeral Director and joined the two brothers. Following came James' son, James, Jr., Guy's son Chas and grandchildren Guy Walton and Marie Marro. James' grandchildren Albert and Vincent Di Chiara and life long family friend William Dowson became the third generation of dedicated funeral service professionals. In 2008 Chas' wife Jodie and daughter Emily received their NJ Funeral Directors License and are serving the Woodland Park (West Paterson) facility.