Our Story
We have over 90 years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
Why Us?
In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.
We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.
Just after the turn of the last century, and not very long after the consolidation of Brooklyn into New York City, the residents of Brooklyn began to move away from the banks of the East River and discover the many wonders of their borough to the south. Places like Brighton Beach, Sheephead Bay, and Gerrittsen Beach, were the places of their dreams and they began to look for just the right area to live, raise a family, and enjoy their lives away from the tenements and the crush of people “downtown”. Slowly at first, many of them discovered the wonders of Gerrittsen Beach and, by around 1915, Patrick J. Byrnes, his wife Mae, and his family, arrived in Gerrittsen Beach to start a new life.
As the new families became a community, they began to discover that they were too far from the “Old Neighborhood” to rely on the businesses and services that had served them for years. They needed those same businesses and services right here in their own community. Since a part of Mae’s family was in the funeral business in downtown Brooklyn, they decided to gather the experience and knowledge they needed from the family and open a funeral business in Gerrittsen Beach. Around 1919 they took a big step and started their own business. Since it was the custom at the time to conduct the funeral for a family member in the family home, all they needed, at first, was a storage area for their equipment, a small office, and the drive to learn the business. Pat, Mae, and their children, Jay, Winifred, and Helen, all eventually became Funeral Directors.
Pat and Mae learned the details of the business quickly, and, being sensitive and caring people, they became very aware of the Trust that families were placing in them and the Dignity that was their obligation to show to both the family and the deceased. These ideals became the foundation of our business. By the early 1950’s, Pat had retired and his son, Jay, and his wife Viola, had taken over the business. Although the business had changed a great deal, they continued to stress “Family Trust and Dignity” as the cornerstone of our operations.
As our story continues, the business is now owned and operated by Jay and Viola’s sons, Tim, Detective Lieutenant NYPD (Ret), and Jim, LtCol USMC (Ret). They are assisted on a part time basis by their sister, Mary Ellen, who is also a licensed funeral director. The rest of our Staff is made up of Mr. Johnny Martinez, a licensed Funeral Director who has worked with us for more than 20 years, and our newest employee, James P. Byrnes III, the next generation.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of service to our community, we are still guided by Pat and Mae’s founding ideals of “Family Trust and Dignity”. You can be assured that our service has withstood the test of time and that we stand ready to serve you if and when the need arises.
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See where we are located.
James P. Byrnes Funeral Home