History & Staff

David Lee Hernandez, Jr, a native of Northeast Philadelphia, after graduating high school from Calvary Christian Academy in Philadelphia, he relocated to Morganville, where he began his career as a mortuary science apprentice. David continued his studies where he earned an Associates of Science Degree and a Certificate of Proficiency in Funeral Services. He became a licensed funeral director in May of 2004, and later continued his education in Legal Studies at St. John’s University, New York.

He acquired his first funeral home in 2009 and has grown to operate Jersey’s largest family owned funeral home company, known as “Jersey Memorial Group”. His holdings include funeral homes and cemeteries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Additionally, he also publishes a newspaper, “All Around Old Bridge” and is active in venture capital investments through 29029 Ventures, which focuses on emerging products and services impacting the mind, body and soul of local communities.

David is active in each community the funeral homes serve; he is Charter Member and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Manalapan, member of Old Bridge Kiwanis Club, member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh in Belmar, trustee and board member of the Old Bridge- Sayreville- South Amboy Chamber of Commerce, board member of Pennsauken-Merchantville Area Chamber. He was recently elected to the foundation board of the Raritan Bay Medical Center Foundation in Old Bridge and Perth Amboy as the Vice Chair and Chair of Governance, as well as is a business leader in the Old Bridge Business Alliance. He has served as an officer in Middlesex Somerset Funeral Directors Association and is also a member of NJ State Funeral Directors Association, and National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). His firms are nine-time NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Winners and was recently awarded the Best of the Best Award from NFDA as the top funeral home operator in the Country. He has been named Business Leader of the Year in 2016 by Kiwanis Club of Old Bridge as well as in 2017 by the Chamber of Commerce. Most recently he was recognized in 2018 with NJ Biz 40 under 40 as a young leader in business, and in 2019 by the Greater Monmouth YMCA as their Citizen of the Year. He has also been a guest speaker at NYU Schack School of Real Estate and Alan Creedy's Blue Ocean Tours. David, his family and team have been featured in Funeral Business Advisor and American Funeral Director Magazines.

He and his family attend Calvary Chapel Old Bridge and they volunteer in various ministry opportunities. A licensed funeral Director in New Jersey, he also holds funeral director and embalmers licenses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as a Life Insurance Producers License. David enjoys spending time with his wife, Stacey and their three children, Sophia, David Lee III, and Abigail. He also enjoys competitive fitness, OCR, snowboarding, and golf.

Michael V. Grandi began his career in funeral service in 1998. He is a 2000 graduate of the Funeral Service program at Mercer County Community College and became a Licensed Funeral Director in November of 2000. His skills in embalming as well as his care and compassion for people elevated him to a Management position with Waitt Funeral Home in August of 2001. Michael also holds a New Jersey Life Insurance License, giving his firm the opportunity to offer alternative funding options to consumers who wish to prepay their funerals. Michael is a 10 time recipient of the Pursuit of Excellence award, and Hall of Excellence Inductee, the highest honor received in the industry for excellence in funeral service putting his firm in the top 2 percent of funeral homes nationwide. Michael Earned his CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner) Designation October of 2019

He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association which he serves as a Trustee, and the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. His community involvement is wide spread and he is a charter member and has served 3 years as the President of the Kiwanis Club of Marlboro, 2 years as its secretary and now is the current Treasurer. Michael has remained a member of the Matawan Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce since 2001 and is currently a member of the board. He is a member of the Matawan Italian American Association and supports its charitable endeavors. He sits on the Supervisory Committee for Entertainment Industries Federal Credit Union. In 2013 he became a proud member of the Knights of Columbus Bishop John C. Reiss Council #15964 and earned his 4th Degree November 2, 2014. Michael is a communicant of St. Clement Church in Matawan and is part of the Lector Group. In his spare time he enjoys boating and playing golf. Michael is an avid toy train collector, his collection has been featured numerous times in various publications and well as a content contributor to magazines.

Michael continues to share his experience, knowledge and insight in funeral service, with the staff and families he serves.

"The pride comes from helping each family generate their own creative ideas which leads to the meaningful funeral that represents the life well lived, for those they loved."-Michael V. Grandi

"Daniel J. Korba was raised in Old Bridge and East Brunswick Township, NJ. Upon graduating college, Dan studied for 3 more years in Catholic Seminary discerning his calling to the priesthood. After deciding to change his course of service, Dan attended the Mortuary Science Program at Mercer County Community College. He was licensed in 1992. Since then, Dan has developed superior technical skills, which combined with his zeal and compassion, is determined to lighten the burden of every family he encounters.

Dan and his wife Marilyn, and their daughter Rachel, moved to Freehold Township in 1999. Dan has served his community not only as a funeral director, but also as a volunteer firefighter for many years and is an ordained Sub-Deacon in his parish of St. Paul The Apostle Church.

Dan will hit the refresh button by his passion for landscaping, and maintaining the grounds around his Church, teeing up a golf ball, or hoping on his motorcycle and taking a long ride in the country. Dan also enjoys Karaoke, and is the reigning Southern Middlesex County Regional Karaoke Champion.
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"Stacey Hernandez, joins our team as our special events coordinator. She is responsible for the many community events that are held within each of our home's local areas. She works diligently to create and implement programs that are dedicated to the memory of loved ones and for the families they leave behind. She was instrumental in creating one of our most cherished events, the Holiday Ornament Program, which is held every year.

Stacey also works as a licensed Radiologic Technologist in the Meridian Health System. A graduate of Marlboro High School in 2000, she later received her degree with honors in Health Sciences.

Stacey is a member of the Manalapan Kiwanis Club and attends Calvary Chapel Old Bridge.

She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her family and children Sophia Gabrielle and David Lee III. Stacey is not licensed or able to make arrangements, embalm or direct funerals."

"Leslie Fago Orlando was born and raised in New Jersey. She moved to Old Bridge in 2017 with her husband Christopher and son, Luca.

After losing her father unexpectedly and being impressed with the compassion and service her own family received at Old Bridge Funeral Home, she knew she wanted to be a part of the team that made them feel like family and at ease. In 2017 Leslie changed careers and became a part of Jersey Memorial Group as an executive assistant and assists in numerous responsibilities directly related to families.
Leslie does a little bit of everything and enjoys that her job is different everyday. Most of all she enjoys helping out and making sure all the details are in order for the families during a difficult time in their lives. In her spare time Leslie enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and going to concerts. Leslie also shares her passion for the arts and drawing by authoring many coloring books."

"Lisa Ruiz joined Jersey Memorial Group as an intern and quickly became an integral part of the team. She became a licensed funeral director and is fully bi-lingual in English and Spanish, she leads Funeraria Hernandez and specializes in repatriation services of loved ones to their home countries.

In her spare time she actively grows monarch butterflies, and raises awareness of butterfly conservation. "

"Karen Lamb joined our team at the Inglesby & Sons in April 2014. She is a 2013 graduate of the Funeral Service program at Mercer County Community College and became a Licensed Funeral Director in January 2014.
Karen is an active member of Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends."