Our Valued Staff

David Lee Hernandez Jr, Founder, Principal

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 a 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.

David is active in each community the funeral homes serve; past President and member of various local Kiwanis Clubs, currently serving as President of the Old Bridge, Sayreville, South Amboy Chamber of Commerce, as well as Board Member of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center, and Pennsauken-Merchantville Area Chamber. 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), and a speaking on a number of topics and trends at Death Care meetings. His firms have been inducted into the Hall of Excellence with NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Winners and was 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 Vito Grandi CFSP

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 for their funerals. Michael is a 13-time recipient of the Pursuit of Excellence award, Best of the Best recipient 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 in October of 2019

He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association which he previously served as a Trustee, and the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. His community involvement is widespread, and 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 is the Chair of 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. Michael serves on the exam committee for the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. In his spare time, he enjoys wine making and playing golf.

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

Brittany Lee Watters, Supervisor

Brittany began her journey into the death care industry shortly after graduating from Emmaus High School in 2011. While pursing her degree in mortuary science Brittany worked in her hometown at Schantz Funeral Home, P.C. She served as the treasurer for Sigma Pi Sigma the funeral service education club. Brittany attained her Pennsylvania state funeral directors license in 2016 and has since then studied at The Professional Embalmer’s Institute in Greenwood, South Carolina where she focused on embalming techniques and best practices. Brittany later went on to work for Cantelmi Long Funeral Home of Bethlehem where she became a certified crematory operator. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Director’s Association, Lions Club International and the Lehigh Valley Young Republicans. When Brittany is not serving families she enjoys the great outdoors, watching sports; particularly the Philadelphia Eagles, reading books and spending time with her loved ones especially those with four paws.

Alisha Agliata, Funeral Director & Advanced Planning Specialist

Alisha M. (Omerza) Agliata resides in her hometown, in the Poconos with her husband, Steven;
three children; three German shepherds; five rescued cats; and feisty chickens.

She graduated from Pleasant Valley High School, Monroe Career & Technical Institute and DeVry
University, where she specialized in computer programming, web design and computer networking
before joining her father’s business.

Alisha obtained a New Jersey Cosmetology License in 2015; was a Barber at Pete’s Barbershop
and Menlo Park Veterans Home. That’s when she found her true passion in the funeral service
industry; but that passion doesn’t just stop with Alisha. Alisha’s husband Steven is the Foreman of
Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway, NJ, with their cemetery guard cat, Othello.

She attended Middlesex College earning her business degree. She went on to graduate on the
Dean's List from Mercer County Community College’s Funeral Services Education program, while
serving as treasurer for Sigma Pi Sigma.

Alisha started her career in Funeral Services at Flynn and Son Funeral Homes, Fords, NJ, in 2018
where she served her internship. She was a licensed New Jersey funeral director for Flynn for three
years. In February of 2022, Alisha worked for Kuhn Funeral Homes, West Reading, PA, as a dual
licensed funeral director, prearrangement specialist, and certified crematory operator. In November
of 2023, Alisha joined Bolock Funeral Home team; allowing her to spend more quality time with her
family.

Alisha has maintained her Funeral Director License in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along
with her New Jersey Cosmetology License, Pennsylvania Insurance Agent License and Certified
Crematory Operator Certificate.

Helping those in need is what drew Alisha to the funeral business. She feels most fulfilled
professionally when she works with a family from the prearrangement to the arrangement at the time
of need through the day of the service. The passion in the funeral service industry doesn’t just stop
with Alisha. Alisha’s husband Steven is the Foreman of Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway, NJ
with their cemetery guard cat, Othello.

Alisha’s ultimate goal is to make one of the hardest times of a family’s life a little less painful, while
creating a service that is a meaningful tribute for surviving family members.

Eric Kukuchka, Funeral Director

Stephen Agliata, Crematory Operator