Local Funeral Director Earns Top Award From National Magazine

  MANCHESTER – Oliverie Funeral Home’s manager and owner Geri Oliverie has been recognized as the 2020 Funeral Director of the Year.

  American Funeral Director magazine, one of the leading publications in the industry, presented the award to Oliverie for her outstanding work.

  Oliverie has been a funeral director since 1986 and opened her first funeral home, Oliverie Funeral Home in Lakehurst, in 1987. She then built her own funeral home in 2000 in her current location in Manchester. Oliverie plans on opening a second location in Jackson in 2021.

  Within her community, Oliverie has been a member of the Lakehurst Borough Council, board of education and planning board. She is also a member of the Lakehurst/Manchester Rotary Club where she has received many awards. The funeral home has held multiple events including an annual flu clinic, blood drive, cereal drive and fish fry.

  Funeral Director of the Year is judged by community involvement, charitable work, innovation, specific successes and professional or personal challenges or hurdles that have been overcome. Oliverie was chosen from dozens of submissions.

  “We received submissions from many outstanding funeral directors from across the country,” Allison Sullivan, publisher of Kates-Boylston Publications, said. “Geri Oliverie stood out for her more than 30 years of service and commitment to her community. Her boundless energy is impressive not only for the work she has done in funeral service, but how she is always there to help charities and numerous other events.”

  “I am truly overwhelmed about winning such a prestigious award and congratulate all the applicants also worthy of this award,” Oliverie said. “I love helping families plan their passing and funerals. I never regretted the field I chose and hope to continue helping families in their time of need for many years to come in new and different ways here in Manchester and in the new location in Jackson which will have the grief counseling center and the banquet center ‘The Wisteria.’ My dream is to help families in all phases of grief, before, during and beyond in many new ways that the future holds for us.”

  “I would like to thank my husband Mike for his patience through the 32 years. He has always supported me and my ideas. My children Marissa, Bridget and Michael have always been willing to help me with all our community service projects over the many years,” Oliverie said. “I am extremely grateful for Jordana Blodgett, Madine Boyce and Christopher Farrant who always volunteer to help, stay late and did an outstanding job with helping me earn the award. My parents, Lucy and Gerard Oliverie for always believing in my dream and helping me. My aunt, Jean Scala, who helps with hair when I’m not available.”