Search Obituary, Death and Burial Records by Name
Enter the person’s first name, last name and last known state to prepare an obituary, death, burial, cemetery, memorial and related public-record search.
Find Recent Vander May Obituaries and Confirm Funeral Details
Looking for Vander May recent obituaries? Start with the official Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home website. Search by name or use its advanced keyword search to find the correct memorial.
This guide explains where to find funeral notices, how to check visitation and burial details, and how to request official New Jersey death records when needed.
Source review: October 15, 2026 • Independent informational guide
Quick Answer: Where Should You Start?
Recent obituary
Use the official Vander May Funeral Home obituary search. Enter the person’s full name or surname.
Funeral arrangements
Open the individual’s Life Story and verify visitation, service time, cemetery and memorial instructions.
Death certificate
Use New Jersey Vital Statistics or the municipal registrar where the death occurred. Funeral notices are not certified records.
How to Find Vander May Recent Obituaries
Vander May’s official website provides a name search and an advanced keyword search. This is the best starting point for a notice handled by the funeral home.
- Open the official website. Visit vandermay.com and locate the obituary search area.
- Search by name. Enter the person’s first and last name. If no result appears, try the surname alone.
- Use Advanced Search. Search for keywords within the obituary, such as a town, church, school, occupation or another identifying detail.
- Open the matching Life Story. Compare the person’s age, hometown, relatives and death date.
- Check the service information. Look for visitation, funeral, graveside service, cremation, cemetery or memorial-donation instructions.
- Contact the funeral home if unsure. Ask the staff to confirm public service details before travelling or sending flowers.
Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home: Phone, Address and Directions
Official funeral home contact
Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home
567 Ratzer Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: 973-696-2900
Email: info@vandermay.com
The funeral home states that telephone assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call ahead for an appointment or visit.
Before visiting
- Confirm the correct person’s name.
- Check whether the event takes place at the funeral home, church or cemetery.
- Ask about parking and accessible entrances if needed.
- Confirm the date and time with staff.
- Check for private services or changes.
What to Check on a Vander May Life Story
A single obituary can include several separate events. Confirm each one instead of assuming every service uses the funeral home’s Ratzer Road address.
Visitation or viewing
Check the start and end times, the correct chapel, and whether the visitation is public.
Funeral service
Check whether the service is at Vander May, a church, another funeral home or a separate venue.
Burial and cemetery
Confirm the cemetery name, city and whether a graveside service is scheduled.
Memorial donations
Follow the family’s approved charity instructions. Check the charity’s official website before donating.
Flowers
Confirm the person’s identity and the correct delivery destination before ordering.
Guestbook or tribute
Share respectful memories without including sensitive medical, financial or private family information.
How to Submit an Obituary to Vander May Funeral Home
Vander May provides a writing guide and accepts family obituary information by email. The funeral home’s official Resources page says it does not charge families to post a Life Story or obituary on vandermay.com.
What to prepare
- Full name and preferred name.
- Age and hometown.
- Verified dates that the family wants published.
- Approved information about family, education, work and life events.
- Funeral, visitation and burial arrangements.
- Memorial-donation or flower instructions.
- A photograph the family has permission to publish.
- Use Vander May’s obituary-writing guide. Open its Resources page and look for “How to write an obituary.”
- Prepare approved text. Have an authorized family representative check names, dates and arrangements.
- Send the obituary and photo. Email them to info@vandermay.com.
- Check the official website. Review the posted Life Story for spelling and event details.
- Follow up if missing. Vander May recommends contacting the funeral home when a submitted obituary has not appeared within 24 hours.
Search Wayne and Nearby New Jersey Communities
The funeral home serves families whose life stories may mention different places. Search the person’s residence and hometown rather than assuming that every memorial is filed under Wayne.
Wayne communities
Wayne, Packanack Lake, Pines Lake and nearby neighborhoods.
Passaic County
Paterson, Clifton, North Haledon, Haledon, Totowa, Pompton Lakes, Wanaque and West Milford.
Nearby counties
Pompton Plains, Oakland, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Mahwah and surrounding North Jersey communities.
Local search tip: Pompton Plains is in Morris County, while Wayne is in Passaic County. A funeral handled in Wayne does not mean the death occurred in Wayne or that Wayne’s registrar holds the death certificate.
New Jersey Death Certificates: Wayne Township vs State Office
A certified New Jersey death certificate is different from Vander May’s obituary. Use the official record when a bank, insurer, court, pension administrator or estate representative needs government-issued proof.
Wayne Township Office of Vital Statistics
Municipal Building
475 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: 973-694-1800, extension 3205
Vital Statistics counter: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., except legal holidays. Tuesday evening hours extend to 7:00 p.m.
Accepted request routes: in person and by mail.
Current NJ State Office fees
| State record service | Fee / rule |
|---|---|
| Initial search and first copy | $25. Includes one certified copy, certification or No Record Statement. |
| Additional same-record copy | $2 per copy ordered at the same time. |
| Local municipal registrar | Municipal fees are set locally. Confirm the Wayne fee or the actual municipality’s fee before paying. |
| Online / telephone order | Authorized vendor handling, verification and delivery charges may apply. |
What documents do you need?
New Jersey distinguishes certified copies from informational certifications. Certified copies of recent death records generally require qualifying relationship or legal authority, identification and supporting documents.
- Deceased person’s full name.
- Exact date of death, if known.
- Municipality where the death occurred.
- Your government-issued or otherwise acceptable identification.
- Proof of relationship or legal authority for a certified copy.
- The application and correct payment.
How to request the correct death record
- Confirm the place of death. A resident of Wayne may have died in Paterson, another New Jersey municipality or another state.
- Choose the correct registrar. For a Wayne death, use Wayne Township or the NJ State Office. For another municipality, use the relevant local registrar or state office.
- Check eligibility. Review the NJ Department of Health’s proof-of-relationship requirements if you need a certified copy.
- Prepare ID and application. Match names and addresses carefully, and check the acceptable identification list.
- Choose an ordering method. Wayne accepts in-person and mail requests; the state also provides authorized online, mail and telephone options.
- Confirm the total and save the receipt. Additional processing or delivery fees may apply outside a local counter request.
How to Find Older Vander May, Wayne and Passaic County Obituaries
If the obituary is not on the current funeral-home search, local newspapers and historical collections may help.
Wayne Public Library
The New Jersey Wayne Public Library provides digital resources for local newspaper research, including newspaper collections, genealogy databases and North Jersey news archives.
Available resources include HeritageQuest, ProQuest U.S. Newsstream and searches of The Record and Herald News.
Wayne’s Digital Historical Archive
The library’s local digitized collections include Wayne Eagle, Wayne Today, Herald News, historical articles, photographs and school yearbooks.
Passaic County Historical Society genealogy help
The Society’s research collection includes church and cemetery records, local books, family histories, maps, manuscripts and extensive family-group information.
| Research option | Published guidance |
|---|---|
| Short email question | At staff discretion, specific questions requiring no more than about 15 minutes may receive free help. |
| Paid research | Published standard first-hour research fee: $25, including up to 10 photocopied pages. Extra time and postage can cost more. |
| Contact | library@lambertcastle.org • 973-247-0085 |
New Jersey State Archives
The New Jersey State Archives owns historic death records from May 1848 through December 1950 and offers indexes for many deaths during the nineteenth century.
- Death indexes: May 1848–May 1878.
- Death indexes: June 1878–December 1900.
- Additional New Jersey death records held through 1950.
- 1951–1965 state death-record microfilm is available for in-person research at the Archives.
For modern certified copies, use NJ Department of Health rather than treating the Archives as the issuing office.
How to Confirm Cemetery and Burial Information
A Vander May obituary may mention a cemetery in Wayne, another Passaic County community, Bergen County or elsewhere in New Jersey.
- Open the correct memorial. Confirm the person’s name and date before using the burial information.
- Copy the cemetery’s full name. Include the municipality because similar cemetery names may appear in different locations.
- Check the cemetery’s official source. Search for burial records, grave locations, visitor hours and office contact details.
- Call when the exact location is unclear. Provide the person’s name and approximate burial date.
- Confirm a graveside service separately. A funeral-home ceremony and a cemetery ceremony may have different times and addresses.
Veterans Burial and Memorial Benefits in New Jersey
If the deceased served in the military, families may qualify for VA burial, memorial and cemetery benefits. Eligibility depends on military service and the circumstances of death.
Passaic County Veterans Services
930 Riverview Drive, Suite 200
Totowa, NJ 07512
Phone: 973-569-4060
The office assists with VA survivor and burial benefits, service records, discharge documents and related claims.
BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery
350 Province Line Road
Wrightstown, NJ 08562
Phone: 609-738-2400
New Jersey provides qualifying interment services at this state veterans cemetery without a cemetery charge. Transportation and funeral-home expenses remain separate.
Important Doyle Cemetery benefits
- Qualifying burial for eligible veterans and family members.
- Government-provided grave liner or other applicable cemetery service.
- Gravesite preparation and perpetual care.
- Government marker or niche cover where applicable.
- Military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Microstep: Gather the veteran’s DD-214 or other military record, confirm eligibility with the cemetery or VA, then ask the funeral director to coordinate the burial request.
Passaic County Probate Help After a Death
When a person lived in Passaic County and left property, an executor or family representative may need the Passaic County Surrogate’s Court.
Passaic County Surrogate’s Court
71 Hamilton Street, Room 101
Paterson, NJ 07505
Phone: 973-881-4760
Appointments: The court states that its probate service is by appointment.
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with a midday closure from 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Basic documents for probate of a will
- Certified death certificate with the required seal.
- Original will.
- Names and addresses of next of kin.
- Government-issued identification.
The court’s published minimum probate fee is $100 for a two-page will with one Surrogate’s Certificate. Additional certificates and other circumstances can change the cost.
Small-estate routes when there is no will
Passaic County also publishes simplified affidavit routes for certain eligible estates: a surviving-spouse procedure for qualifying solely held estates under $50,000 and a next-of-kin route under $20,000, subject to its conditions and consents.
Funeral Costs, Consumer Rights and Preplanning
Vander May’s official website does not publish one fixed price for every funeral arrangement. Costs depend on the services selected, and families should ask for an itemized estimate.
Ask for the General Price List
The FTC Funeral Rule gives consumers the right to get price information by telephone and an itemized General Price List when discussing arrangements in person.
Consumers can generally choose individual funeral goods and services instead of purchasing unwanted packages.
Check prepaid funeral arrangements
New Jersey’s State Board of Mortuary Science provides specific consumer protections for prepaid funeral arrangements, including requirements concerning trust accounts or appropriate funding products.
Ask for a copy of all terms before signing a pre-need funding agreement.
Verify a New Jersey funeral provider
New Jersey’s State Board of Mortuary Science regulates funeral directors and funeral-home registrations. Its website provides licensing information and a verification route.
What If You Cannot Find a Vander May Obituary?
Different spelling
Try Vander May, VanderMay, Vandermay, maiden names and nicknames.
Other location
Search Wayne, Paterson, North Haledon, Pompton Plains or another known community.
Notice not yet posted
A Life Story may appear after a death while the family prepares additional information.
No newspaper publication
The family may use only the funeral home’s website.
Older obituary
Try Wayne Public Library, local newspapers and historical collections.
Private memorial
A family may decide against publishing an obituary or service details.
What to Do After Finding the Obituary
- Save the original Vander May Life Story or memorial URL.
- Confirm the full service date, time and address.
- Verify the cemetery name if burial information is public.
- Order only the certified death certificate copies actually required.
- Ask the funeral director whether the death was reported to Social Security.
- Gather VA documentation if the deceased was a veteran.
- Keep funeral invoices, death records and estate papers secure.
- Do not share sensitive financial information in a public tribute.
Official Sources Used in This Guide
Vander May Recent Obituary FAQs
Where can I find recent Vander May obituaries?
Use the official Vander May Funeral Home website at vandermay.com. Search by name or use its advanced keyword search to find the correct Life Story.
Is Vander May Funeral Home located in Wayne, New Jersey?
Yes. Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home is located at 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.
What is Vander May Funeral Home’s phone number?
The official telephone number is 973-696-2900. The funeral home says phone assistance is available 24 hours a day.
Can I search Vander May obituaries by keyword?
Yes. The official website provides an advanced search option that can search keywords within obituary text.
Does Vander May charge to post an obituary on its website?
The funeral home’s published Resources page says it does not charge families to post a Life Story or obituary on vandermay.com. Separate newspaper publication may have a charge.
How do I submit an obituary to Vander May?
Prepare family-approved obituary text and a photograph, then email them to info@vandermay.com. Vander May recommends contacting the funeral home if a submitted notice has not appeared on its site within 24 hours.
How do I confirm funeral or visitation times?
Open the correct memorial, check the service details and contact the funeral home before travelling if a time, venue or address is unclear.
Can I get a death certificate from Wayne Township?
Wayne Township’s registrar handles deaths that occurred in Wayne. For a death in another municipality, contact that municipality’s registrar or the NJ State Office.
How much does a New Jersey death certificate cost?
The NJ State Office currently charges $25 for an initial search with one copy and $2 for each additional same-record copy ordered together. Municipal fees vary.
Can anyone obtain a certified New Jersey death certificate?
Certified copies of recent New Jersey death records generally require an eligible relationship or legal authority, identification and supporting documentation. Informational certifications have different restrictions and are not valid for legal identity purposes.
How do I find an older Vander May or Wayne obituary?
Try Wayne Public Library’s newspaper databases and digital archives, the Passaic County Historical Society and New Jersey State Archives for historical records.
Can families use New Jersey veterans cemetery benefits?
Eligible veterans and certain qualifying family members may receive burial services at BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery without cemetery charges. Funeral-home and transportation costs are separate.
Where can I get probate help in Passaic County?
The Passaic County Surrogate’s Court is at 71 Hamilton Street, Room 101, Paterson, NJ, and can be contacted at 973-881-4760. Its probate service requires an appointment.
What if a Vander May obituary contains an error?
Contact the funeral home with the obituary URL and exact correction requested. A public obituary correction does not change an official death certificate, which requires a separate vital-record amendment process.
Before You Share, Travel or Pay
- Find the original Vander May memorial first.
- Confirm the person’s identity and funeral arrangements.
- Check the actual service address rather than assuming all events are at Ratzer Road.
- Use the proper New Jersey registrar for death records.
- Check state and local benefits before assuming all funeral-related costs must be paid privately.
- Do not share private medical, account or family information in public memorial comments.
Independent guide: RecentObituaries.info is not Vander May Funeral Home, the Township of Wayne, Passaic County or the New Jersey Department of Health. For final service, certificate, price or eligibility decisions, contact the responsible first-party source.