Joseph A. Lucchese
Owner/ Funeral Director
Joe@BronxFuneralHome.com
Joseph A. Lucchese is a licensed New York State Funeral Director and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Holding a CFSP designation demonstrates Joe’s commitment to mastering and diversifying his professional funeral service and business talents to serve the community in a more compassionate and innovative manner. Joe also demonstrates his commitment to excellence within the funeral service industry and community by being active with the New York State Funeral Directors Association, Metropolitan Funeral Directors’ Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance, and the Morris Park Community Association.
Joe is best known for his involvement with Calvary Hospice, his partnership with the Catholic War Veterans and Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs in providing military burials for homeless and indigent veterans throughout the city, serving as an annual supporter of the Bronx Columbus Day Parade, and an annual supporter of the National Night Out Against Crime. He is also recognized as the first funeral home in New York State to introduce a therapy dog, Lily, to help grieving families. Joe tirelessly works with the York Children’s Foundation pursuing grants for local area children’s charities and was named “Businessman of the Year” by the Bronx Conservative Committee in 2014, by the Bronx Columbus Day Committee in 2015, and by the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance in 2017.
Joe’s experience is due to a life dedicated to learning and serving all families in the area. He was born and raised in the Bronx and attended Fordham Preparatory School, later graduating from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He has also earned a Master’s Degree from Fordham University.
Joe serves the Bronx communities with a high level of excellence, compassion, creativity, and integrity. He likes to spend his free time as a member of the New York Athletic Club and the Knights of Columbus. He currently resides in Westchester with his wife Michele and their three children, Adriana, Alexandra, and Frank.
Donna LaMarca
Office Manager
Donna@BronxFuneralHome.com
Donna is a lifelong resident of Morris Park and Van Nest. She has been assisting the community as our office manager and lady attendant since 2002. Donna is honored to serve all of our families with the utmost respect. She resides in Morris Park and enjoys spending her free time with her children and grandchildren.
James La Bella
Funeral Director
Jimmy@BronxFuneralHome.com
Having grown up in a funeral home, James has dedicated most of his life to serving families in their most difficult time of need. He has had the honor of serving the Bronx community since 2021 as a Funeral Director with Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home and John Dormi & Sons Funeral Home. As a Mortuary Science graduate of Nassau Community College, James has earned his Associate’s Degree in Occupational Studies. Sports of all kinds are among his favorite pastimes, and James most enjoys spending quality time with his family.
Ashley Aguilar
Funeral Director
Ashley@BronxFuneralHome.com
Ashley Aguilar is a licensed New York State Funeral Director. She graduated American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services in 2020 and has been in the profession since 2016. She joined the staff of Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home and John Dormi & Sons Funeral Home in 2023, bringing new enthusiasm to our workplace. She is also bilingual (English & Spanish), bringing an essential contribution to serve the Hispanic community. She is a lifelong resident of the
Bronx.
Maria Deynes
Family Care Coordinator
Info@BronxFuneralHome.com
Maria Deynes has been a resident of the Bronx for over 45 years- where she’s worked and has
raised her family. Living in the Bronx has helped her form a connection to the families she serves and has helped her to better provide compassionate care to the people in her community. In her current role as a family care coordinator, she has utilized her experience to serve the families at Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home and John Dormi & Sons Funeral Home. Maria considers it an honor to continue her work with families at all stages of life.
Sister Kathleen Mary Donohue, OSU
Clergy Liasion
Info@BronxFuneralHome.com
Kathleen Mary Donohue, OSU, is an Ursuline Sister of the Roman Union. A Connecticut native, she is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, Catholic University of America, and Fordham University. She holds a Certificate in Spiritual Gerontology from the Johnson Institute in St. Louis.
Sister brings an extensive background in elementary and secondary education, school administration and school business management with her. In addition, she has ministered to the elderly and infirm members of her Ursuline Community for over ten years. In that capacity, she was responsible for the spiritual and physical needs of the Sisters as well as maintaining close contact with their families. Also, in that capacity, Sister worked closely with area Funeral Directors and Clergy in coordinating Wake and Funeral Liturgies.
Lily
Therapy Service Dog
Info@BronxFuneralHome.com
Lily is a labrador retriever who was born on March 4, 2013. After extensive training she was registered as a therapy service dog and is recognized as the first of her kind in New York State to work exclusively in a funeral home as a grief therapy dog.
