Ownership & Facility

About The Owner

• Brighton High School, Rochester, NY (1992)
• State University of New York at Cobleskill, A.S. Degree Business Administration (1994)
• University of Albany, B.S. Degree in Political Science and minor in Judaic Studies (1996)
• Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, A.S. Degree in Mortuary Science (1997)
  

Company Information

In 2005, I opened Brighton Memorial Chapel as an alternative for the Jewish community, after working at Parsky Funeral Home for eight years.  Acknowledging that the Jewish population is relatively small, when compared to the area at large, and reconciling the enormous cost of funeral facilities to this population size; it became apparent that it was not cost effective to spend millions of dollars to purchase or build a Jewish funeral home. It was because of this relationship between population size and the costs of funeral facilities that it has become a national trend to seek a mutually beneficial arrangement combining funeral facilities. My innovative approach has enabled both the Jewish community and Brighton Memorial Chapel to share in significant savings. By negotiating a rental agreement with Miller Funeral Homes Inc., I am able to set in motion a plan to share facilities, staff and location which has allowed me to set prices below my competition. 

Of special interest to the Jewish community is that Brighton Memorial Chapel is 100% locally owned.  This was important to note when Parsky's was sold to the Epstein's in 2005.  The Epstein Funeral Directors were a multi-state entity based out of Ohio.   “With our own local economy in such a depressed state, I can offer to return your local dollars to our community that you and I live in.  Simply put, money spent at Brighton Memorial Chapel, will stay in Rochester.  Profits will not be sent elsewhere for other communities to benefit.”

To read the Democrat & Chronicle article about Jarrod Krieger and Brighton Memorial Chapel click here

The Purchase of Parsky's

An open letter to the Jewish community of Rochester-
 
We are proud to announce the purchase of the Parsky-Levy Memorial Chapel.  The sale officially took place on June 26, 2009, and we would like to thank the Epstein's and David Levy for a very smooth transition. 
 
In the past four years, the community has had a choice between two exclusively Jewish funeral homes.  The competition was healthy for the Jewish community.  But in the end, from a business standpoint, it became clear that two separate Jewish firms could not survive.  The Epstein's approached us, and asked if we would have an interest in purchasing their Rochester location.  This past spring we mutually agreed for the sale to go through.    
 
Although Brighton Memorial Chapel may still be relatively new to many, we have accomplished a lot in a short time.  Opened as an alternative for the Jewish community, we have served over 300 families in less then four years.  Prior to this, I worked for eight years at the Parsky Funeral Home, before leaving to offer the community a locally owned option.  We knew it would be difficult for some to embrace the idea of “another” Jewish funeral home in town.  But some may still remember a time when there were four Jewish funeral homes competing against each other. (Parsky, Nusbaum, Cantor & Korpeck Funeral Homes).
 
Although the Parsky name has been a staple in the Jewish community for many years, we tried to create something different.  Our tag line since day one has been “establishing a new tradition.”   This phrase has been our foundation.  In following this motto, we want to continue our move forward and embrace this theme of "new" while adhering to the laws and customs of our heritage.  With this, we thought it would be best to turn the page and retire the Parsky name and continue our momentum into the future. 
 
We would like to thank Alexander Parsky, Jacob Parsky, Michael V. Altman, Philip M. Kaplan, Henry L. Epstein and David A. Levy and their supportive families, as well as all the former employees of Parsky’s, for their dedication and sacrifice over the years.   The challenges of a funeral director are daunting.  Most funeral homes are small businesses with limited staff, meeting the needs of its families on a 24 hour basis, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  With the arrangements Brighton Memorial Chapel has forged with Miller Funeral Homes, I am better able to serve the needs of my community.   
   
With this purchase, we will respectfully retain the Parsky files and pre-need agreements.  We assure you the funds given to Parsky’s in advance to pre-pay for funeral/burial costs will remain fully accounted for and secure.  All pre-need accounts will be managed through our firm.  We invite you to call, email or schedule an appointment to sit down, review your arrangements or just get to know us. 
 
Finally, on a personal note, I would like to thank all the wonderful people I work with on a daily bases.  Their help and dedication have made this possible, and I could not have done this without them.  This especially includes the Millers for allowing me the opportunity to share their building and staff to make this a reality.  I would also like to thank my family for their support.
 
As the only funeral home endorsed by the Rochester Board of Rabbis, we consider it an honor to be Rochester’s Jewish funeral home.  Now with the benefit of the Parsky history at our fingertips, we will continue to serve you, if the need arises, at your most difficult time.  You have my promise.
 
Sincerely,
Jarrod M. Krieger

Location & Facility

	The show case of the funeral home is our chapel, which offers seating for 150 with an additional five handicap spaces for wheel chairs.
Twenty-four hour all weather emergency phones on the outside entrances of the building put you in contact with a funeral director in the off hours when the funeral home is closed.
The lobby is a cozy entrance with seating warmed by a brick fireplace. The reception area is located at the main entrance for immediate assistance to all visitors.
Prior to paying your condolences to the family, a station greets you, where a register book, donation envelopes, yarmulke’s (scull caps) and even pictures can be displayed.
There are three rooms available, for either family gatherings prior to the start of a service, or for families that wish to receive or sit Shiva in our building. Each room has areas focused on personalizing your plans; equipped with a register & memory book station, sound system, and magnetic picture boards. For families that choose to show a video tribute, a projector and ten foot screen are available in any of these rooms.
Chapel The elegant chapel will comfortably seat 150 people, with an additional five handicap spaces for wheel chairs. We have the flexibility to accommodate the largest or smallest of funeral gatherings. The high ceilings enhance the state of the art sound system. There are hardwired and wireless microphones for the family and clergy's convenience. The chapel also includes a full loop for the hearing impaired. Our camera system allows us to video tape a funeral service. As an added feature to the camera system, we are capable of displaying a service on a TV in one of our additional rooms in the event of an overflow crowd. For a more intimate service, smaller rooms are available.
Arrangement / Conference Area Our spacious conference rooms will help make you feel at ease while planning funeral arrangements. Designed to feel like a dinning room in a private residence, families feel more comfortable than making arrangements at a desk in an office setting.
Kohain Room The funeral home is also able to provide a Kohain (Jewish High Priest) room, with a separate roof line for mourners to participate, with our state of the art audio and video system.
Taharah Room For more traditional families that choose a Taharah (Ritual Washing), there is a large Taharah room for the Chevra Kadisha to perform their services. Although most families will never see this room, we are committed to making it a sacred area for your loved one. The Miller family opened this beautiful new facility in January 2000. Brighton Memorial Chapel is proud to share space with Miller Funeral Homes, Inc. By sharing space, there is no high overhead, which allows us to pass the savings onto the families we serve. It should be noted that there is nothing “non-kosher” about Brighton Memorial Chapel. There is very little overlap between the two funeral homes, and no objectionable religious symbols or references. We pride ourselves on the functionality and appearance of our facilities. Our equipment and premises are all kept within the highest of professional standards while offering a clean, comfortable atmosphere.