Meet Our Staff

Meet Our Staff

Christine Cuoco, Manager
New Jersey Lic. No. 4538

Christine was born and raised in North Brunswick, New Jersey. She obtained her funeral service education from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in NYC, one of the leading academic institutions in this profession. Prior to studying there, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Law & Justice, from Rider University.
Her professional career began 19 years ago, when she served as a funeral service intern at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton, New Jersey. It was there she embraced the growing South Asian population in Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth counties, and dedicated herself wholeheartedly to serving the families and individuals in these communities. This commitment followed her as she took her next career-related step, into the staff of Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. 
Today, as owner / manager of Ruby Memorial, Christine offers the community her 19 years of experience working as a Licensed Funeral Director committed to serving South Asian families. Her dedication was profiled recently in "Hightstown: A New Resource for South Asians in Their Time of Need", published in early September, 2015, where she shared the heart of her commitment: the preservation of traditional cultural and social responses to death and loss:

“Over the past 15 years I have cared for many Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian families only to realize that my background and attention to ceremonial details have allowed me to focus on preserving culture and tradition. My services and funeral home provide the availability for traditional ceremonies that accompany the many different cultures and rituals associated with the needs of each individual family.”

Christine is a member of the Academy of Funeral Service Practice, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, and served as the Past President of the Essex, Union and West Hudson Funeral Directors Association, a member organization of the state-wide association, the NJSFDA. She is also active in the National Funeral Directors Association; as well as the National Association of Professional Women. You may reach her either by phone at 732-658-3289; or by email, using the form on our Contact Us page.
Neal Patel, Senior Assistant/Public Relations

Currently Neal Patel* is a full-time student pursuing a Master's Degree at Rutgers Business School – Newark and New Brunswick, majoring in marketing and supply chain management, with a minor in psychology. Prior to entering Rutgers, Neal studied abroad at the University of Queensland, in Brisbane Australia, as well as John Cabot University in Rome, Italy.  

He is fluent in Gujarati, and familiar with all aspects of South Asian, Hindu and Buddhist funeral customs. In his duties as a part-time employee of Ruby Memorial, Neal is an invaluable asset to everyone we serve. That's why we're delighted he plans to continue working with Ruby Memorial after obtaining his degree.

* Mr. Patel is unlicensed and not qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct funerals.
Maryann Malak, Registered Intern
New Jersey Intern Registration No. I-1026-30/07


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