New Jersey State Assemblyman John M. Bramnick was on hand at the Cranford Board of Education’s work session meeting at the Lincoln School on March 14 to honor local funeral director Charles Dooley.
Dooley, the owner of Dooley Funeral Home, located at 218 North Avenue, assisted the Cranford School District in providing funeral services for the father of two district students. The family, though not mentioned by name, had fallen on hard times and was unable to come up with the funding for a funeral.
“They had no money at all to bury their father and their husband. I was so desperate to help this family that I reached out to Assemblyman Bramnick, who is very gracious,” said Cranford Superintendent of Schools Gayle Carrick. “He got me in touch with the Undertakers’ Association. John was kind enough to give me a couple names.”
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One of those names belonged to Dooley, who rushed to provide his services as soon as he heard from the superintendent.
“I called up Mr. Dooley and explained the situation,” said Carrick. “In his soft, gentle voice, he said, ‘bring her over.'”
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Dooley handled a difficult situation with caring and compassion, and was commended for it by Bramnick, who awarded Dooley with a certificate at the meeting, as well as several board members.
“Mr. Dooley couldn’t have been kinder, more gracious, and more respectful," said Carrick. “He embodied all of those qualities that Cranford is so known for.”
“In a time when you touch so many people in death, you give life to so many. The family that you touched will always remember that kindness, and they’ll pass it forward at some point in their lives, I’m sure,” added board member Camille Widdows. “You didn’t make a business decision, you made a Charlie Dooley decision. That is the most valuable gift that you can give, and that’s the gift of yourself.”
It was a great moment for a man known around town as someone who is constantly giving back to the Cranford community.
“We know him as a friend, as a co-worker, as a scout leader with us, as a dad and community member, and as a fencing coach,” said Widdows. “We don’t get opportunities to acknowledge the man that stands in front of us. In a business that deals with some of the saddest times in people’s lives, I’m sure people don’t recognize what it takes to make everything go smoothly in that business.”
It was a proud moment for Dooley, who was honored to have his family name recognized by an esteemed group of his peers.
“I can tell you that this means a lot to me, and it would have meant a lot to my grandfather, who ran the funeral home for years, and my great-grandfather,” said Dooley.
Dooley also recognized the challenge that the district, namely Superintendent Carrick, took on in dealing with this situation.
“The real hard work, in this case, was done by Dr. Carrick,” said Dooley, who also credited the school staff and PTA at the Orange Avenue school for helping respond to the situation.
