Scott DeMarco wanted to work in the funeral industry since he attended his first funeral at 11 years old. This September, DeMarco opened his own cremation business — All State Cremation and Funeral Care, at 47 Washington Avenue in Seymour.
DeMarco recently spoke with the Valley Indy about the changing face of the funeral business.
Valley Indy: What got you into this business?
DeMarco: I always knew I wanted to be doing this since I was 11 years-old. I went to my first funeral and realized that that was what I want to do.
Valley Indy: What would compel an 11 year-old boy to want this?
DeMarco: I don’t have an exact answer. I can recall looking at everything and being mesmerized — especially the way the funeral director handled himself and the situation. What I recall is the calmness of the procedure and how the director looked like he had everything together like a perfect situation. I saw him in his suit and tie and looked up to him. I don’t know the exact words, but I just took it all in.
Valley Indy: Why did you choose to specialize in cremation?
DeMarco: Because I have seen the face of the funeral industry changing. Maybe traditional funerals are changing because people are not staying in the same area. People are also not as religious as they used to be and a lot of baby boomers are looking for a celebration.
Valley Indy: How so?
DeMarco: They do the cremation, but may not want the traditional funeral services, such as the wake. The cremation gives them more options of what they want to do — such as where to scatter their remains, or do something at the gravesite or take the remains and keep them on the mantle.
Valley Indy: You don’t actually provide the cremation, do you?
DeMarco: No. The funeral home is the middleman between the client and crematory.
Valley Indy: What does your job consist of?
DeMarco: I get a call saying someone has passed and I might go to the hospital or home and pick up the deceased and bring them back to the funeral home. I then arrange for the family to sit down and make arrangements. With cremations, there is a 48-hour waiting period from the time of death until the cremation. It’s a state law.
Valley Indy: Why is that? Do funerals have the same time period?
DeMarco: No. That’s because cremation is final. It gives the family time to decide if that is what they really want.
Valley Indy: Isn’t it all pretty much final?
DeMarco: Yes, but with a traditional funeral, if there is any question regarding the death then the body can be exhumed. But, with cremation, it is permanent.
Valley Indy: How do you handle such a sensitive job?
DeMarco: It has to be a calling. When I am working, I feel at ease. You know looking at the person that they are at peace.
Valley Indy: What did you do before this?
DeMarco: Before this, I worked in my family business. We had a laundry business and cleaned for hotels and convalescent homes. In 2001, most of our business was out of New York. After 911 it affected the company because not so many people were visiting New York, and that put us under.
Valley Indy: So, how did you get started in the funeral industry?
DeMarco: I went to school at 32 years old to get a degree in the mortuary services.
Valley Indy: Where did you go?
DeMarco: I went to Briarwood College, which they now call Lincoln Tech. But before I started school, I was a security guard at the Hospital of Saint Rafael. Over the years I tried to talk to funeral directors that would come to the hospital. They would say it was nice that I wanted to be one but wouldn’t offer help until I met the late Nello Pinzi and he took an interest in me. I went over to his funeral home before I started school so I could see what the business was like to see if I can handle it. I worked with him for the summer, started school that September and continued working full time with him while attending school full time.
Valley Indy: Then what?
DeMarco: I started an apprenticeship for the same people for one year. I became a funeral director in 2005, but I had to pass a state and national board. After you get your degree, and within a year of your apprenticeship, you have to take a state and national test. You also have a practical test — a state investigator comes in and watches you to see how you handle the practical end such as embalming.
Valley Indy: You said something earlier about preplanning?
DeMarco: Yes. Some people don’t want to have their family go through the trouble of planning for a funeral. They don’t want to do it to their family so they preplan it themselves. You can preplan any funeral.
Valley Indy: How much does a cremation cost?
DeMarco: It starts at $1,198.
Valley Indy: Any last comments?
DeMarco: Just that we offer a simple, affordable and dignified service. Also, this is more of a blessing and something I wanted to do my whole life. A dream come true. I want to help people during their worst time, comfort them and make this process easier for them.
Scott DeMarco is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. He can be reached at 203 – 888-7002. All State Cremation and Funeral Care is online at www.allstatecremationct.com.
