Definitely not the type of review I’d ever think I’d write, which is why it’s taken over a year for me to finally sit with myself and write it.
In November 2022, I lost my stepfather to esophageal cancer. I’d visited the traditional funeral homes in our area (The Bronx) and they all shared the common gloomy, yellow, outdated atmosphere. One place even had the price list displayed at the front desk, as if you were walking into a store, add in the monotonous greeting from the administrative person- it was awful. Luckily, my better half did some digging and found Sparrow. She had reached out and we were invited to pay them a visit to see their facility. We trekked out to Brooklyn with little expectation and low and behold we were warmly greeted and welcomed by Alexander. He greeted us softly and warmly with a big hug and a smile, then proceeded to show us their venue. It was so beautiful, it smelled clean and fresh, like incense. We then discussed the services they’d be able to provide. My dad was a simple man, and due to his terminal illness had made it appoint that he didn’t want a public viewing. Alexander said he’d be able to make it happen. He asked a lot of questions about my dad, and continued to refer to him by name- Kevin, throughout all of our encounters. I told him about his character and the music he liked. Alexander then stated he would personally be picking him up from Calvary hospice (in the Bronx) and driving him back to Sparrow. He allowed me to share his Spotify playlist, which he’d offer to play during my private viewing once he’d been picked up and groomed and told me that we could select whatever outfit we wanted for his viewing and cremation- to which we chose a pair of jeans and a black Tshirt with a giant skull and flames, in true biker fashion, as my dad would have opted for. On the scheduled day of his viewing, we walked into the facility once again, pristine clean, and comforting aromas, with his playlist playing through the speakers, filling the lobby and with the sounds of 70s rock. He led us to the open area, with a glass double door ahead, and told me to enter when ready.
I walked in alone, as my mom and stepbrother chose not to view him out of grief, and my wife chose to allow me time with him first.
When I walked in, the room was lined with candles, dimly lit but somehow bright, with two chairs in front of his holding casket. It was the most beautiful room, they cleaned him up so well and made him look like he did before he’d gotten sick. His face was filled, no longer sunken in and color was somehow brought back to his skin. There he was, Skull Tshirt and a bandana wrapped around his neck, as if he was just taking a nap after a long ride on his Harley. They allowed us, what seemed like - all the time in the world to sit with him.
I am so beyond grateful for Sparrow and Alexander, who not only treated us so professionally but also made it appoint to treat the situation with class and tact- they treated him and us with dignity, and for that I will forever be grateful. Death is a hard process to accept, but it’s something we will all deal with, loss of others and others will one day lose us- but as all industries in the world change, the funeral “business” seems to be resistant of change- I’m grateful that Sparrow understands that not everyone mourns and grieves the same way. Not everyone wants to be forced to use a moldy old and outdated funeral home to attend to their loved ones. I’m glad that they are changing the look and feel of traditional funeral homes and that they remember that although it is a business, it is an emotional time for them customers, which they never once overlooked, even during time of payment- to which I might add was very very affordable for the services we received.
I never imagined I’d be so happy about with the services provided by a funeral home. I wish them the success to be able to expand to different areas, as we all deserve to have this type of care and experience after losing a loved one.
~Neko
