Iconic NYC funeral home gets major transformation: 'Unique place in history'
NEW YORK CITY - At the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, you'll find all the luxury of upscale Manhattan living – from lush carpets and plush chairs to quiet rooms for reflection. The top floor features a roof deck with spectacular views of the city, adding to the grandeur. But what happens here is something profoundly different: it's a place designed for heartfelt farewells.

Since opening its doors in 1898, Frank E. Campbell has been a mainstay in New York City, offering dignified and compassionate services for over a century. This year, the chapel reached a significant milestone, celebrating its 125th anniversary and reflecting on its long-standing tradition of serving the community with dedication and respect.

The backstory:
The Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, a storied New York institution dating back 125 years, has been the final resting place for some of the city’s most prominent figures. Notably, the venue hosted the funerals of Beatles legend John Lennon in 1980, Hollywood star Judy Garland in 1969 and former First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis in 1994.
Historical footage from FOX 5 Archives also captured the services of rapper Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, in 1997, and R&B singer Aaliyah in 2001. The chapel continued to serve high-profile clients into the 2000s, including actor Heath Ledger in 2008, who was quietly mourned while staff shielded the event from the paparazzi, and a similar approach was taken during Philip Seymour Hoffman's funeral in 2014. More recently, it was the site for Ivana Trump’s funeral, where her gilded casket was rumored to be valued at $125,000.

"We have a unique place in history," says Bill Villanova, president of Frank E. Campbell – the funeral home located on Madison Avenue.
The venue was named after its founder, Frank E. Campbell, who pioneered the concept of celebrity funerals, starting with 1920s movie star Rudolph Valentino. This tradition of high-profile services continues to this day, cementing the chapel’s prominent role in the fabric of New York City.
Big picture view:
Recent renovations have touched nearly every inch of the five-story building, located in one of the world's wealthiest neighborhoods. The aim was to create an environment that offers solace during life’s most somber moments.
"All these mechanisms were all brought in by crane," Villanova shares about the extensive updates, which include a revamped HVAC system and interior decor changes meant to provide warmth and comfort.
"When you think about the decisions that we make in life, like where we go to college, where we live, where we vacation, who we marry, and where we get married, having a funeral is an equally and very important decision to make," Villanova says.

Villanova is proud of the new chapel, with its magnificent marble floors and Venetian plaster details that add depth and warmth to the space. A reflection of the words on Latin crests in front of the room.
"That phrase says 'Ne Obliviscaris' which translates into 'Never Forget' or 'Never Forgotten.' And that's important for us, that we never forget our sacred duty or obligation to the client families that call upon us and really to our profession," he explains.