Macken Mortuary- Island Park and Rockville Centre, NY - vaults, caskets, cremation, cemeteries, funerals, urns

Understanding of what the funeral should accomplish and dedication to the principle that everything possible will be done to help is our goal. Our funeral homes take pride in offering you personal attention and distinctive service. You can count on us to be a source of caring and comfort during a difficult time.

Joseph R. (Joe) Noll
President

Having grown up outside of Buffalo, New York and following a stint in the U.S.Army in the 1970s as a basic combat medic, Joe graduated from SUNY Farmingdale's mortuary science program. He completed his residence at Flinch & Bruns funeral home in Lynbrook, New York and in 1975 founded Joseph R. Noll, Inc., a funeral trade service firm. He serviced the Macken's in a trade capacity for 18 years, getting to know the building and the community. In 1993, he purchased the business and moved his family to Rockville Centre.

Macken Mortuary is a family business and the Noll's are involved with its operation. Chief bookkeeper and decorator is Joe's wife Jeanne(nee Hetterich). Kristen, age 24, just completed her studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She announced her engagement to Joseph Honeycutt; this past December and they plan to marry in September 2004. The other three Noll children regularly help out at the funeral home. Michael, age 16 is attending Chaminade High School. Lauren, age 15, is attending Sacred Heart Academy. Jenna, age 12, is attending St. Agnes Elementary School. They all assist in making prayer cards and thank you notes, help place flower arrangements and keep the candy mint dishes well stocked.

Joe Noll is a man who believes in continuing education and the refinement of his skills. Then he uses those skills to help others. Past President of the Nassau-Suffolk Funeral Director's Association, which represents the vast majority of funeral homes on Long Island, he has been involved in funeral-related organizations since he began his career. He has served as an association liaison to the two counties' Medical Examiner Offices since the 1970s and has had extensive training in disaster response. He was on the NYS disaster response team to the crash of Avianca Flight 052 in January 1990; The Happy Land Social Club fire in Mach 1990; crash of US Air Flight 405 in March 1992; downing of TWA Flight 800 in July 1996. In 1993, Joe was one of five members of a Federal advance assessment team the Clinton Administration sent to Harden Cemetery in Missouri after a levee broke dislodging 1200 bodies. As part of the first group to qualify as members of the Federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), Joe has had continuous training and took part in the making of the Federal Government's first DMORT training film. He has served as Deputy Team leader and as Administrative Officer for DMORT Region Two, which can respond to disasters in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He is also a member of the New York State Executive Disaster Committee.

Recently, in 1999 Joe responded to the crash of Egypt Air Flight 990 in Rhode Island and the Executive Air crash in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 2000. During the Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Joe and 600 DMORT colleagues worked at the New York City Medical Examiner's Office and at the family assistance center for three months. Other DMORT members stayed on for a year following. They assisted with identification, DNA sampling, evidence gathering, family interviews and administrative functions for the return of victims to their families. We were all very proud to have been able to assist our fellow Americans during this awful time in our Nation's history. "I couldn't do it without family support and the people that we work with. When deployed, you have to rely on dedicated staff to conduct business as usual. We are so proud and fortunate to have just that…at Macken's."

Ronald W. Clayton, Jr.

The most recent addition to the Macken Staff is Ronald W. Clayton, Jr. who has been a licensed and practicing funeral director for forty years. Ron was born and raised in Rockville Centre and still lives here. After selling the Clayton & Forbell Funeral Home which he and his father owned and operated, he became semi-retired. At the request of Joe Noll, he came out of retirement to continue serving families in Rockville Centre and the surrounding communities. He is married to Margery (nee Hostetter). They have two sons and four grandchildren.

Ron has served the Rockville Centre Fire Department in many capacities for 25 years. Other community activities include having served as President of the Rockville Centre Kiwanis Club, serving on the Planning Board of the Village for five years and as a Trustee of South Nassau Communities Hospital for twenty- three years. He is a member and Eucharistic Minister of the Church of the Ascension.

A graduate of South Side High School and the McAllister Institute of Funeral Directing. He also attended Franklin & Marshall College where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. As charter member of the Academy of Professional Service Practice, he was recognized by the Academy as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner following completion of 180 hours of continuing education credit hours.

Ron is a former member and past president of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association, former member of the Board of Directors of the Nassau Suffolk and the New York State Funeral Directors Association. He maintains current memberships in both of those associations.

Roger H. Smith
Roger is a graduate of SUNY Farmingdale earning a degree in Mortuary Science. A Licensed Funeral Director since 1985, he has been employed by Macken Mortuary since 1998. Born and raised on Long Island, Roger resides in Smithtown with his wife, Laurie, and their four children. He is the Licensed Manager of the Island Park location.

Jack Church
John W. Church, III (Jack) a member of the staff of Macken Mortuary since 1998 is a graduate of SUNY Farmingdale earning a degree in Mortuary Science. He has been licensed by the State of New York as a Funeral Director since 1976. Jack was born in Providence, Rhode Island, raised on Long Island and currently lives in Glen Cove.