CRABIEL HOME FOR FUNERALS - Milltown

Paulette is a dedicated member of many professional and charitable organizations. She is a member and past chairwoman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board in New Brunswick, a member of the Elijah"s Promise Advisory Board, a longtime member and Past President of the Milltown Lions Club, Past President of the Milltown Chamber of Commerce, a member of the historical Metlar Bodine House Museum in Piscataway, member of the Elks BPO Lodge 324, a honorary member of the Milltown Fire Department and a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxillary in Milltown.

Professionally she is a Member of the NJ State Funeral Directors and can proudly say that she is an association member and past secretary of the Middlesex-Somerset County Funeral Directors Association. Paulette"s pride and passion is providing an exceptional Life Celebration experience for the Milltown community and the surrounding area.

Paulette and her dedicated staff welcome all faiths and cultures to experience the difference at The Crabiel Home for Funerals. Their motto has always been, "Where the Personalized Service Makes the Difference." Paulette spoke about her passion and philosophy with the following message: "As a funeral director, I provide comfort to family and friends of the deceased, arrange details and handle the logistics of funeral and cremation services.

Through personal interviews with the deceased"s family, I guide them toward the most meaningful funeral or cremation service. After these choices are made, I help arrange the clergy members or other person who will officiate the service. With the family"s assistance, I establish the service location, date, and time of the visitation and viewing ceremonies, memorial services and cemetery committal services.

Depending on the service choice, I will arrange for a hearse to transport the deceased from the funeral home to the final resting pace. My goal is to carry out all of these responsibilities with discretion and compassion in order to serve all of the families in my community including our traditional Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faiths, along with the Lebanese Maronite Catholic, Asian Indian Hindu, Asian Indian Christian, Orthodox Christian, Filipino, and Buddhist cultures.

It is my honor and privilege to serve your family." David graduated from the American Academy of Embalming and Funeral Service in 1955. In 1956 he opened his first funeral home, The Crabiel Home for Funerals, in Milltown. In addition he was the founder of Crabiel Inc., which operates funeral homes in central jersey: Gray Funeral Home in Westfield, Gray Memorial Funeral Home in Cranford, Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel in New Brunswick, Crabiel Memorial Funeral Home in Hightstown, and Gowen Funeral Home, LLC in New Brunswick.

He was a member of the Middlesex –Somerset Funeral Directors Association. David"s devotion to public service began in his teenage years, becoming the youngest member of the Milltown Rescue Squad. His commitment to serving the community never ceased as he was past President, and currently a 50-year member of the Milltown Lions Club.

He was an honorary member of the Milltown Fire Department and Milltown Jaycees. He was a member of St. Paul"s Church, Milltown. Dave, as he liked to be called, has also been in service as an elected official since 1960, when he became a Councilman in Milltown. He was later elected Mayor of Milltown in 1967, where he served for 11 years before being appointed to the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1978.

He became Freeholder Director in 1994 – 1995 and from 1998 to the present. While serving as Mayor of Milltown, he coined the phrase "Milltown – The Greatest Little Town in the Land". When he became Freeholder he expanded to "Middlesex County, the Greatest County in the Land". He was past president of the NJ Association of Counties, and past member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Counties.

He was Honorary Chairmanof the Melvin H. Motolinsky Research Foundation, Honorary Co-chair of the Middlesex. County Human Relations Commission, member of the Bd of Directors of the Cerebral Palsy Association, Keep Middlesex Moving, North Jersey Transporation Planning Commission, and on the Advisory Board of the Raritan Valley Workshop and Board of Trustees of Middlesex County College.

Dave was the recipient of numerous social and professional awards including: the prestigious Charles A. Lindbergh Transporation Award, the Israel Peace Medal from the State of Israel Bond Drive, the National Conference of the Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award, the Middlesex County American Hungarian Democratic Award and the Hungarian American Foundation Award.

His daughter Paulette continues his storied tradition of both funeral and public service embracing all cultures and religions throughout the community.