Historic N.J. funeral home where Tony mourned his mom on The Sopranos could be demolished

Belleville officials are considering whether a historic funeral home, famously featured in iconic scenes in HBOs The Sopranos, is part of an area in need of redevelopment.

The local historical society opposes the designation, which could lead to the demolition of a building that dates back to 1885.

A resolution approved at the Sept. 27 Belleville Township Council meeting allows the local planning board to investigate whether the Irvine-Cozzarelli Memorial Home on Washington Avenue is in an area in need of redevelopment.

The 137-year-old funeral home was extensively renovated with an elaborate interior by its late owner, James Cozzarelli, said Michael Perrone, president of the Belleville Historical Society.

Cozzarelli died in 2021 after serving the community for 47 years, according to his obituary. He also had a passion for interior design and a talent for a painting technique that created the illusion of marble and stone on walls.

He spent 50 years of his life creating this place, Perrone said of the funeral home. Its second to none as far as interiors go, second to none in New Jersey.

Stephen Schirripa played Bobby Bacala as The Sopranos filmed a season at the Cozzarelli Funeral Home in Belleville in 2005. ED MURRAY/THE STAR-LEDGEREd Murray | The Star-Ledger

The funeral home was featured in multiple seasons of HBOs The Sopranos as the site of several funerals, including scenes in which Tony Soprano paid his final respects to his mother. When actor James Gandolfini, who played Tony, died of a heart attack in 2014, fans created a makeshift memorial outside the funeral home, according to Vulture.

James Cozzarelli, the funeral home owner, also appeared in the show. That led to him joining the Screen Actors Guild, according to his obituary.

Designating the property as an area in need of redevelopment, or ANOR, would allow the site to be demolished to potentially make way for apartment buildings, Perrone said. The property is under contract to be sold to the Englewood Cliffs-based Premier Developers, LLC, according to the resolution.

Premier Developers is currently constructing a separate project in Belleville, an apartment building on Washington Avenue about four blocks away from the funeral home.

The place has incredible potential, Perrone said, referring to the funeral home. And so to tear that down, is just crazy, its just crazy.

The resolution was approved 3-2, with two council members abstaining from the vote. Councilman Vincent Cozzarelli, who abstained, declined to comment to NJ Advance Media, saying he was a distant relative of the late funeral home owner.

Mayor Michael Melham, who voted for the resolution, also declined to comment.

The estate of James Cozzarelli owns the funeral home, said Frank Cozzarelli, his cousin and the estates executor.

Its currently under contract to be sold to Premier Developers, he said. The propertys sale depends on a few contingencies, but may be closed by early 2023.

Frank Cozzarelli declined to disclose the propertys price. The property was previously listed in 2014 for $1.8 million.

James Cozzarelli of the Cozzarelli funeral home where some of "The Sopranos" was filmed.Ed Murray | The Star-Ledger

The business and building itself are unique. It is a traditional owner-occupied funeral home, Frank Cozzarelli said. James lived in the lavishly decorated owners quarters on the second floor, above the business.

Its a large, beautifully appointed home, and he took great pride in his ownership of it, and how he kept it, Frank Cozzarelli said. Unfortunately, time has passed and the property needs a great deal of maintenance, in addition to upgrades to current standards.

Because there isnt one single beneficiary of James estate, the estate has been tasked with liquidating his assets, Frank Cozzarelli said.

I cant carry on his legacy. Theres nobody in the family who is a licensed funeral director that would be interested in buying it, he said.

Limited parking on site and the need to make substantial upgrades to the building dissuaded other funeral homes from purchasing it, Frank Cozzarelli said.

Cozzarelli said he knew James his whole life his cousin was a few years older than him.

These are both emotional and heart-wrenching decisions, he said.

Our familys so well-rooted in the town that we want to do something thats fitting … as best as we can given the constraints of what James will says, Frank Cozzarelli said.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Tony Sirico as Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri in a funeral scene in "The Sopranos."Barry Wetcher | HBO

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.