Licensed Staff

All of our licensed directors adhere to the highest standard of ethical practices and are committed to ensuring that all of your needs are attended to. Their commitment to the community and genuine compassion toward families are but a few of the characteristics that make them outstanding in their field. We are proud to have them on our staff.

Jim Vander Plaat, Funeral Director,  NJ LIC #3166 Email: jim@vpmemorial.com James Vander Plaat was born in 1951 to William and Wilma Vander Plaat. He is Fourth Generation of Vander Plaat Funeral Professionals and has been in funeral service for the past 35 years. A graduate of Eastern Christian High School, Kings College of New York and the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service, Jim has been a part of the Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home since 1974. Jim lived in North Haledon for over 20 years where he raised his family before moving to Hawthorne with his wife Virginia “Ginny”. He has two sons David and Nicholas, and four daughters; Kristin, Debra, Andrea and Marina. Over the years he has been active in both his community and church. He has formerly been a member of the Haledon Emergency Ambulance Corp. and the Franklin Lakes Lions Club. He has also coached North Haledon girl’s softball and Eastern Christian junior basketball. A former member of First Christian Reformed Church of Haledon, Jim is now a member of Covenant Christian Reformed Church in North Haledon where he has served as Finance Team Leader and past President of the Church. Throughout the years, Jim has been extremely generous with his donations to numerous charities and organizations in the surrounding areas and is always ready to lend a hand. In 2010 he started hosting a “First Responders Beefsteak” for the local Police, Fire and Ambulance Squads. He felt that it was his way of saying an extra “Thank You” to all those who put their lives on the line for others.

Nicholas Vander Plaat, Manager, NJ LIC #4711 Email: nicholas@vpmemorial.com Nicholas Vander Plaat was born in 1982 in Ridgewood New Jersey and is Jim’s son. He is Fifth Generation of Vander Plaat Funeral Professionals and has been in funeral service for the past six years. Nick and his wife Kristen live in North Haledon with their daughter Samantha.  They are both graduates of Eastern Christian High School. Nick received his Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Bergen County Community College and then graduated from the American Academy Institute of Mortuary Science in 2006. Nick is a member of Covenant Christian Reformed Church in North Haledon and participates there playing Bass Guitar for the “Praise Band”. He is also active at Hawthorne Gospel Church with their Sunday night service and plays guitar for their band as well and many other Churches and Organizations. He is also an active member of the Franklin Lakes Rotary. Nick is known for taking great pride in serving families with the utmost care and compassion possible in their time of need. There is not a time when he is called upon that he does not try his best to help others.