About Us

About Us

Warren J. Fitzgerald

In 1963, Warren J. Fitzgerald, Sr. proudly established the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, right in his hometown of Cohoes. A life long resident of Cohoes, Warren graduated from the former Keveny Memorial Academy and Simmons Mortuary School of Science in 1960.

Warren was a caring and compassionate individual who was very generous to his communities and charitable organizations. He was well respected by his peers, business associates, affiliations, community and the parishes and families he respectfully served. He operated the funeral home with dignity, grace and utmost dedication until his passing in September, 2014. 

Donna Fitzgerald Demarse

Manager & Licensed Funeral Director

Donna's hometown is Cohoes; she graduated from Cohoes High School in 1976. Attended Hudson Valley Community College and received an Associate's Degree in Medical Laboratory in 1982. She worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist at Albany Medical Center in the Clinical Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology Laboratories for 17 years.

Donna returned to Hudson Valley and received her Associate Degree in Mortuary Science and became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1996 then joined her father at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ltd. Her purpose is to provide compassionate, personal service, attention to detail while maintaining the utmost dignity and professionalism. She is a member of the Cohoes - Waterford Elks, Lodge 1317 and was a past board member serving on the Cohoes IDA for many years.
Nicholas J. Brendese
 Licensed Funeral Director
A native of Waterford, Nick is a 2001 graduate of LaSalle Institute in Troy. He received his BSBA from Catholic University in Washington, DC in 2005 and earned his degree in Mortuary Science from Hudson Valley Community College in 2006. He is also a Nationally Certified Pre-Planning Funeral Consultant.

Nick is a second generation funeral director who has worked alongside his parents serving local families all his life. He endeavors to continue their legacy of kindness as well as unsurpassed care and attention when it matters most. He is an active volunteer at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, a member of the Waterford Knights of Columbus Council #237 and currently serves as Secretary of the Capital District Funeral Directors Association.

"ALWAYS and ALL WAYS Serving Professionally with Compassion"

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and cremation options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.
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