Our Staff
Name: Richard J. Codey
Title: Owner Emeritus, 2013 - 2026
The late Richard J. Codey, the 53rd governor of New Jersey, was a third-generation funeral director. His family owned and operated the Codey Funeral Home in Orange for more than 100 years.
In 2012, Codey moved that location to Caldwell to be closer to the families he was serving in Essex County.
A year later, in 2013, Codey completed his purchase of the Mackey Funeral Home in Boonton and renamed it the Codey & Mackey Funeral Home. The home has served Morris County residents continuously since 1914, moving to its current location at Essex Avenue and West Main Street in 1928.
“It’s a family legacy that I’m proud of,” Codey had said of his life in the funeral industry, helping families.
Codey began his career in state government in 1973 when he was elected to the Assembly. He went on to become a State Senator in 1982 and while serving as Senate President in 2004 he assumed the governorship when Gov. James E. McGreevey resigned before his term expired. Codey retired as a State Senator and was the longest serving member in the history of the New Jersey Legislature.
Throughout his career in state government, Codey earned a reputation as an independent thinker and a champion of change to benefit the public good. He was a steadfast advocate on behalf of the mentally ill, working tirelessly to improve treatment, care and education for those with mental illness. As Governor, Codey continued to bring the struggles of the mentally ill to the forefront of the public's attention. His first official act was to establish the Governor's Task Force on Mental Health to report to him on the direction New Jersey should take in delivering improved services to its mentally ill. Codey also was successful in implementing more than 90 percent of the task force’s recommendations, resulting in a dramatic improvement in New Jersey’s mental health system.
A longtime advocate for children, Codey sponsored the nation's first statewide assault weapons ban and the nation's first childproof handgun law. As Governor, he signed landmark legislation requiring GPS tracking for sex offenders and launched an unprecedented statewide school security audit. And he authored one of the strongest packages of laws in the nation to crack down on Internet predators. He was also a vocal public health advocate, playing an instrumental role in providing affordable and accessible health care, creating a prescription drug assistance program for seniors, funding innovative cancer research programs, and signing the landmark Smoke Free Air Act into law.
Name: Erik J. Schneider
Title: Manager
Erik J. Schneider has taken on the role of Manager for Codey & Mackey Funeral Home with the passing of Governor Richard J. Codey.
He has been an integral part of our funeral home since we came to Boonton in 2013. Erik brings with him his extensive knowledge, skill and compassion, giving each family we serve the best experience he can.
He has worked in funeral service for 18 years across over 80 funeral homes throughout New Jersey, successfully growing his business and purchasing a funeral home, Newbaker, in Blairstown.
Erik is currently President of the Morris County Funeral Directors Association, sits on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, as well as serving his second term on the Laws & Regulations Committee.
