A Native of New York, having been born and raised in New York City 's Lower East Side, Anthony became the third generation of the Lanza family to work in funeral and cremation service. Upon earning his director's license in 1967, Anthony and his life-long business partner, Lewis Rovegno, began in earnest to build on the foundation of work his parents had done. Together they have expanded the firm to include funeral homes in all five boroughs of New York City.

One can only imagine how proud Anthony was on the day his son Michael joined the firm as a licensed funeral director; making it four generations of family members serving their community as funeral directors. He and Michael now operate the Colonial Funeral Home on Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp. This outstanding facility was renovated in 1995, and won six Chamber of Commerce building awards that year. Ten years later, the Colonial Funeral Home remains Staten Island's premier funeral facility.

Certainly the successes of the past decade are due to the men behind the day-to-day operation of the business. Anthony's membership in the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association, the Staten Island Funeral Directors Association and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce ensures a high standard of ethical professional business practice and expertise.

Michael has learned much from his father who is truly an inspiration, both to his son and to the members of the close-knit New Dorp community. Anthony Lanza is deeply committed to helping those people and agencies in need, as a generous contributor to many local charities as well as reaching out to individuals to could use a “helping hand” during times of family crisis.

Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, Colonial 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 any of our family funeral homes in Staten Island and New York City 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.

The Colonial Funeral Home Story