About Us

About Our Funeral Home and Our Commitment to You

The Ford family first entered the furniture business in Washington in the 1860s. In 1891, Charles Ray Ford—known to friends and workers as C.R.—became an undertaker. Like many cabinetmakers of that era, he expanded into funeral work, and his business letterhead read: “Charles R. Ford Cabinetmaking & Undertaking.”

When Charles R. passed away in 1926, his sons Fred and Charles H. continued running both the furniture and funeral businesses. Charles H. became a licensed embalmer, while Fred used his craftsmanship to create tufted casket interiors. Around the turn of the century, it was common for furniture makers to also serve as undertakers. Funerals typically took place in the family’s home.

During that time, most people were born, lived, and died in the same house. The funeral director would embalm the deceased in the home’s bathtub, and the family often dressed their loved one themselves. The funeral director would deliver the casket and transform the living room—then called the “parlor”—into a temporary funeral space, complete with drapes and chairs. A wreath with black ribbon was placed on the door to signal the home was in mourning. Funerals could last several days, depending on the family’s social standing. The final procession, led by a horse-drawn hearse, was often a grand and respectful event, with townspeople lining the streets to pay tribute as the funeral passed by.

In 1938, Charles H.’s son, Paul J. Ford, opened the Ford Funeral Home on Youmans Avenue in Washington, moving services from private homes to a dedicated funeral facility. The funeral home remained there until 1962, when it moved to its current location at 234 W. Washington Avenue. The building, originally built by the Cornish family around the early 1900s, offers a warm, home-like atmosphere and ample parking for guests.

Paul Ford passed away in 1969 at the age of 57. His wife, Harriet, kept the funeral home running with the help of local directors. In 2001, the Maguire family purchased the business. Richard Maguire, a licensed funeral director, now operates it under the name “Warren Hills Memorial Home.” He was immediately drawn to the building’s welcoming feel and understood why the Ford family had chosen it decades earlier. The Maguires have since restored the building and believe that every family should feel at home—whether pre-planning or saying goodbye to a loved one.

While cleaning the attic, Mr. Maguire discovered funeral equipment once used in home-based services. Items like the original embalming machine, velvet drapes, a casket lamp, and folding chairs were still in excellent condition, packed neatly in large black steamer trunks. He donated the collection to a horse-drawn carriage museum in New Tripoli, PA.

He also found Paul Ford’s 1937 embalming and funeral directing license (No. 1562) and Charles R. Ford’s Board of Undertakers license (No. 40)—making him the 40th licensed undertaker in New Jersey. These documents had been discarded in the attic but are now proudly displayed in Mr. Maguire’s office. Another discovery was a funeral log dating from 1900 to 1924, listing the names of many of Washington’s early residents—including names now seen on local street signs. The Cornish family, for example, appears often in the records.

Mr. Maguire is honored to carry on the tradition of care and service the Ford family began and looks forward to continuing their legacy in the Washington community.