The renovation of Carroll Garden's old Raccuglia Funeral Home continues apace. The neons signs are gone (but will return) and the stone facing on the first floor has been ripped off (and will not return) and the fake, white brick facing on the upper levels has also been scraped away (never to return—I hope).

One happy circumstance of all this work is the revealing of a long-hidden, embedded, stone street sign. It's been much ravaged, but one can still discern that this is the corner of Court Street and Sackett Street. I hope they don't cover it up again.

For a quick reminder, here's how the place used to look:

More Raccuglia Funeral Parlor News

I visited the Raccuglia Funeral Home on Court Street in Carroll Gardens to find out more about the construction and refurbishments that are being perpetrated on the building, including the removal of the iconic neon sign. I was very relieved to find out that the business has not changed hands. The building is merely getting a much needed renovation, and the neon sign is being fixed and will return.

Racugglia Funeral Home Takes Down Old Neon Sign

The Raccuglia Funeral Home, one of the oldest businesses in Carroll Gardens has taken down the classic vertical neon sign that has for decades hung off the corner building. No word yet on why this was done. But it's unlikely it's being sent out for repair. After all, the lights haven't worked for 20 years. Why would they fix it now.

The sign has been fairly obscured for the last few years owing the the scaffolding that has surrounded the building for what seems like an eternity. (You can see what the sign looked like in better days below.) I have wondered for a long time what's up with the "remedial repairs" on the building, as indicated on the DOB records. I've never seen workers make a single repair to the structure. It's not like Racugglia can't afford the work. That funeral home is never not busy.

Latest Beauteousness from Raccuglia & Son Funeral Parlor

Today on Court Street in Carroll Gardens.

Who Died at Marco Polo?

A reader ever watchful of Raccuglia & Sons Funeral Home displays forwarded me this picture. Does anyone know who died over at the Carroll Gardens eatery?

More on Mary the Crossing Guard

I took a closer look at the floral memorial to "Mary the Crossing Guard" which both hangs at the corner of Carroll and Henry Streets and honors Carroll and Henry Streets. The work is indeed that of Raccuglia & Sons Funeral Home—a rare piece seen outside the environs of their Court Street establishment.

Also, there's a little laminated message explaining who Mary was. Mary was Mary D'Angelo. She died on August 2. Her note to us from beyond reads (punctuation hers): "I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun Of happy memories that I leave When life is done."

The display is quite intricate. Many buds are involved, all lacquered into stiffness.

Here's to you, Mary. I, for one, found something to smile at in your floral afterglow.

Mary the Crossing Guard Gets Her Due

Raccuglia & Sons Funeral Home, always keeping up entertained, even in the dog days of August.

Here's the latest choice funeral display of theirs. There's no mistaking what the dearly departed did, or on which corner of Brooklyn she did it.

People Die But Dino Is Forever

The same reader who sent me the priceless shot of the Betty Boop-Milky Way hearse at Carroll Gardens' Raccuglia Funeral Home now delivers this shot of the final farewell to someone who really, really liked Dean Martin. As Dino so wisely said: Ain't that a kick in the head!

Raccuglia & Sons Funeral Home Takes All Kinds

It's difficult to even venture a guess as to the nature of the loved one receiving their final farewell at Carroll Garden's Raccuglia & Sons Funeral Home, seen in this picture, sent to me by a loyal and watchful reader. Betty Boop? The Milky Way candy bar logo? "Grandma Down." Were these among the deceased's favorite things?


Raccuglia, run by old time Carroll Gardener Vincent Raccuglia, is known for such outlandish flower arrangements, and for giving longtime locals the special treatment they're looking for in their time of grief. Vincent came into his business after a stay in Long Island College Hospital. He had been in a car accident at age 20, which left him in a coma for a year. After he recovered, he took a job at LICH as a kind of greeter, comforting neglected patients, feeding them meatballs and minestrone. This interest translated easily enough in a curiosity with death and the deceased. A funeral director was born.

Anyone who lives in Carroll Gardens knows that, when Raccuglia is doing a funeral, he owns his corner of Court and Sackett. Traffic-regulated signs are posted in the street, stretch limos are everywhere and men in dark suits keep things running smoothly. The building is rather handsome and austere, although it's been obscured by scaffolding for almost two years now. There's a great vertical neon sign on the building's corner reading "Funeral," with a clock at the bottom (though I've never seen it lit at night, and the clock doesn't always work). You can see it below in happier times. If I'm not mistaken, the funeral home was featured in the movie "Moonstruck."

Status Quo

The scaffolding at Carroll Gardens' Raccuglia & Son Funeral Parlor remains in place after a year. I'm just saying...