Who We Are

Lakeland Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens takes great pride in its reputation of being the leading funeral service provider in our community. Our family and staff are dedicated to ensuring that each funeral reflects the unique life of the deceased and, at the same time, is meaningful and supportive for those left behind. We offer creative ideas and options to help tailor your arrangements to suit you and your family, and we take care of all the complex details for you.

Our staff of professional funeral directors have years of experience compassionately caring for families at the most difficult time of their lives. Our goal is to assist the family in their selection of a fitting tribute to their loved one. We offer families the choice of earth burial, cremation, aboveground entombment and other memorial options that meet the family's needs. We have designed our web site to answer many of the funeral service questions that people typically have. Please call or e-mail us if you have any additional questions or comments about our firm or any aspect of funeral service.

Our Valued Staff

• 
  John Fitzpatrick, Managing Partner

  John attended SUNY @ Farmingdale, NY, graduating in 1971 with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science, and has been a Licensed Funeral Director for over 38 years. He started his career at the William M. Donohue Funeral Home, and is now the Managing Partner of Donohue Cecere. He is committed to serving the community of Carle Place and the Village of Westbury, with superior service and dedication. John is a member of Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus and the Nassau Suffolk Funeral Directors Association. His interests are golf, sports and traveling.

• 
  Thomas J. Donohue, Licensed Funeral Director

  Tommy is a lifelong resident of Westbury, where he and his wife have raised 5 children. Tommy became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1984. He received as Associates Degree in Mortuary Science from SUNY @ Farmingdale, NY after retiring from a career in professional baseball as a catcher for the California Angels. He still remains active in the Major League Baseball Alumni Association. Tommy is a member of the Nassau Suffolk Funeral Directors Association and is on the Board of the Westbury Community Development Agency.

• 
  Michael J. Cecere Jr., Licensed Funeral Director

  Michael has been a Licensed Funeral Director for over 45 years, graduating from the McAllister School in 1959. He is an exempt member of the Carle Place Fire Department, where he spent 15 years as an advanced emergency medical technician, a member of the Westbury Council #1012 Knights of Columbus, former member of the Westbury/Carle Place Kiwanis and a memeber of the Nassau Suffolk Funeral Directors Association. Michael is married to Margaret and they have 4 children, 9 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

• 
  Iveliz 'Liz' Wallace, Licensed Funeral Director

  Liz joined the staff at Donohue Cecere in September of 2005 while pursuing a Degree in Mortuary Science, graduating with an Associates Degree from Nassau Community College on Long Island, NY in December of 2005. She began her Residency at the Donohue Cecere Funeral Home in February, 2006 and stayed on as a Resident Director until becoming a Licensed Funeral Director in February, 2007. Liz is active in the community, volunteering her time where needed, having special ties to the Hispanic Community and speaks Spanish fluently. She is married and the mother of one daughter, and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and gardening.