New Cemetery to Honor Legacy of its Late Founder
DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (MARCH 19, 2020) – Members of the South Florida Jewish community will soon have a new resting place, located on the green rolling grounds of a former North Broward golf course.
King David at Fairway Memorial Gardens, South Florida’s newest cemetery in decades, will hold its official consecration ceremony on Tuesday, March 24, enabling it to be ready for Jewish burials. A dozen Rabbis and Jewish leaders from the tri-county region will gather for the inaugural ritual observance.
King David is situated on a separate parcel within the 47-acre Fairway Memorial Gardens, which opened in 2017 on the former grounds of the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course at Crystal Lake in Deerfield Beach. King David will have its own private entrance, completely Kosher burials, private family estates and opportunities for synagogue and organization sections. A new chapel to accommodate 150 people with a catering/reception area will also debut following the cemetery’s opening.
According to South Florida native Keith Epstein, General Manager of Fairway Memorial Gardens, the cemetery fulfills a growing need for the Jewish community. “Jewish cemeteries throughout the tri-county are very crowded with little available land remaining, and supply and demand have increased prices exponentially,” he said. “This is a new alternative with acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and plenty of trees, as well as extremely affordable prices.”
The new cemetery also fills a personal need — a legacy for Epstein’s late father, Rory.
Rory Epstein managed many South Florida Jewish Funeral Homes for 30 years, before his untimely death in 2018. In 2008, he co-founded Eden Funeral Home with then-business partner, Neil Levine. In 2012, when Rory Epstein became ill, his son, Keith, who was about to enter law school, joined his father’s funeral business instead. The father-son team spent the next six years serving thousands of local families in their time of need, ultimately leading to their partnership with Fairway Memorial Gardens. The duo began the groundwork for King David in early 2018; Epstein passed away shortly thereafter.
Epstein will honor his late father as the first to be buried in the newly consecrated grounds of the cemetery later this month.
“My father and I began this mission together to create a beautiful cemetery to give families peace of mind knowing they were in great care,” said Epstein. “I never anticipated that I would bury him before he could see his vision completed. We will carry on his legacy and serve the South Florida community with dignity and respect.”
Levine and with other longtime industry professionals have joined the Fairway Memorial Gardens team to honor their late colleague.
While respecting the wishes of those seeking a traditional religious burial, Epstein also aims to redefine the funeral experience, creating a more personal, customized approach to meet the needs of today’s educated customer.
“The death care industry is ripe for disruption,” he notes. “Consumers have evolved, and many want more from the funeral experience. We are prepared to accommodate personalized requests – whether it’s an eco-friendly burial, live-streamed services or unprecedented wishes. We believe it’s about providing a better funeral-planning experience.”
King David Cemetery, located at 1391 NW 45th Street in Deerfield Beach, will be open to the public on March 27th, 2020. For more information, contact (954) 633-7175 or visit http://kingdavidcemetery.com/
About King David at Fairway Memorial Gardens
Located at 1391 NW 45th St in Deerfield Beach, King David at Fairway Memorial Gardens is situated on 47 acres of quiet, beautifully landscaped burial grounds. The consecrated cemetery provides a private entrance and accessibility for Cohanim, completely Kosher Burials, private family estates, synagogue fund-raising opportunities, and a variety of additional offerings, including eco-friendly burials.
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