Bill and Linda Brock understand how to serve people through trying times. As the owners of Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff, both were born and raised in Wyckoff--and they never left.
“I graduated Ramapo High School in 1971 and served in the Navy as a boiler technician on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt,” says Bill, who married Linda upon his honorable discharge. Linda’s dad, John C. Vander Plaat, was a third-generation funeral director who had relocated the original Vander Plaat Funeral Home in 1952 from Garfield to Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. John encouraged Bill to go back to school after his military service, so Bill attended Mercer Community College and then graduated cum laude from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City. “I’ve been working here ever since,” he says.
The Brock’s professional and personal lives are based upon serving families in their time of need. “Throughout my career, I have found it an honor and privilege to serve the Wyckoff community,” says Bill.
A lifelong volunteer firefighter in Wyckoff, Bill joined the department in 1974. He took cues from both his father and his father-in-law, who served as firefighters in Wyckoff. Bill and Linda’s oldest son, Tim, has followed the family tradition as a third-generation fireman, joining the Wyckoff Fire Department after graduating college. He served as Chief from 2017-2020.
Linda’s nursing background led her to a volunteer position on Wyckoff’s Board of Health, where she helps manage flu clinics and provides assistance to residents in need. She has been a member of the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps since 1985, where she served as Captain and is also active on the WFD Ladies Auxiliary.
“We’ve always stressed volunteerism in our family,” says Linda. “In addition to Tim’s service, my daughter Jackie volunteered with the ambulance corps and now works as a paramedic. My son, Kelly, volunteered in Wyckoff as a firefighter and now works for the New York City Fire Department.”
Running a family business while serving the community is a balancing act. The fire department doesn’t offer days off or holidays, so families of emergency services volunteers learn to understand that their loved ones may be called into action at any time. “When you have to leave Thanksgiving dinner or a birthday party to go to a call, there are usually some complaints,” says Tim. “But, we have to take responsibility. If no one goes, who will be there to help?”
The work and commitment involved in volunteer emergency service positions can be daunting, but there are also benefits. “It’s fun to be able to volunteer by doing what you love,” says Tim. “The Department is like a family—there’s great camaraderie. We know each other’s spouses and kids, and we take care of each other.”
When one of the WFD members is in need--even on a personal basis--everyone pitches in. “You call for one guy, and you get ten,” says Bill, who vigilantly listens to the scanner for emergency calls. “Sometimes we recognize the address as a friend’s house, so we just get in the car and go,” he says.
As the local funeral home proprietors, the Brock family’s presence in the community is highly regarded. In 1992 they had the honor of serving the Nixon family when Patricia Nixon passed away and were called upon again in 1994 upon the passing of President Nixon. However, no matter who they serve, Bill and his team make every effort to provide grieving families comfort, peace, and support while striving to play a role in celebrating life. “Our goal is to honor the life that was lived,” says Bill. “We are here to help families. The word ‘no’ really doesn’t exist here. We try to fulfill every family request and do what we can to make it better for them.”
Sooner or later, everyone will face the passing of a loved one. The couple notes how challenging their line of work can be when they are called to serve a family they know personally. We have been there and have dealt with it ourselves,” says Bill. “My own father’s death made me a better funeral director.”
Compassion, comfort, and community run deep at their beautiful facility on Godwin Avenue. “We’ve been given a lot,” says Linda, “and we have a lot to give back.”
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