History & Staff

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

Our History

Our History

The history of the McBride – Foley Funeral Home begins in November 1925 when Mr. Irving C. Pettit graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia. Mr. Pettit then worked for several years in the Paulsboro area as both a Funeral Director and House Painter. Around 1930 a friend of his showed him a property at 228 West Broad Street that he purchased to operate as the Pettit Funeral Home. 

In 1955 Allen C. McBride was hired by the Pettit Funeral Home as an apprentice. Allen was a 1954 graduate of Pitman High School, and was attending Eckels College also pursuing a Funeral Degree. After graduation, Allen married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Ray and they moved to Greenwich Avenue in Paulsboro in 1958. Their daughter Beth Ann was born in 1964 and they moved into the funeral home in 1965. Mr. Pettit began to prepare for retirement and made Allen a partner in 1967, renaming the business Pettit – McBride Funeral Home. In 1971 Allen bought the funeral home and his second daughter, Alane Marie was born. Over the years Allen participated in many civic activities such as Paulsboro Fire Department, Paulsboro Masonic Lodge #157 F. & A.M. and the Paulsboro Kiwanis Club, and was an eighteen year member of the Paulsboro School Board, and also active in many other civic organizations. Allen was also a faithful and active member in his church. Allen continued to be active after his retirement in 1999 and he contributed his knowledge to several professional organizations and was a Charter Member of the Funeral Ethics Association and was a Past President of the West Jersey Funeral Directors Association, Delegate at Large for the N.J. State Funeral Directors Association and was a former President of the East Greenwich Senior Citizens Club. Sadly, Allen passed away in November 2009. 

Allen and Sandra raised their children in the funeral home and Beth always saw her Dad working and caring for the families he served. After graduation from Paulsboro High School in 1982, Beth attended Mercer County Community College where she graduated with an Associate’s degree and a degree in Funeral Service in 1986. Over the following years the business continued to grow and serve its surrounding community. In 1995 a spacious addition was added to the funeral home and Beth joined Allen as a partner, and now the business was known as the McBride – Foley Funeral Home. In 2000, Beth and Tom purchased the funeral home from Allen upon his retirement and continue to maintain the family owned and operated tradition.

Beth also followed in her Father’s footsteps with a strong sense of civic pride, and she continues to be active in her church, Clonmell Methodist where she teaches Sunday School to high school aged children. Beth holds memberships in the Swedesboro Order of the Eastern Star, Greater Paulsboro Chamber of Commerce where she was a Past President, she was also past Treasurer of Paulsboro Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, and also a Charter Member and past three term President of Gibbstown, Paulsboro and East Greenwich Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Little Red Schoolhouse Association. Beth also maintains many professional memberships including the National Funeral Directors Association, West Jersey Funeral Directors Association and also was a Charter Member of the Funeral Ethics Association.

While attending Bible study in 1990, Beth and Tom Foley were introduced. Tom was raised in nearby Mt. Royal and was a 1984 graduate of Kingsway Regional High School. He is an alumnus of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management of Widener University and a 2000 graduate of Mercer County Community College’s Funeral Service program. Beth and Tom were married in 1993 and have two children, Laura Beth and Emma Kate.

Tom has continued the family tradition of community service and for five years served as Captain of the Paulsboro Volunteer Fire Department. Currently, he is a member of East Greenwich Township Fire and Rescue where he is the third generation of his family to serve as a fireman. Tom is a delegate to the New Jersey State Firemen’s Convention and an Exempt Fireman. He is also a member of the Clarksboro Masonic Lodge #87 F. & A.M., Excelsior Consistory, Collingswood and Past President and Charter member of the Gibbstown, Paulsboro and East Greenwich Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow and a board member of the Greater Paulsboro Chamber of Commerce.  Tom is also a member of Clonmell United Methodist Church, Gibbstown.  Professionally he also maintains membership in both the National Funeral Director’s Association and the West Jersey Funeral Director’s Association.

Together, Beth and Tom strive to serve the local communities and continue to participate in many civic and professional organizations. Both have achieved Certified Funeral Service Professional status through continuing their funeral service educations.