About Us
Our Staff
John F. Cardoza is the present owner and director of Bell Funeral Home, Inc. He joined the staff upon graduating from New England Institute of Anatomy 1964 and purchased the business in 1974. He was born on September 3, 1942- the son of Paul Cardoza and the late Isabelle M.M. (Lopez) Cardoza and the late Josephine E. (Phillips) Cardoza. His daughter, Christine, is a director and manager of the funeral home. John is a native of Providence, RI and a grandson of the late John F. Lopez, a funeral director and civil rights activist in Providence for over 40 years, until his retirement. Mr. Lopez was the owner of Lopez Funeral Chapel.

John F. Cardoza is an active member of the Cathedral of Saint John Church. He is a member of Otha Boone Lodge #931 I.B.P.O.E.W. Elks, a Past Exhalted Ruler, Past Grand Exhalted Ruler and Past State President and held several positions in his State Association. He is a Past Worship Master of Celestial Lodge #2 F&A.M. P.H. A., a 33 rd degree Mason, Shriner, and a Past Grand Master. He has received many community awards. He is also a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association; as well as a long time member of the International Order of the Golden Rule.

Christine M. Cardoza was born in Providence, RI on February 16, 1974.  The daughter of John F. Cardoza and Beverly A. (Carvalho) Cardoza.  She graduated from Saint Raphael’s Academy in 1992.  Christine graduated from Mount Ida College in Newton, MA in 1999 with an Associate in Science and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Bereavement Counseling.  Upon graduation, she joined her father at the Bell Funeral Home.  In 2000, she received her funeral director’s and embalmer’s license.  She is now in charge of most of the day to day operations.  Christine is very skilled in the art of cosmetology and funeral service pre-arrangement presentation.  She has held funeral service seminars in other states.  Her father stated “I am very proud of Christine’s accomplishments.  I feel she is an asset to Bell Funeral Home”..

"May the Work I've Done Speak for Me. "


History of Bell Funeral Home
In 1932 Andrew J. Bell Jr. established Bell Funeral Home in a store front in Providence, RI. After several years he moved the funeral home to a covered dwelling. In 1960 he purchased the present location from the Graham Funeral Homes.

Mr. Bell was a noted community activist and an outstanding citizen. In 1964 upon graduation from New England Institute of Anatomy, John F. Cardoza joined the firm as an apprentice funeral director and embalmer.

In 1965 John was hired by Andrew J. Bell, Jr. as an embalmer and funeral director until 1974. During that period he worked hard to learn as much as he could to prepare him for his next move.

In July of 1974 John purchased the business from Andrew J. Bell, Jr. upon his retirement.

After he purchased the business John began to set his sites on the future. He made several improvements to the facility. He has added a new dimension to the building while still retaining the original charm of the Queen Ann Victorian Mansion which symbolizes a vanishing area of architecture in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bell Funeral Home is a multi cultural funeral establishment serving the African American, Spanish, W. African, Asian and Cape Verdean communities and other cultural groups that are part of the greater Rhode Island community. Bell Funeral Home is noted for their ability to ship to any foreign country without assistance from a third party shipping firm. They have shipped persons for final interment to all Spanish speaking countries as well as Vietnam, Turkey, India, Haiti and several Caribbean countries.

When excellence in funeral service is desired Bell Funeral Home is the funeral home most often called on in Providence and surrounding areas of Rhode Island.

Please Note: There is no relationship between present owner and original owner.