funeral director, St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, Chalmette, Louisiana, died April 25, 2020, at age 79. Vickers graduated from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services in Houston and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1965. He was manager of Lamana Panno Fallo Funeral Home until its acquirement by Stewart Enterprises and subsequently managed and worked for St. Bernard Memorial until opening and managing his own firm, Vickers, Verrette and Dornan, from 2000-05. He was also a past two-term president of the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association.

Vickers played an instrumental role in the recovery and restoration of numerous cemeteries after hurricanes Isaac and Katrina. He was an active member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) Region VI for 20 years, as well as an instructor for the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness.

Vickers also served as a lieutenant of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, a collaborator of the Louisiana Job Training Partnership Act and a past president of the Rotary Club of St. Bernard, where he was founding chairman of the St. Bernard Junior Miss Scholarship Program.

He is survived by wife Meredith “Dee”; children John Joseph, Debra and Deral; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and founder, Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Homes, and father of Jim Vermeulen, co-owner of Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Homes in Plymouth and Westland, Michigan, died April 12, 2020, at age 88. He is also survived by wife Sylvia, son Ken, daughter Krista, 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and executive, A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, Royal Oak and Troy, Michigan, died April 20, 2020, at age 96. His wife, Sally, died April 15 at age 92. They are survived by children Lisa, Marty and Tricia; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Rodgers was brother-in-law of the late Edward J. Lynch, past president of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association; uncle of Patrick E. Lynch, past president of NFDA and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association; and other family members at Lynch & Sons Funeral Homes.

funeral director, past president of the National Association of Funeral Directors in the United Kingdom and a key participant in the ritual for presenting the President’s Medallion at the NFDA International Convention & Expo for many years, died April 28, 2020, at Maidenhead in the UK.

funeral director and embalmer, Groff Funeral Homes, Sandusky, Ohio, died April 14, 2020, at age 68. Groff attended Bowling Green State University Firelands and received his associate degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1972. After working with his father for a time, he built the new Groff Funeral Home, which opened in 1987. He continued expanding his business over the years, most recently into the Milan and Huron communities. Groff’s dedication and commitment to serving the families led him to develop Meadow Green Memorial Park in 1989, opening The Remembrance Center & Gift Gallery in 2001 and Groff Pet Loss Services in 2010.

Groff was a member of the Sandusky Elks Lodge 285, Knights of Columbus, Erie County Conservation League, NRA, Aircraft Owner & Pilots Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Embalmers Association and NFDA. In 1990, he was appointed to the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors of Ohio and served both as secretary and president during his term.

He is survived by wife Ann, children Kelly and Ashton, three grandchildren and sisters Patricia, Mary Lee and Theresa.

retired funeral director and owner, Farwell Funeral Service, Nashua, New Hampshire, died March 19, 2020, at age 93. Farwell graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and from New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Sciences, Embalming and Funeral Directing in Boston. A second-generation director, he joined his father in operating Farwell Funeral Service in 1949 and served as executive director for more than 50 years. Farwell was a member of NFDA and the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association, and a trustee of Woodlawn Cemetery for more than 50 years.

He was a longtime member and past president of Nashua Exchange Club, served on the Nashua Children’s Association Board and was a founding member of Home Health & Hospice Care. Farwell was a member of Rising Sun Lodge 39 F&AM, all Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Nashua and the New Hampshire Consistory 32nd degree; and longtime member of Granite Lodge #1 Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

He is survived by wife Bianca; children Kevin, Dana, Judith and Holly; and three grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, Celentano Funeral Home, New Haven, Connecticut, died February 11, 2020, at age 81. Celentano studied at Villanova University and San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and began working closely with his father in 1957 at Celentano Funeral Home.

The New Haven Fire Department was also a true passion for Celentano, who served on the Board of Fire Commissioners. As secretary and then president of Box 22 Associates, he coordinated the implementation of the Box 22 Firefighters Emergency Canteen, which he personally drove to multiple-alarm fires at all hours of the day and night to serve refreshments to firefighters. He received the Civilian Award from Local 825, the highest honor a person outside fire service can receive.

Celentano also served on the New Haven Fire and Police Pension Board, Hospital of St. Raphael Foundation, Greater New Haven Jaycees and International Fire Buffs Association. He co-authored the book of New Haven Firefighters as part of a series called “Images of America.” He was also a member of the Greater New Haven Funeral Directors Association and NFDA. He became a member of the Amity Club with his father and uncles, serving as its president, and was executive director of Amity Charitable Trust.

He is survived by wife Gigi; sons Mark, Robert and William III; daughter Donna; stepchildren Vincent and Melissa; and four grandchildren.

retired funeral director and former owner, Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, Kansas, died March 20, 2020, at age 85. Buoy graduated from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science and began his career at Smith Funeral Home in 1952. In 1968, he purchased Blachly Funeral Home in Jamestown, Kansas. In 1973, he became manager of Blachly & Buoy Funeral Home in Jamestown, Chaput Mortuary in Clyde and Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. Buoy retired in 2001 after a nearly 50-year career serving the needs of more than 5,000 families. He is survived by wife Jean; children Kimberly, Keenan, Angela and Jared; 11 grandchildren; and sister Barbara.

funeral director and manager, S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, Nutley, New Jersey, died April 11, 2020, at age 53. Brown, an avid motorcycle rider, was a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati and of Mercer County Community College, where he obtained his degree in mortuary science. He is survived by parents John and JoAnn, sons Tyler and Ian, sister Suzanne, former wife Cindy and companion Kimberly.

funeral director, Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, New Haven, Connecticut, died April 4, 2020, at age 70. Brown graduated from American College of Mortuary Sciences in New York City. He was president of Durham Cemetery Corporation, a member of Middletown Elks Lodge 771 and a member and volunteer for the Benchwarmers Club. He is survived by wife Margaret, son Gerald Jr., daughter Lauren, stepdaughter Sheri Lynne, stepsons Steven and Christopher, six grandchildren, ­mother Regina and brother Thomas.