funeral director and owner, Falardeau Funeral Home, Baldwinsville, New York, died November 8, 2023, at age 85. Falardeau’s passion for service extended to his roles in Knights of Columbus and Rotary, where he earned the prestigious Paul Harris Award, as well as service on various boards. Falardeau is survived by wife Helen; children Yvette, Jeffrey and Mary; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, father of funeral director Kathleen Blackstone-Tomasino and grandfather of Danielle Altaffer, all of Blackstone Funeral Home, Girard, Ohio, died December 27, 2023, at age 86.

Blackstone attended Youngstown College and worked at Ohio Leather Works. He graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and became the third generation to work for and own Blackstone Funeral Home, working with his father, Gordon, until his death, and with daughter Kathleen since 1981. He was a member of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where he was honored for 50 years in funeral service in 2013.

Blackstone was passionate about working as a special firefighter for Girard Fire Department until 1995. He also owned and operated Blackstone Ambulance Service until the fire department started its own service. He was active in the Italian Fraternal Home Club, Saxon Club and many golf leagues throughout his life.

Blackstone is survived by children Kathleen, Thomas and Sheri; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Walter E. Martens & Sons Funeral Home, Cleveland, Ohio, died January 7, 2024, at age 78. Following high school, Martens attended John Carroll University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history. He then graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he created the first PIMS bowling league. He was the second generation of Martens, along with his brother, Ed, to run Walter E. Martens & Sons.

He was involved with numerous community organizations, including Knights of Columbus Council and Cudell Improvement, a neighborhood redevelopment organization where he served as treasurer and board member.

Martens was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, the Cuyahoga County Funeral Directors Association, the Ohio Embalmers Association and the Cleveland Embalmers Association. He was also part of and a founding member of Foresight Family Funeral Homes, an organization promoting family-owned funeral homes within northeast Ohio. In 2020, he celebrated his 50th anniversary as a licensed funeral director and embalmer.

Martens is survived by wife Victoria, five children, three grandchildren and two brothers.

funeral director, O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home, Hancock, Michigan, died September 28, 2023, at age 70. Plesha served in the U.S. Army and later in the Army National Guard, finally retiring from the U.S. Naval Reserve. He continued his education at Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan, and Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. Plesha liked to keep busy and experienced many career paths throughout his life, including working at White Pine Copper Mine, as an EMT for Mercy Ambulance, Delta Air Lines, Somero Enterprises, Advance Auto Parts and various area funeral homes. He was a member of the American Legion.

Plesha is survived by wife Linda, children Jeri and Steve, three grandchildren and a great-grandson.

funeral director and owner, Maddox Funeral Home, Front Royal, Virginia, died November 24, 2023, at age 67. Maddox graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and obtained his mortuary science degree from Catonsville Community College in Maryland. He owned and operated Maddox Funeral Home for more than 40 years, being the fourth-generation family member in the funeral profession.

Maddox was a member of the Kiwanis, Rotary and the Izaak Walton League of America. He also sang with the Winchester Arts Chorale and the Blue Ridge Singers.

He is survived by wife Sharon, son Arthur, daughter Mary, seven grandchildren and two brothers.

funeral director, G.C. Williams Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky, died November 30, 2023, at age 81. Crenshaw started working for G.C. Williams in 1965 while still a student in mortuary school. He excelled as a student and served his apprenticeship under his mentor, Calvin Winstead. Crenshaw then went on to become the general manager, vice president, president and eventually owner and operator of the funeral home.

Crenshaw was a member of the Kentucky Association of Morticians, Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association and NFDA.

funeral director, J.D. Garneau Funeral Complex, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, died December 2, 2023, at age 42. Bourgeois was managing director of J.D. Garneau and very involved in his community. He was chairman of the Calmlet Suicide Prevention Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the CAB du Rivage, member of Knights of Columbus (Deputy Grand Knight), member and former president of Rotary Club of Trois-Rivières and a member of the Jean-Noël Trudel Community Recreation Centre Board of Directors.

He is survived by his great friend, André Lemarier; parents Johanne and Rémi; brother Dave; and beloved niece Aurélie.

retired funeral director and president, The Wood Mortuary, Greer, South Carolina, died November 12, 2023, at age 85. Wood graduated from Presbyterian College and was a U.S. Army veteran and third-generation funeral director, following his grandfather, John D. Wood, and father, Richard H. Wood Sr., as president of The Wood Mortuary Inc. and Wood Memorial Park. He is survived by wife Sharone, daughters Teresa and Tina, and a grandson.

part-time funeral director, Andrews Mortuary, Wilmington, North Carolina, died November 12, 2023, at age 89. Sheets graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and formerly worked at Vogler Funeral Home in Winston-Salem and Coble Funeral Home in Wilmington. He is a past board member and president of the North Carolina State Board of Funeral Service and was also a sales rep for Toccoa Casket Company in Georgia.

He is survived by wife Elizabeth, daughters Felicia and Stephanie, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, Hutcheson’s Memorial Chapel & Crematory, Buchanan, Georgia, died November 6, 2023, at age 64. Hutcheson attended West Georgia College and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He also attended Coosa Valley Tech, where he received his EMT basic and paramedic certifications. He and his wife, Patty, then opened their first funeral home in Buchanan. They went on to open a second location in 2013 in Temple.

Hutcheson was elected Haralson County coroner and proudly served in that capacity for four terms. He served as a member of the Buchanan City Council for two terms, the Buchanan Housing Authority for more than 30 years, the Haralson County Development Authority for 19 years, and more than 20 years on the Carroll/Haralson Airport Authority. Hutcheson was also a member of Buchanan Masonic Lodge #78 F&AM.

Hutcheson was a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, serving as president in 1999, and was a member of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers for many years, as well as a member of NFDA and the Cremation Association of North America. He was a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for 26 years, where he earned the certified funeral service practitioner designation and served on the academy’s Board of Trustees for six years and as president for two years.

He is survived by wife Patty, daughter Kathryn and two granddaughters.