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.

retired funeral director and owner, Brown Funeral Homes, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, died September 15, 2023, at age 64. Brown graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and later took over the family business from his father. In 2001, he and his wife purchased Ronald C. Sheaffer Funeral Home in McAlisterville and established what is now known as Brown Funeral Homes Inc. of Mifflintown and McAlisterville.

Brown served as the fifth generation and ninth funeral director of the Brown family since the firm’s inception in 1845. He was also very proud of his son, Nicholas, for becoming the sixth-generation funeral director who continues the family tradition. Brown was a member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and the Juniata Valley Funeral Directors Association, where he served as current president.

He was a member of Union Lodge #324 F&AM Mifflintown; the Harrisburg Consistory A.A.S.R.; Mifflintown Lions Club, where he served as past president; past ­treasurer and board director of Juniata County Library; and past board of directors for Mifflin-Juniata United Way, where he had served as campaign chairman for Juniata County. Brown also served on the board of directors of Pennian Bank Fermanagh branch and was currently vice chairman of the main board of directors at Pennian, where he also was chairman of its Trust Committee and a member of the Personnel, Asset Liability, and Credit Administration committees.

Brown is survived by son Nicholas, sister Kelly and brothers Robert and David.

retired funeral director, Anamosa, Iowa, died November 30, 2020, at age 89. McBride attended Loras College in Dubuque and Indiana College of Mortuary Science and Management in Indianapolis. He was a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years, working throughout the state of Iowa; an active member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association; and a longtime NFDA member.

McBride served in the U.S. Army Arctic Services Group from 1953-56, with two tours of duty stationed at Thule Air Base near the North Pole. He received the Cold War Service Medal and was a member of the Farley American Legion; he was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by children Michael, Lynne, Margaret and Patricia.

retired funeral director and owner, Daniels Funeral Home, Burlington, Wisconsin, died May 29, 2020, at age 92. Daniels was a former member of National Guard Battery A, 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32nd Division. He began working with John Schuette at both Schuette Funeral Home and Schuette Furniture Store. Daniels graduated in 1952 from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Wisconsin funeral director and embalmer licenses. He became a partner in 1954 with Schuette, Werth and Daniels Funeral Home, and in 1975, with his wife, purchased the business. In 1991, a new funeral home was built. In 1996, McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home was purchased and later consolidated into the Schuette-Daniels location in 1997. In 1994, Polnasek Funeral home in Union Grove was purchased by Daniels and his wife and became Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home. He retired in January 2008.

Daniels served four terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and served as secretary and treasurer for one term each. He was a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce since 1954, serving twice as president, and active in many other community services, including Rotary Club since 1954; Burlington Rescue Squad for 25 years, where he earned Gold Badge membership; Burlington Savings and Loan board member; Knights of Columbus; and former treasurer of Cub Scout Packs 134 and 334.

He is survived by wife Doris; children Marjorie, Michael, Mark, Matthew (also a funeral director), Marian, Marlene, Madalyn, Marilee, Marvin, Mitchell, Marcel, Marti and Monte; foster children Greg and Michael Pieters; 45 grandchildren; and 63 great-grandchildren.

former owner, Kennedy Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died February 27, 2016, at age 70. As a funeral home manager and owner, Kennedy had more than 35 years of experience. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated from Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College in September 1966. Throughout his career, Kennedy managed funeral homes in Ada and Hugo and owned funeral homes in Okmulgee, Bristow, Wetumka, Ardmore and Marietta; he retired in October 2000. He served eight years on the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, with three terms as president; four years on the Bank of Love County Board of Directors; and on the Love County Chamber of Commerce Board of directors for four years. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One," from 1967-69, with one year of Graves Registration in Vietnam, for which he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, three Bronze Stars, two Vietnam Service Medals, one Vietnam Air Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by wife Sue; children Tara, Amber and Travis; and seven grandchildren.