Board Installation - Oct. 8th, 2024

Smiling faces from the Hillside Memorial crew greet attendees

In the late afternoon of October 8th, funeral professionals and beloved vendors gathered together for the LACFDA’s annual installation of the board and its officers. It was a warm and sunny autumn day, as sounds of a swinging jazz trio drifted along the breeze, just outside the chapel at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. The Man of the Hour would be Hillside’s very own Russell Chemerisov, the LACFDA’s soon-to-be installed President!

Upon arrival, guests were greeted by generous helpings of hors d'oeuvres, live music and the usual camaraderie that accompanies these gatherings. And many during the evening bought tickets for the 50/50 raffle benefitting the LACFDA Mortuary Science Student Scholarship fund.

After a bit of socializing, it was time to settle in for the main event. A moving invocation was delivered by Rabbi Mari Chernow, Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel of Hollywood. Outgoing President, Isis Huckins, shared a brief message of gratitude for everyone’s support during her year as president. She expressed her excitement to see the evolution and growth of the board under Russell’s leadership. Hillside’s General Manager, Rafael Ochoa, gave a warm welcome, and words of support and congratulations to Russell. Before moving on to the installation, those present took a moment to honor funeral director and embalmer, Kristi R. Sault, of All Souls Mortuary. A beautiful In Memoriam tribute on behalf of All Souls was shared in remembrance of her recent passing. One last bit of business was conducted just prior to the installation: Sean Douglass came forward to lead a vote that the LACFDA bylaws be changed to allow 2 vendor members to sit on the board of directors. All were in favor, and the proceedings continued.

The election and installation of the board of directors and its officers was conducted by CFDA’s current President, and Hillside’s mortuary manager, Jenna Moerk. New board members, Brittany Holtson (Guided Transitions), Donna Misterly (Prince Charters), and Mike Selvidge (Steri-Clean), and Krystin Avakian (Walters Mortuary Services) were the first to be installed for a 3-year term. We all look forward to working with them and appreciate the variety of experience they will bring to the LACFDA board.

New and returning LACFDA Board Members swear In

Steve Espolt, Chanell O’Farrill, Karen Washington, Fred Nalder, and Sean Douglass were reinstalled to complete their terms of service on the board. Raymundo Perez Plascencia was installed as Secretary, and Ashley Menear was installed as Vice President. Isis Huckins will serve in the position of Immediate Past President. And as our immediate past president, Isis, was presented with a commemorative plaque for her leadership during the 2023-2024 year.

It was truly special to have Jenna Moerk install Russell Chemerisov into his role as LACFDA President. She has long sung his praises as a valued employee and exemplary funeral professional. She brought him onto the LACFDA Board of Directors just a few years ago, where the rest of us soon got to see his passion for being of service, firsthand. And if you know Russell, you’ve seen it too. In his acceptance of this new role, he spoke of his goal for the LACFDA to expand our membership, his want to build more of a working relationship with the OCFDA, and the intent to raise scholarship funds for the Mortuary Science students of Cypress College.

Jenna, Ray, Russell and Chanell

The LACFDA is in great hands! We look forward to offering more ways to better serve our members while continuing to be a resource and voice for our fellow professionals.

A beautiful view at Hillside Memorial Park & Mortuary