YP Spotlight YP Spotlight Young Professional Spotlight: Alexandra J. Caselli Alexandra "Allie" J. Caselli is a 24-year-old licensed funeral director & embalmer at Leete-Stevens Family Funeral Homes and Crematory in Enfield, Connecticut. How long have you worked in funeral service? I began shadowing local funeral directors when I was a freshman in high school to get an idea of the job, but it was not until college that I started my first official job interning at a local funeral home. In 2017, after graduating and passing the National Board Exams, I began my apprenticeship with Leete-Stevens and received my funeral director and embalmer license later that year. I have worked at Leete-Stevens since that time. Why did you begin working in funeral service? I knew from an early age that funeral service was what I wanted to do. Growing up, my parents instilled the values of community service and compassion for others in our everyday lives. It made me realize that in life I was meant to do something that would genuinely help others. In my opinion, there is no greater time in life when someone could use guidance and support from others than when experiencing the loss of a loved one. It is an absolute honor to help each family I serve and guide them through these decisions and difficult times. I genuinely want them each to know that I am here for them, no matter the time of day, from the initial call through the time leading up to the services and then throughout the time that follows. What is the most rewarding part of your occupation? Properly honoring someone's life in a way in which they would be proud. I love when families personalize their services to honor the person's life in the way in which they'd want to be remembered, whether that be through something like their favorite music or personalized 16 www.ogr.org | Winter 2022 Alexandra "Allie" J. Caselli, CFSP, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer at OGR member firm Leete-Stevens Family Funeral Homes & Crematory in Enfield, Conn. (photo provided) mementos. Each and every person is so different from another that I believe it is important to include aspects of that person's life rather than just following a structured procedure in which the traditional funeral would typically be run. When family members get involved in making a meaningful service to honor their loved one, then I know they are able to come together to share ideas and memories, ultimately providing them with some sort of closure or the beginning steps to finding closure, and I think it is really special that I can aide them in that process. What are your professional goals? Of course, one day I wish I could own, or part-own, my own funeral home. Realistically, though, I do think it would be a goal to one day dive into the other side of the spectrum and teach prospective students in college. On a more minor scale, my professional goal I have for each day is to work hard to make sure each family I meet is satisfied.
17 Publizr Home