Meet Our Caring Staff

Duhaime Family ~~~~~

Christopher J. Duhaime, CFSP, CPC

President & Managing Partner

A third generation funeral director, Chris was born and raised in Bristol attending St. Ann Grammar School and St. Paul Catholic High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the former New England Institute Funeral Service College and received his license to practice funeral directing and embalming a year later.   With his experience at Funk's and in the community, he provides valuable knowledge to the families he serves. He enjoys playing goal for his ice hockey team, golf and skiing. Chris and his wife live in Bristol with their three children.

Ronald F. Duhaime

Vice-President & Senior Funeral Director

"Ron," a Bristol native, graduated from St. Ann Grammar School, Bristol Central High School, and New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts with a degree in funeral service. Upon graduation in 1964, he was employed with his parents, Edgar F. and Dorothy M. Duhaime, at the Duhaime Funeral Home in Bristol. In 1980, he purchased the Funk Funeral Home from Augustus G. Funk, a fourth generation funeral director, and in 1990, Ron purchased the Duhaime Funeral Home and merged it with Funk, subsequently affiliating the businesses with Carriage Services of Connecticut in 1996.

He is a Sub-Registrar of Vital Statistics for the City of Bristol. He served six years with the Connecticut Army National Guards as a Medical Corpsman. He is a member of National Funeral Directors Association, a member and past board member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, and a member of the Hartford County Funeral Directors Association. He is a Corporator at the Bristol Hospital; he is also a member of the Bristol Historical Society and American Legion Seicheprey Post # 2, a life member of the Franco American War Veterans Post # 22, a life member of the Bristol Lodge of Elk’s # 1010, a member of the Palos Council # 35 Knights of Columbus, an honorary member of the M.B. Roddan Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, the French Businessmen Association, and a member of St. Ann Church.

Ron has been married to Emilie (Poitras) Duhaime since 1966, and they have two sons, Christopher, who works with him in the funeral home, and Craig, employed with United Airlines in Houston, Texas, and five grandchildren, Joel Richard, Nathan Christopher, Ava Monique, Erin Elizabeth, and Rachel Elizabeth Duhaime.

Emilie P. Duhaime

Funeral Director

Emilie, born in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada, graduated from St. Ann Grammar School, Bristol Central High School, and Bristol Hospital School of Nursing and is a licensed Funeral Director. She is a member of the Quota International Club of Bristol and St. Ann Church where she is a member of the Ladies of St. Ann Society. Emilie takes pride in being responsible for the interior decorating of the funeral home. 

Emilie has been married to Ron Duhaime since 1966. They have two sons, Christopher, the firm's Managing Partner, and Craig, employed with United Airlines in Houston, Texas, and five grandchildren, Joel Richard, Nathan Christopher, Ava Monique, Erin Elizabeth, and Rachel Elizabeth Duhaime.

Administrative Staff~~~~~

Robert J. Herold

Office Manager

"Bob" was born in Oak Park, Illinois and is a 1973 graduate of Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. He earned his Master's Degree from Central Connecticut State College, New Britain. He taught eighth grade mathematics for 17 years in Bristol and Avon and joined Funk Funeral Home in 1975. He has held his position of full-time office manager at Funk since 1989. Bob and his wife, Vera, are active members of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and a number of other charitable organizations. They enjoy their granddaughters, Kasey, Kelly, and Kathryn Simpson as well as travel.

Danny Stange

Administration

Dan is a Bristol native and graduate of Bristol Central High School class of 1992, also a graduate of The New York Institute of Photography.  He enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Valerie and their cats, playing golf, Xbox, cooking and watching Formula 1 racing.

Funeral Assistants~~~~~

Mary Boyed

Funeral Assistant since 2021

Mary is a native of Minnesota and has lived in Bristol since 2019.  She enjoys traveling and spending time with her five children and five grandchildren.  She and her husband, Terry Mahoney, are active members of Hillside Community Church.  Mary's duties also include keeping our beautiful facility clean.  

Thomas Brayne

Funeral Assistant since 2021

"Tom" is a native of New Britain and has lived in Bristol with his wife, MaryAnn, since 1969.  He is a retired New Britain Firefighter and a parishioner of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Bristol.  A father of three sons and grandfather to two grandchildren, he enjoyed flying as a former general aviation pilot.  The Vietnam veteran served in the United States Army.

Robert Briatico

Funeral Assistant since 2023

This is Bob's second Funeral Assistant stint with Funk's.  Bob retired as a corrections officer with the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections.  He served Funk's from 2011 to 2016 and left to pursue full-time law enforcement with the Federal Protection Service.  He has since retired again and moved to Florida. He helps Funk's when in Bristol visiting his longtime girlfriend, Rochelle.

Don DeCarlo

Funeral Assistant since 2013

 Don retired from the Connecticut Light & Power Company after 46 years of service in the field of construction. Don is a veteran of The United States Army, who served three years while stationed in Germany. He enjoys golfing and staying very active working outside taking care of his yard. Don resides in Wolcott with his wife, Susan.

Jillian Duclos

Funeral Assistant since 2019.

"Jill" is a native of Bristol and a 1999 graduate of Bristol Eastern High School.  She attended New England School of Hairdressing where she later received her cosmetology license.  She resides in Bristol with her husband, Reinaldo, and their two sons Reinaldo IV, and Gabriel.  She enjoys the beach with her family during the summer and watching her son, Reinaldo, play football.  She also enjoys watching her son, Gabriel, do gymnastics.  Having two boys definitely keeps her on her feet.  

Joel Duhaime

Funeral Assistant since 2016

Joel is Chris' son and Ron and Emilie's grandson.  He was born and raised in Bristol and graduated from St. Anthony Grammar School and St. Paul Catholic High School, Class of 2018.  Currently residing in the funeral home's Carriage House, he is enrolled at Goodwin University pursuing a degree in Funeral Service for future licensure.  He enjoys skiing and bike riding.  

Nathan Duhaime

Funeral Assistant since 2020

"Nate" Chris' son and Ron and Emilie's grandson, was born and raised in Bristol graduating from St. Anthony Grammar School and St. Paul Catholic High School, Class of 2020, where he played varsity soccer and baseball.  He also was a forward with the Middlesex Whalers and Hartford Junior WolfPack hockey clubs.  He is presently attending the University of Tampa where he plays on the roller hockey team. He enjoys golf and snowboarding.

Joe Kelaita

Funeral Assistant Since 2003

Joe retired from General Electric after 37 years as a Senior Engineer. He is a US Army veteran serving from 1966 to 1968. Both he and his wife Cheryl reside in Bristol. 

Tyler Laird

Funeral Assistant since 2022

Tyler is a Bristol native.  He graduated from Xavier High School in Middletown.  An avid ice hockey player, the forward played varsity hockey in high school and junior hockey with the Connecticut Chiefs.  He is working for Funk's while pursuing a career in law enforcement.  He has been hired by the Hartford Police Department and is presently a cadet in Hartford PD's academy.  

Patrick Levesque

Funeral Assistant since 2021

Patrick was born and raised in Bristol and graduated from St. Paul Catholic High School, Class of 2020 where he played varsity soccer.  He is currently attending Southern New Hampshire University.  He enjoys the outdoors- boating, biking, snowmobiling.  

Tommy Lorenzetti

Funeral Assistant since 2023

Tommy is a 2021 graduate of St. Paul Catholic High School and is presently attending Rivier University in Nashua, NH studying Cyber Security.  He played varsity basketball for St. Paul's and is a member of the basketball squad at Rivier.  He is working with us during the summer and school breaks.

Funk's Hall of Fame~~~~~

Augustus G. Funk

Former Owner

"Gus" Funk (1902-1980) was the fourth generation of the Funk family to own and manage the funeral home.  He attained his funeral director's license and served as President of the funeral home from 1960 until 1980, retiring as Chairman of the Board after the purchase of the home by Ron and Emilie Duhaime.  Sadly, he died suddenly in December 1980 less than a year after retirement.  He left a widow, Dorothy, and a daughter, Greta.  He was a member of the former Bristol Baptist Church and was an avid tennis player.  

Reginald Gorneault

Retired Funeral Assistant

"Reggie" served Funk's for 33 years until retiring in 2020.

He remains active and resides in Bristol.

Clayton J. Martin

Retired Funeral Assistant

"Clay" served Funk's for 27 years until retiring in 2020.

He and his wife, Carmen,  remain active and reside in Terryville.  The Army veteran serves as a member of the Military Funeral Honors rifle salute detail.

Gerald J. Murphy

Retired Funeral Assistant

"Jerry" Murphy (1928-2020) was a New Britain native who enjoyed a long career with the Bristol Police Department retiring as a Lieutenant in 1986.  He then joined Funk's to serve as a funeral assistant for 24 years until retiring in 2010.  He was a World War II veteran serving in the United States Army.  He enjoyed travel and playing tennis.  

Donald Ouellette

Retired Funeral Assistant

Don Ouellette (1944-2021) served Funk's for 17 years until retiring in 2020.  He was raised in Bristol and attended Saint Ann Grammar School with Ronnie Duhaime.  He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam war and moved to Southington where he raised his family.  

George R. Redman

Retired Funeral Assistant

"Dick" Redman (1924-2009) was a lifelong Bristol resident and owned and operated the former Dick's Sandwich Shop on Main Street tucked between the railroad overpass and the former United Bank and Trust.  He then went to work for New Departure and joined Funk's in 1981 working for 24 years assisting the Duhaime family.  Retired from New Departure, Tarrytown, NY, he was an avid golfer and longtime member of Pequabuck Golf Club.