The knowledgeable staff of Laurel Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park are passionate about providing families guidance and support during the funeral planning process as well as long after the funeral. Together, we can honor your loved one’s life while beginning your grief journey.


Emily Bearden

President & CEO

  

I am honored to follow in the footsteps of my father (the late Hugh G. Bearden II) and grandparents (the late Hugh G. Bearden and Maxine Bearden) by serving families in the DFW metroplex at their time of need. My family has a long-standing history of helping families in the area honor their loved ones through pre-need and at-need funeral services and celebrations of life. I strive to perpetuate my father's legacy of providing individuals with the support they need during their toughest times.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

photo
Summer Pierce General Manager
photo
Carmen Perales Funeral Home Manager
photo
Jennifer Rankin Office Manager
photo
Shannon Bunch Funeral Director
photo
Frances Duzick Funeral Director
photo
Erick Thompson Embalmer
photo
David Marlow Embalmer
photo
Irene Rodriguez Receptionist
photo
Albert Gonzalez Family Service Counselor
photo
Erika Dillanes Family Service Counselor
photo
Erin Villa Funeral Assistant
photo
Octavio Sepulveda Funeral Home Runner
photo
Thomas Jackson Funeral Assistant
photo
Malone Jackson Funeral Assistant
photo
Vanessa Castro Funeral Assistant
photo
Mary Jiminez Funeral Assistant
photo
Riley Maynor Funeral Assistant
photo
Lidia Keith Funeral Assistant
photo
Mirian Centeno Domestic Engineer
photo
Vicente Alonso Park Superintendent
photo
Benjamin Esequen Park Staff
photo
Rafael Hernandez Park Staff
photo
Alex Patzan Xetey Park Staff
photo
Teofilo Sec Park Staff
photo
Eliecer Xetey Park Staff

Summer Pierce

General Manager
photo

Carmen Perales

Funeral Home Manager
photo

I was born in Tampico, Tamps., Mexico and raised in Dallas, Texas. I received a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of North Texas in 2005. I worked for a nonprofit law firm for twelve years before changing career paths. I graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in September 2020. I am a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Dallas 44 Lodge. I rediscovered my passion for helping others while working at Laurel Oaks. I love serving families in our community and being able to provide a sense of comfort during their difficult times. In my spare time, I love traveling with my husband and spending time with family, friends and our two small fur babies, Rumi and Vera.

Jennifer Rankin

Office Manager
photo

I grew up in Elmo, TX and attended Wills Point schools. I currently live in Terrell, TX. I enjoy working at Laurel Oaks because the staff is like family. I have 2 daughters, Jaden who attends UTA and Jersey who is a senior at North Forney High School. I enjoy spending time with my kids and traveling with my friends.

Shannon Bunch

Funeral Director
photo

I was born and raised in Barbourville, KY where I grew up singing and playing the piano in local churches.  As I continued pursuing a music career I also worked as a funeral attendant in my hometown for several years.  While I still travels nationally as a gospel music recording artist I am currently enrolled in Amarillo College Mortuary Program where I will receive my funeral director’s certificate in 2021.  I’m honored to be an employee at Laurel Oaks Funeral Home .  I love the families we serve.  I strive each day to share God’s love and compassion to those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. 

Frances Duzick

Funeral Director
photo

I am from the Dallas area and love to serve the surrounding communities. I am a graduate of Dallas Institute of Funeral Service with my Associates of Applied Science in Funeral Service and hold a licenses in funeral directing, a provisional liceense in embalming as well as my crematory operator license. My passion has always been helping others and I have found great honor in caring for families and their loved ones. Laurel Oaks Funeral Home has welcomed me with welcome arms and I enjoy working with my team.

Erick Thompson

Embalmer
photo

David Marlow

Embalmer
photo

Irene Rodriguez

Receptionist
photo

I was born and raised here in Dallas, Texas. I am the proud daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Korean War. In 1985, I married and now have five loving adult children and am a grandmother of eleven grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. At Laurel Oaks, I am the bilingual Funeral Home receptionist and I truly enjoy my work here very much. 

After losing my son in 2019 and my father shortly thereafter, I lost all confidence, but God has given me peace and comfort since coming here to Laurel Oaks Funeral Home, knowing I’m not alone in my pain. I look forward to contributing my best service for many years ahead, as it is an honor to serve the families and a blessing to help others in the time of the loss of a loved one - 2 Corinthians 1:3-8.

Outside of work, I enjoy peaceful quiet time with God and seek Him at my every opportunity. I also enjoy the outdoors: camping, traveling, gardening, not to mention cooking, watching football - Go Cowboys! - and, most importantly, spending time with my family.

Albert Gonzalez

Family Service Counselor
photo

Erika Dillanes

Family Service Counselor
photo

Erin Villa

Funeral Assistant
photo

Octavio Sepulveda

Funeral Home Runner
photo

Thomas Jackson

Funeral Assistant
photo

Malone Jackson

Funeral Assistant
photo

Vanessa Castro

Funeral Assistant
photo

Mary Jiminez

Funeral Assistant
photo

Riley Maynor

Funeral Assistant
photo

Lidia Keith

Funeral Assistant
photo

Mirian Centeno

Domestic Engineer
photo

Vicente Alonso

Park Superintendent
photo

Benjamin Esequen

Park Staff
photo

Rafael Hernandez

Park Staff
photo

Alex Patzan Xetey

Park Staff
photo

Teofilo Sec

Park Staff
photo

Eliecer Xetey

Park Staff
photo