Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory- Perris, Hemet, Sun City, CA: burial, cremation, funeral, caskets, urns

Staff

Danette M. Hale
a resident of Perris, CA for over 20 years, graduated from Rancho Verde High School, and continued her education at Cypress Community College's Mortuary Science Program.

Danette is a dedicated Funeral Professional. Her career in the funeral service began with Miller-Jones Mortuary in November 1999. She is a licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cemetery Salesperson. Danette is the manager of the Miller-Jones Perris & Moreno Valley locations. She is also a member of the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, the California Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association (holding the office of Vice President), Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity Inc. (holding local and national offices as Treasurer), the Military Honor Detail Board of Directors (Co-Chair), the Perris Rotary Club, and the Perris Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. Danette is also an active member of the Greater New Hope Christian Church of Perris. "Our staff compares to none. We have highly trained professionals that are here to walk a family through one of life's greatest challenges."

Danette enjoys spending time with her family and friends; taking long walks on the beach and playing the "Team Mom" for her son's sports activities.

Joseph Smolinski
is a licensed Funeral Director, and the manager of Miller-Jones Mortuary in Sun City. Joe has been a funeral professional since 1994, and he says, "I've always felt that this was my calling and feel very fortunate to help people take that next step in their lives after losing a loved one." Joe returned to Miller-Jones in 2006 after working in San Bernardino County for a time. Describing his return to Sun City, he said, "This homecoming opportunity is a personal pleasure that will allow me to spend more of the meaningful minutes of the day with my family and community."

An active participant in his community, he has been a member and officer of several organizations committed to improving community life including the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club of Menifee Valley/Sun City, Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, and the Menifee Valley Medical Center Foundation. He is a member of St. Martha’s Catholic Parish in Murrieta and the Knights of Columbus.

Joe comes from a large family, having 5 brothers and 3 sisters. He is a native of Orange County, where he attended Cypress High School and Cypress College. Joe has lived in the Menifee Lakes area with his son, Kyle, since 1993.

When asked what motivates him, Joe said, "My faith in God. Spending quality time with my son, girlfriend, family and friends. Wine tasting and collecting good wine, and my love of the outdoors including camping, the beach and the mountains."

Robin Christopherson
has been a licensed Funeral Director for 20 years. He joined the Miller-Jones family in June 2004, and serves our families in Moreno Valley. Robin says, "Working in funeral service is a noble profession dedicated to service to others. With clergy and others, funeral directors help families during one of life's most difficult trials. No money can buy the personal satisfaction one feels when a family returns to express their thanks for your caring attention to their needs. At Miller-Jones, I have the privilege of working with the "A-team" where Caring and Quality is Number One."

Robin and Donna, his wife, moved to the Inland Empire in July 2003. He shared these feelings about their move, "We love our new home and the friends that we are making. There have been many adjustments, but family and church are constants we can hold onto. It helps that Donna and I are best friends and equal partners. When making the decision to move we knew it wouldn't matter where we lived, if we were together."

Robin received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the California State University in Long Beach; and completed his graduate studies for a Masters Degree in Education.

Kimberly Ward
Kimberly M. Ward is manager of the Miller-Jones Memorial Care Center, a state of the art care facility, where she supervises more than 15 employees. She is a licensed Funeral Director, embalmer and certified crematory operator. Of her responsibilities she says, "I enjoy caring for the living by creating a meaningful and appropriate opportunity for them to say goodbye to their deceased loved ones."

When asked how she made her decision to enter funeral service she responded, "I was very curious about the profession when I was 16 years old. At age 18, I was hired as an apprentice embalmer and within a few months I decided to go to Mortuary College. I attended San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and graduated with my Associates Degree."

As a part of Miller-Jones' community outreach, Kimberly is very active with her involvement in the Soroptimist International Club of Hemet-San Jacinto, where she is an officer

A native of San Jacinto; Kimberly is the middle child with 2 older sisters and 2 younger brothers. On her off days she enjoys spending time with family, riding dirt bikes and just relaxing at home.

Felica Harris
is a licensed Funeral Director at Miller-Jones Mortuary, Hemet. A native of Tennessee, she has been in funeral service for more than 25 years. Felicia received her California Embalmer's license in 1990 and her Funeral Director License in 1995. Prior to joining Miller-Jones in 2005, she was a Funeral Arranger, Embalmer, At-Need Sales Manager, and Mortuary Manager in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties.

Felicia is married to Arvelta Harris, Sr., who is a Funeral Director with Miller-Jones, Moreno Valley. Together they have three children; two adult girls and one teenage son. Felicia is also a proud grandmother of two granddaughters.

Felicia's values education, having gathered the following training and degrees: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management (BSBAM), from the University of Phoenix, graduating with Academic Honors; the Mid America College of Funeral Services, Jeffersonville, Indiana, again graduating with Academic Honors; attendingJohn A. Gupton College of Funeral Service, Nashville, Tennessee; and the University of Tennessee at Martin. Felicia has been a member of the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce since 2006.

In her spare time, Felicia enjoys spending time with family and friends. She continues to strive for excellence in her profession. Felicia's values are based on God first, family second and career third.

Tom Bloom
is the manager of the Miller-Jones Advance Planning Department. He says, "My goal is to help everyone know the peace of mind that comes from "Putting Your House in Order". What other profession can you think of where you wake up every morning knowing you will be helping families celebrate the life of someone that was very dear to them? Planning ahead is an essential responsibility each and every one of us have to ourselves and our families. .. Plan for this and save the ones you love, the emotional and financial burdens that go along with this time that certainly must come to all of us."

Giving service to people is nothing new to Tom. He served as Bishop of the Sun City congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 5 years. As Bishop, he presided over more than 45 funeral services; this experience led him to Miller-Jones in 2001 as a funeral counselor and manager of the Sun City mortuary. Tom says, "I am so glad to be with a group of community leaders that hold so many of the same values I do and strive daily to exceed the expectations of each and every family served".

An Inland resident for 18 years, Tom currently lives in Murrieta with his wife Robin. They have three children - Christina, Deanna and Daniel and three grandchildren.

Prior to serving in the funeral profession, Tom worked in retail leadership for 25 years as an award winning trainer and general store manager for K-Mart, Target, Office Depot and Home Base.

Desiree Barry is the Crematory Operator at the Miller-Jones Care Center.
She was born in Santee, California and graduated from Santana High School in 1991. She attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. Desiree. Desiree currently resides in Temecula with her two sons. She also coaches two basketball teams with the Temecula Youth Basketball Association and plays women's professional football for the San Diego Franchise, the Southern California Scorpions.

Carol Finck
is the Human Resources Manager, having 20 years experience as a Labor Relations Representative and ten years as a Human Relations Administrator.

Carol was raised in Perris, Ca. and has two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. She enjoys reading her Bible, Science Fiction, and mysteries. Carol collects salt and pepper shakers, having over 6,000 sets! She has two boxer dogs and attends Valle Vista Assembly of God Church.

Kimberly Kojan
is a Funeral Arranger at Miller-Jones Mortuary in Sun City, and was awarded a scholarship by the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) Women's Forum to attend the 2007 session of ICCFA University. ICCFA University was conducted at the University of Memphis in Tennessee and is the only school of its kind for cemetery, cremation, and funeral service professionals. It brings together practitioners from throughout the nation for four and a half days of intensive instruction by top experts in five disciplines: cemetery administration and management, funeral home management, cremation services, land operations and grounds management, and sales and marketing. Founded in 1887, the ICCFA is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, funeral, and memorialization profession. Its membership is composed of 7,200 cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, memorial designers and related businesses worldwide. Kim's selection as a scholarship recipient is a testimony to her dedication for exceeding the expectations of the families she serves.

Kim is also involved in "Hope for the Holidays," a December event Miller-Jones holds for families who have lost a loved one during the preceding year. Additionally, Kim serves the community by volunteering at local assisted living homes and the local food bank, and organizes seminar luncheons at churches, senior community centers and mobile park homes.

Kim was born in Euclid Ohio, and worked for General Electric for over 22 years. She lived in New York for 15 months prior to coming to California in 2004, with her husband of nine years, Rick. Kim is an animal lover, and has a Rottweiler named Jordan. She also loves to travel with her husband as often as possible.

Joseph Ley
Oakland, CA – is the Manager of Miller - Jones Mortuary in Hemet. In 2007, he was the recipient of the California Young Funeral Director of the Year Award at the 103rd annual meeting of the California Funeral Directors Association in Oakland. CFDA Past President, Scott Pennington presented Joey with a plaque and commended his professionalism displayed while working with families and staff. Janie Reeder, funeral arranger at Miller-Jones said of Joey, "He encompasses everything that this award stands for. I have known Joey for the last 3 years and have learned an enormous lesson from him... "Professionalism with Class". As Manager of Miller-Jones Mortuary, Joey has strived to instill in the people he works with the same ethics and sense of professionalism that he projects everyday. He is constantly showing us ways to exceed the expectations of the families we serve. When problems arise in the day-to-day serving families who are grieving, Joey is quick with a solution that not only solves the problem, but gives everyone involved peace of mind".

Joey started serving in this profession in 1995. He holds licenses as a Funeral Director, Embalmer, Crematory Manager, and Life Agent. He graduated from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1996 and earned his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner designation (CFSP) in 2001 from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Joey is passionate about, and dedicated to, community involvement. He is currently President Elect of the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Exchange Club, a member of the Hemet Elks Lodge #1740, and is Chairman of the Orange Belt Funeral Directors Association Coroners Committee. Joey also serves on the Board of Directors for Hemet Hospice, Incorporated; the San Jacinto Police Activities League; and is currently Secretary on the Board of Directors for the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery Foundation.

Ron Beaver
is a Funeral Director at the Hemet facility, was born and raised in Hemet, graduating from Hemet High School in 1962. He proudly served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force, having been stationed in New Mexico and Puerto Rico. In 1968, Ron and his dad started De Anza Express, a trucking company covering the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties for 35 years ,before coming to Miller-Jones in July of 2003.

Ron says, "I found the best woman in the whole wide world for me, Deborah, 17 years ago and I have two sons and a daughter, all of whom I am very proud of. I also have three grandchildren".

Ron is also an ordained Minister, and has had the privilege of conducting numerous funerals along the way. He has traveled to the countries of Haiti and India, and even more recently, became a Chaplain-on-Call at the Hemet Valley Medical Center.

Ron said, "I wanted to do something that I would allow me to help families through difficult times, like what I am doing here at Miller-Jones."

Pat Garrison,
works in the Documents Department at the Care Center and is responsible for obtaining the causes of death for the deceased who come into our care. She has been with Miller - Jones since March 2007. Prior to working for Miller - Jones Mortuary, she worked as a school bus driver for the Lake Elsinore and Murrieta school districts for 10 years and also worked in the medical field.

Pat has lived in the Riverside area for 25 years, is single and has two adult children and one granddaughter. Her favorite hobbies are relaxing and reading.

Mark Van Camp
first joined Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory in 2001 as a Service Director; assisting families on the day of their funeral services. Today, he serves families as a funeral and cemetery counselor at Miller-Jones - Sun City and Menifee Valley Memorial Park.

Mark has two sons, and a Chihuahua. Mark says, "My extended family, of course, also includes all of the wonderful people I have had the privilege of working with. Many of the friendships I have made, I am sure will last a lifetime".

Born in Tiffin, Ohio, Mark's family moved to California when he was eight years old. A graduate of Santiago High School in Garden Grove, he moved to Perris in 1990, and he has been a Sun City resident since 2004.

Casey Canez
is the Funeral Services Coordinator and has been with Miller - Jones Mortuary since July of 2006 . Starting as a Service Director, assisting families on the day of their funeral services; she was promoted to her current position in September 2007.

Casey was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado and joined the US Navy in 1975 where she served for 21 years, retiring in 1996.

After retiring from the Navy, Casey and her family moved from San Diego to the Temecula Valley where we have lived since Nov. 1996. Since retiring, she has held positions as an Emergency Communications Dispatcher with the Murrieta Police Department and as an officer with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Alex Petrrini
was born and raised in San Mateo, California. When Alex was 18, she moved to Riverside and attended Riverside Community College where she received two Associate degrees. After graduation, she attended Cypress Community College and graduated from their Mortuary Science Program. Alex recently was awarded her embalmer's license.

In 2005, Alex started her apprenticeship at Miller-Jones. Working at the Care Center, she is currently attending school to attain her Bachelors Degree.

Maricela Castro
moved to Perris from Norwalk, California more than 30 years ago. She began her career in funeral service when she joined the Miller-Jones Mortuary team in July of 1997. Maricela graduated from Perris School District and later completed studies in Vocational Nursing, but her heart was in serving in the funeral profession. Maricela has held several positions with Miller-Jones before being promoted to her current position as an Arrangement Counselor and Cemetery Salesperson.

She says, "It is a privilege to assist families during one of the most difficult times of their lives. I know it is my responsibility to give every family my best. I often meet with our Spanish speaking families, and my understanding of their culture and traditions helps put them at ease when making funeral arrangements. It also gives assurance their wishes will be carried through. I know I have succeeded, when families express the peace they feel when the life's celebration is completed."

Maricela is an active member of Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship in Perris. She married her husband, Raul Sr. more than 20 years ago; together they have 4 beautiful children. Maricela's favorite things to do; spending time with family, attending church, traveling and everything to do with Dodgers baseball. One day, she hopes to retire in the mountain state of Colorado.