Meet Our Staff | Cataudella Funeral Home & Cremations

Our staff provides excellent funeral planning services

We have years of experience caring for families from all walks of life, cultures, and faiths. Our unsurpassed staff and our family provide kind, caring, professional service. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession who are dedicated to excellence in service, adhere to the highest funeral industry standards, and have exceptional integrity. We consistently earn phenomenally high customer satisfaction survey results.

Our licensed, professional staff is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please call 978-685-5379 anytime. An on-call funeral director will return your call if it is after 5:00 PM. We will even come to you to make arrangements in the comfort of your home.

Prompt, compassionate service is always just a phone call away, where and when you need it.

Joseph J. Cataudella

Owner/President (MA Type 3)

Joe was born, raised, and educated in Lawrence. He graduated from Lawrence High School and New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing in Boston. He has been licensed since 1964.

In 1979, Joe purchased the business from his father and uncle and continued the funeral home operation in Lawrence for many years. He purchased land and built a new facility in the neighboring town of Methuen in 1993. Joe operated out of both locations and eventually sold the Lawrence facility due to the large increase in volume at the Methuen location.

Joe married his wife, Susan, in 1966, and they have two children, Stuart Cataudella and Amber Cataudella-Conran. He also has two grandchildren, Joey and Meaghan, who are the loves of his life. Joe enjoys golfing and hunting and is an avid fly fisherman.

In the summer, Joe and Susan reside in Florida. Being semi-retired, Joe stops into the funeral home quite a bit when he is back in Massachusetts. He is a member of St. Alfio’s Society of Lawrence, Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence, Lawrence Sons of Italy Lodge #902, Lawrence Elks, Trout Unlimited, and the Salmon Federation.

Christopher P. Chetsas

Owner/Managing Partner (MA Type 3)

Chris was born in Amesbury, MA and was raised and educated in Newburyport, MA. He graduated in the class of 1976 from Newburyport High School as well as the class of 1978 from New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing in Boston. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1978.

Chris worked in the Boston and North Shore area for many years as a funeral director and embalmer. In 1985, he started his own company, Chetsas Trade Services, which serviced many funeral homes in Boston and the North Shore.

In 1985, Joe Cataudella hired Chris to handle all of his embalming needs and to help with funerals. In 2001, Chris sold his business and took a full-time position with Cataudella as a funeral director and embalmer. In 2008, he was promoted to Managing Partner.

An avid runner, Chris has run 25 marathons and has qualified ten times for the Boston Marathon and completed it eight times. He is a past president of the Merrimack Valley Striders of Andover and a founding member of the Goon Squad Runners of North Andover. Chris is a parishioner of Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Andover; he also plays the drums with Campbell Highlanders Pipe Band in Andover.

Chris married Jeannie Asoian of Andover and they live in Atkinson, NH. Chris will soon be walking his daughter, Nicole, down the aisle this summer in Portsmouth, NH.

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Christina Dusablon

Location Manager/Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer (MA Type 6)

From a young age, Christina Dusablon was determined to be a professional. She focused her goals on becoming a licensed funeral director and has now earned that title. She attended Mt. Ida College and graduated with a degree from Fine Mortuary College in August of 2019. She apprenticed at Cataudella Funeral Home since February 2019, absorbing the finer details of the industry prior to passing her Boards.

Christina grew up in Peabody, MA and is the youngest of three girls. She participated in track & field during her high school years and now finds traveling a more enjoyable “sport.” Apparently, the warmer climates of California, Mexico, Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic are a few of her preferred vacation spots.

Posed and polished, Christina seems to have found her niche here at Cataudella. She is diligent in her pursuit of perfection, willing to lend a hand, and eager to learn. Her interactions with families are always positive and her career as a professional funeral director has proved to be promising.

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Doug Sears

Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer (MA Type 6)

Cataudella Funeral Home is pleased to announce our newest funeral director, Doug Sears. We knew immediately that Doug was going to be the perfect addition to our staff. Humble, compassionate, and a consummate professional, he exceeded our expectations as soon as he began serving our families in need. We expect our staff to deliver the highest quality of service and he did not disappoint. Without question, he makes our families comfortable with his delivery of knowledge to families in various states of fragility. He takes a personal interest in each of them and they are pleased that he takes the time to put them at ease and guide them with all of the necessary decisions.

Doug was born in Waltham, MA and was raised and educated in a French community in New Brunswick, Canada. There, he graduated from high school in 1983 and as a result, he is fluent and comfortable with the French language as he is with English. He returned to Waltham in 1986 and currently lives in Natick, MA.

A licensed funeral director and embalmer, Doug graduated from Mount Ida College in 2016 with an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences in Funeral Services, Cum Laude and was inducted into Pi Sigma Eta, the national honors society for funeral service professionals. He is a member of both the National Funeral Directors Association and the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association.

Doug first began his service in the funeral service industry in 2007 as an apprentice. He first began to and continued to work in Metro West and Worcester County areas until September 2019 when he began working with Cataudella Funeral Home. This was a second career for Doug, after having worked in the health care profession for several years.

Since 1994, Doug and his wife Gisele have lived in Natick, a wonderful community in which they felt fortunate to have raised their son Eric and daughter Laura. When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family, which has always been most important to him. His children always his priority, he was happiest when he was in attendance at their sporting events or simply spending time with them at the summer place in New Hampshire, where they have made many friends. He especially enjoys opportunities for family vacations near his home in Canada.

Most recently, Doug joined Rotary Club in Methuen, which focuses on the community. He has accepted the position of Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, which will put to use his skills of persuasion!

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Leah Cournoyer

Apprentice Funeral Director

Leah Cournoyer was raised and educated in North Andover, MA. An empathetic and compassionate individual, she feels most comfortable when taking care of those in need. She tends to her beloved cat, Moo, who has grown old with her. A licensed cosmetologist since 2017, Leah realized that this line of work was not where her passion lies. Though she still is a stylist for family and friends, it took long conversations with a friend, who is a funeral director, to change her career direction. The self-proclaimed science geek positioned herself to study mortuary science with the ultimate goal of becoming a licensed funeral director. Now, a student at Fine Mortuary College, she is close to completing her objective.

A diligent worker, Leah divides her time between attending college and working as much as she can at Cataudella Funeral Home, since the summer of 2021, to be immersed in her chosen profession. Shortly, she will finish her clinicals and graduate in the summer of 2022 with a degree in mortuary science.

In her free time, Leah enjoys to paint and read though her more social side loves being around family and friends. Trips to Canada have been a family favorite for most of her life. It affords her the opportunity to enjoy nature by hiking, camping, and fishing. She has also hiked many trails in Sedona, AZ, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Florida is also a favorite destination with her family.

Thanks to a combination of outstanding qualities, families have consistently given positive feedback about Leah’s work and Cataudella Funeral Home looks forward to retaining her professionalism, compassion, and dedication to the field for many years to come.

Joyce DeMartino Feugill

Administrative Assistant

Joyce is the office veteran at Cataudella, having been here since January 1, 2003. Ever helpful, our families come to her with a multitude of complex issues that can be overwhelming for those in the midst of grief. She calmly reassures them that she will research the matter at-hand and provide them the necessary information. Joyce is a master at donning multiple hats, which is advantageous when dealing with families, as well as a large staff. Caring, focused, and knowledgeable, Joyce is an instrumental part of the team who makes Cataudella run smoothly.

Raised and educated in Lawrence and a graduate of Northern Essex, Joyce is firmly connected to the Merrimack Valley. She now lives in Haverhill, works in Methuen, and was employed for 18 years in Andover at Dynamic Research. Family is most important to Joyce, both immediate and extended. She sees her two children almost daily and she visits her large Italian family in both York, Maine in the summers, and west coast Florida in the winters. She and Joe Cataudella are first cousins and frequently keep in touch.

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Jeannie (Asoian) Chetsas

Administrative Assistant and Funeral Assistant

A retired English and science teacher, Jeannie has worked for Cataudella since 2014. This past year, she focused on updating the look of the funeral home with new carpet, furniture, and décor. She was raised and educated in Andover, graduated from Northeastern University with her Bachelor's degree in Science, and Lesley University with her Master's degree in Education.

Jeannie loves to travel and has been fortunate enough to climb a glacier in Norway, ride bikes through Sweden, navigate the canals of Copenhagen, Denmark, climb the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in Paris, explore the ruins in Greece, and boat throughout the US and British Virgin Islands, all of which offered unique experiences. She is hoping to visit a few more countries with family and friends.

Family time is very important to her; thus, she spends time with her family every week. She is a mother to Ryan and grandmother to Ryder. Jeannie is married to Chris Chetsas and they reside in Atkinson, NH.

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Dina Torrisi

Staff

Dina is our master hair stylist. We have many families who send us thank-you notes and include that they are so appreciative of her meticulous work on their loved one's hair. She has been part of the Cataudella staff for 18 years, always lending a helping hand in the office, setting up all the flowers in the chapels, or greeting people at the door. She is the first to offer her support in any way. Every December, Dina is in charge of decorating the magnificent Christmas tree that dominates our spacious lobby and serves as a beautiful centerpiece for our annual Dove Ceremony given in honor of the individuals in our care throughout the year.

Brought up in Groveland and Haverhill, Dina graduated from St. Mary's High School and Capillo School of Hair Design in Lawrence. She moved to Methuen 25 years ago with her husband, Joe, and two daughters, Tiffany and Amanda. In her off time, Dina is a superb baker, often spoiling the staff with her baked goods. She and her husband enjoy four-wheeling through the woods, motorcycling in the summer, and camping in Raymond, New Hampshire. She and her daughters spend time together crafting, sharing belly laughs, and simply enjoying life together.

Jean Lannon

Office Assistant/Staff

Jean Lannon has been our Sunday office assistant since 2015. She was born and raised in Lawrence and graduated from St. Mary High School, class of 1971. She retired from Mitre Corporation in Bedford, MA in Human Resources and prior to that was an executive assistant at the athletic shoe company, Converse, Inc.

She resides in Methuen with her husband of forty-nine years, Jim, who also works for Cataudella’s as a funeral assistant. Together, they are a team dedicated to helping our families in their time of need.

Jean does some occasional volunteer work with the German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue League of New England, helping find new “forever homes” for adult dogs who have been displaced for various reasons. She enjoys attending concerts, being at the beach, and occasionally riding on her husband’s Harley Davidson. She also keeps busy caring for their highly energetic dog, Riley.

Jim Lannon

Funeral Assistant

Jim joined Cataudella's staff shortly after he retired from Gillette in Andover. He spent 42 years there in the quality control division. He was looking for a part-time job to help pass the time during retirement but never anticipated the intricacies of working at a funeral home, as there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make things run smoothly for our families. Compassionate, professional, and helpful, Jim is a perfect fit for Cataudella Funeral Home.

Jim grew up in Lawrence and has lived in Methuen since 1985 with his wife of 43 years. He enjoys hunting and fishing with his buddies and riding his impressive Harley Davidson with his wife in the nice weather. The newest addition to their family is a spotted German short-haired pointer puppy named Riley.

Brian Kingsley 1954-2020

Funeral Assistant

It is with profound sadness to announce that we have lost a valued member of our Cataudella staff family. Brian, a trusted and respected friend, passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2020, and we are mourning his loss along with his family and the larger communities in which he made a positive impact through his kindness, his music and singing, and his giving spirit. We shall miss his brilliant smile and kind heart.

Brian, a former 14-year veteran firefighter, EMT, and dispatcher in his home town of North Andover, joined our Cataudella Funeral Home family in 2015. He is a busy man these days as he is the music director at St. Michael's Church in North Andover in addition to assisting here with funerals.

After graduating from North Andover High School, Brian attended St. John's Seminary. He and his wife of 35 years, Karen Iannazzi, live in Methuen, and they have one daughter. A man of faith and family, Brian is perfect for dealing with those in grief. Compassionate and patient, he makes connections easily with our families.

Brian has a keen interest in antique cars and purchased a 1951 Ford F-1 pickup that he is currently restoring in his free time. Hopefully, we will see him driving his beauty in next year's holiday parade.

Arthur Dery

Staff

Highly spirited quick-witted, Arthur Dery provides the staff with comic relief, but more importantly, he serves up a huge helping of compassion, understanding, and helpfulness that our families need. His ability to take charge at any time and dealing with people who have lost anyone or anything they cherish is surely derived from his 36 years as a Dracut firefighter and lieutenant.

Arthur and his wife of 33 years, Roberta (Kohanski), are the parents of a daughter, Carole Ann. They are lifelong residents of Dracut and devout parishioners of St. Francis Church in Dracut. Never one to sit idly, Arthur can be found running his side lawn-care business, combing through memorabilia stores for anything firefighter- or Christmas-related, or assisting with calling hours or funeral services here at Cataudella Funeral Home. Lucky for us, Arthur has been a true constant here since 1999 and perhaps will be providing his services even more, once he retires from the fire department in January 2017.

Bob Broadhurst

Staff

Bob Broadhurst joined the Cataudella staff in January 2003 after he retired from the Lawrence Fire Department with 30 years under his belt, 20 as a lieutenant, and ten as a firefighter. An avid fly fisherman, he worked part-time at a fly fish shop where Joe Cataudella was a patron, and thus began a long friendship.

Brought up in Lawrence, Bob graduated with the class of 1957 from Lawrence High School and went on to join the U.S. military in 1959. An army veteran, he was stationed in France until 1962 and left as an E4. Bob’s training in the military left on him an indelible penchant for detail and doing things correctly. He is a valuable asset when working funeral services that involve military honors, as his attention to detail and proper protocol is second to none. After leaving the military, he worked in security for ten years at AVCO in Lowell.

A loyal friend, Bob meets up with “the guys” every morning to have coffee and shoot the breeze while they fish. And the fishing location isn’t restricted to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, it’s all over the world. He fishes for steelfish trout, salmon, and bonefish in Belize, Abeco, the Bahamas, Argentina, British Columbia, New York, Idaho, and many other states in the U.S. An attentive father to four successful sons, a doting grandfather to eight girls and three boys, and an all-around great guy, Bob is a wonderful part of the Cataudella Funeral Home family.

Gus Swift

Staff

If you were to describe a true gentleman, one who treats others with respect, who thinks before he speaks and then does so with kind words, one who always puts the needs of others before his own, then you would be describing Gus Swift. In the most traditional way, he epitomizes these unwavering qualities without a hint of self-indulgence. We are blessed to have such a man with a calming and professional nature assisting our families during their trying times.

Born in Methuen, Gus was raised and educated in Lawrence and is a graduate of the Lawrence High School's Class of 1962. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Marines and served as a reservist from 1963 to 1969 and rose to the rank of Sergeant. Staying close to his roots, he met, married, and had a family with Jackie Berube, a Sacred Heart girl from South Lawrence.

It seems Gus was destined to be a part of the Cataudella Funeral Home family; he met Joe Cataudella at the John R. Rollins Grammar School and began a friendship that lasted throughout their high school years and beyond. Joe hired Gus in 2001 after 28 years with Capital Distributing Company in Andover and Dracut and as a salesman for Fine Wine & Spirits. Joe knew Gus would be a perfect fit here with his professional demeanor and incredible wit.

Gus' strong ties to the Merrimack Valley continue as a member of the Lawrence Elks since 1981. When he is not assisting with funeral services, he can be found on the links with friends polishing up his stellar golf game or tending to his garden, especially those beautiful orchids.

John Rose

Staff

John Rose has been a loyal dressman at Cataudella’s for many years. Primarily here on Saturdays, his time is committed to the construction business during the week, specifically Torromeo Industries. Despite his full-time employment and working at Cataudella’s, John still carves out time to spend with his wife and three grandchildren. Whether it is spending summer vacations in Maine with family, hunting locally or in the Midwest, or hitting the links, John always finds time for enjoyment. His two dogs, a Minpin and a Chiweenie, offer more fun than even the name of their breeds!

A lifelong resident of Methuen, John graduated from Methuen High School in 1988 and went on to pursue the construction field.

Jack McSwiggin

Staff

Here at Cataudella’s, we pride ourselves on having the consummate professional staff, and Jack McSwiggin is no exception. Always quick with a broad smile and warm handshake, he stands ready to assist our families in any way necessary. Friendly and attentive with a calm disposition and terrific personality, Jack is one of our most relied upon staff members.

Jack grew up in the Centerville section of Lowell and attended local schools: Saint Michael’s Grammar School, Keith Academy High School, and Lowell State College. During high school and college, he worked for Demoulas’ Markets. He continued to work for that family as a store manager even after he graduated from college.

In 1980, Jack bought and operated R&B Superette in Pelham, NH. He ran this family-owned business for thirty years.

Jack is a dedicated family man and has been married to his lovely wife, Gerry, for forty-eight years. Together they have four children and thirteen grandchildren and have made their home in Dracut for the past forty-one years.

An avid golfer, Jack is hard to beat on the links. He splits his time between being on the green with friends and being on the lake with his ever-growing family. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our Cataudella family.

Lori McLaughlin

Staff

If you ever want to hear what angels sound like, then be present when Lori sings. Her voice is one of pure beauty and comfort that compels those listening to relinquish any troubles and instead embrace a serene wash of emotion. We are fortunate to not only enjoy the flawless cadence of her voice, but to have her assistance during funerals and calling hours.

Lori Charette-McLaughlin is proud to be part of the Cataudella staff since 2010. Serving families at this most difficult time in their lives does not end there; Lori is also the Music Director and Coordinator at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Sts. Theresa & Augustine Churches of Methuen and Lawrence. She serves the community and beyond as a professional vocalist and cantor for many Catholic, Christian, and nondenominational funeral services with hopes of bringing comfort to all those in need through her music. In addition, she has worked for 30 years in the restaurant industry, the past ten years for Michael Timothy Dining Group at Buckley's Great Steaks, Merrimack, New Hampshire and also at MT's Local & Surf in Nashua, New Hampshire.

A graduate of Methuen High School's Class of 1980, Lori attended University of Massachusetts - Amherst. She has been married to her husband, Billy, for 32 years; they make their home in New Hampshire and are the proud parents of two wonderful sons, both married, and grandparents to two beautiful girls.

Lori takes much pride in her Italian heritage as part of the Savastano family. In her years working at Cataudella Funeral Home, she has encountered many families with ties to hers in the Lawrence area, which helps to create special bonds when assisting on funerals.

Lori is grateful for the opportunity to serve the families who choose Cataudella Funeral Home, helping them through such difficult days and praying for the souls of all our beloved deceased.

Mike Wilson

Staff

Mike lives in the Merrimack Valley area but grew up in Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated from Salem State College, where he earned his Bachelor's degree, and received his Master's degree from Boston University. He put his degrees to work as a social worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Department of Children and Families for 32 years. His first ten years were primarily in Lynn dealing with families and adolescents. He also recruited and matched families interested in adoption. The next 22 years were spent in Lowell as a social worker supervisor, where he oversaw a team of social workers and facilitated the recruiting, training, and managing of over 250 active foster homes in the Greater Lowell area.

Upon retirement, Mike took on the role of a funeral assistant and has done so now for 10-plus years. He joined the Cataudella team in 2011, which is lucky for us as he is personable, professional, and has a great sense of humor to lighten everyone's mood.

An avid skier, Mike hits the slopes with lots of friends and family in the winter months in New England, western US, Canada, and Europe. In the summer, you can find him relaxing on the beach. He is very musically-inclined, so he is often attending concerts where he can appreciate his favorite bands firsthand.

Ray Bachand

Staff

Retirement offers plenty of benefits, but many people enjoy being more social and helping out whenever they can; such is the case with Ray Bachand. In October of 2016, he began working at Cataudella Funeral Home, even though he was officially retired after twenty-three years of working at the Fireside Restaurant. Prior to that, he worked for Pepsi, Corporation for many years in delivery services and quality control. Thankfully for us, Ray is compassionate, professional, a hard worker, and helpful so he is a perfect fit for assisting the families we serve at Cataudella Funeral Home.

Raymond grew up in Lawrence and has lived in Windham, NH since 2003. He shared his home with his wife of thirty-five years, Kate, until she passed away in 2008. They raised two daughters, and now he has four grandsons and one granddaughter. In his leisure time, he enjoys running outdoors, going to the gym, and being with his family and friends.