Vonda Rosado

Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer/Licensed Pre-Need Specialist

Vonda is a 1991 graduate of Herrin High School and a 1994 graduate of the Southern Illinois University Mortuary Science Program. She has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for more than thirty years. Vonda is also a licensed pre-need specialist.  

Vonda served her summer internship at McClure Funeral Homes in Chester and Du Quoin. After graduation from SIU in 1994, she served her apprenticeship at Lamb-Young Funeral Home in Gibson City, where she continued to work for five years. Her love of home, parents and family brought her back to Southern Illinois. She began working at Hughes Funeral Homes in Herrin and Marion, where she has had the privilege to work for the past twenty years. Serving and caring for families at Johnson Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin IL, Mitchell Hughes Funeral Home in Marion and Blues Funeral Home in Marion  and Goreville IL. 

Vonda currently also serves as the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and the Elks Lodge 884 Treasurer.

William (Bill) Rosado

Owner and Licensed Pre-Need Specialist

William was born and raised in the Du Quoin area, having attended the Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduating from the Elverado High School. With a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Southern Illinois University, William serves as the Executive Manager of the funeral home and event center.  He is also a licensed pre-need specialist, able to assist families with any pre-planning process. Bill serves as President on the Perry County Transition 2 Hope board, holds the Exalted Ruler position for the Du Quoin Elks Lodge, and is an executive board member of the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce.

"We have a tremendous passion for helping people. When you lose a loved one, it’s the most emotionally draining experience you could ever go though. To help people in that time of their life is very rewarding.  We are beyond thankful to be able to share this opportunity with the Du Quoin community and include our family in this beautiful journey.”

William and Vonda have four children- Preston (Courtney), Kamen, Parker, and Keaton; four grandchildren- Paisleigh, Braxton, Abel and Atlas; parents- Jesus and Marian Rosado of Elkville, and Gloria and the late Robert E. Robison of Energy. 

Amanda Shroyer

Licensed Funeral Director/Licensed Embalmer/Licensed Pre-Need Counselor

Amanda brings a unique blend of compassion, professionalism, and dedication to her role, ensuring that families receive the guidance and support they need during life's most challenging moments. With five years of experience in the funeral industry and a degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service from Southern Illinois University, Amanda is well-equipped to provide personalized care and attention to families. She also holds her Crematory Operator certification and pre-need insurance license, further demonstrating her expertise and commitment to serving families with dignity and respect. Amanda's background as a medic in the Army and growing up in a military family have instilled in her a strong sense of service and commitment to helping others. Her passion for taking care of people shines through in her work, and she's dedicated to providing exceptional support to those in need. When she's not working, Amanda loves spending time with her husband and two children in rural Woodlawn, Illinois, participating in her church community, and finding peace in the great outdoors. We're thrilled to have Amanda as part of our team and look forward to serving our community together.

Kirstin Altom

Funeral Director and Embalmer Apprentice/Licensed Pre-Need Counselor

Kirstin Altom is a 2019 graduate of Centralia High School and a 2023 graduate of the Southern Illinois University Mortuary Science Program. While in school, she obtained her Crematory Operator Certification and her Life Insurance Producers License. She also took on the position of head Colorguard Coach at Centralia High School, leading her team to several awards and accolades throughout her first two years coaching, as well as taking on the apprentice position under Vonda. 

Kirstin is currently in graduate school working towards an MBA in Analytics and Marketing.  She is excited and looking forward to obtaining her Funeral Director and Embalmer License. Kirstin is also a pre-need specialist. 

Parker Barden

Funeral Assistant/Licensed Pre-Arrangement Counselor/Mortuary Student

Parker Barden has served us at the funeral home for almost one year. He recently became our newest licensed pre-arrangement counselor. He is learning everything from funeral assistant, office work, washing cars, and everything in between. During the summer, Parker works part-time at the funeral home, as he coaches the Carbondale Youth Swim Team. Parker will be starting mortuary school in the fall and we can't wait to see the amazing things he'll accomplish. Becoming a funeral director requires compassion, dedication, and a strong sense of purpose - and we know he has all of those qualities in spades. We're looking forward to supporting him on this journey and watching him grow into a talented and caring professional. Congratulations to him (and us) on this new chapter!

Parker has been accepted to Worsham College of Mortuary Science, whom we all had the privilege of visiting with at the recent Illinois Funeral Directors Association conference. I have attached his admission letter as we feel it speaks volumes for the next generation of leaders...

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Admissions letter written by Parker:

Choosing to become a funeral director as a career choice may seem daunting or unpleasant to most, as the work can easily be seen as grim and generally unappealing. Though there is a certain truth to these arguments, there are also so many benefits that a funeral director can give to each family and the community they live within.  Some people could not imagine being around this darker side of life at all, but the few people who choose to can help guide those mourning through their worst times and help give them comfort and reassurance that many other people could not give. Families rely on your knowledge and care to give their loved ones a final goodbye, and your job is to make the deceased look as good if not better than when they passed so the family may get a peaceful memory to live with. 

Alongside presenting a more positive final memory for the family, you are also required to give them peace of mind to aid the grieving process. My whole life I have grown up with my mother as a funeral director, and I have seen firsthand how people can recover from her work, and how much of an impact she can have on a community. I have always felt that I should pursue a career in psychology/therapy as I tend to be the shoulder people lean on in hard times. This seems to perfectly align with funeral services as a career choice, and I do believe I would be able to feel a great sense of satisfaction doing what I have always been good at.  As my mother worked as a funeral director and embalmer for a firm, and it was not a family business, I was not exposed to all areas. She has recently, in the last three years, purchased her own funeral home, and I am seeing now, firsthand, the reason she loves this profession. 

Though a very small part of it, it would be unjust to leave out how much job security you have in this particular field. People will always need funeral directors, along with embalmers and cemetery workers. As unfortunate as it is, this will always be a need that people must meet, thus you are often in a very secure position, and can rest assured that your future will be safe. Funeral directors get to do what I feel I already excel at, and they get to help those around them every single day. This field seems to be very rewarding, and I would love to be able to be an active part of my community like my mother has been all my life. 

I thank you for your time and hope you will consider my application for admission into your program.

Rev. Keith Owens

Funeral Home Ambassador/Lead Support Staff

Jesus Rosado

Funeral Assistant

Jesus is a member of the Du Quoin Elks, a member of the DuQuoin V.F.W. Post #513, and the American Legion Post #647 Honor Guard Team.

Jesus does whatever it takes to care for the families he helps us to serve--parking cars, greeting people at the door, all-around maintenance man, food server, flower deliveries, coffee and treat tester, and most importantly listener to many (ok-maybe more talker)- never meeting a stranger. Always willing to jump in and help where we ask him. He truly exemplifies all we stand for in being a service, not a business. He truly understands the importance of community, and developing relationships.

We are so proud of all he does for our family, the funeral home, and our community!

NEJI

Funeral Home Therapy Comfort Dog

Meet Neji...the funeral home therapy dog! As the number of families who choose to have Neji at funeral services increases, we wanted to take a moment to explain what we have done to ensure that those that walk through our doors are greeted by him in a safe manner, and why he is here.   

First off, Neji is a local boy straight from the Perry County Humane Society, where he lived nine months prior to joining our family. 

Yes, he is a big boy, but if you talk with the families and those that have seen them in action they will tell you that he is a gentle teddy bear who just wants to provide love and comfort, which brings us to why he is here.  

No one is too young or too old to experience the love Neji gives.  We have seen him lay on the lap of a crying adult who was sitting in the middle of our floor, lean in to hug someone in a wheelchair, and comfort children who did not understand all of the emotions in the room and just needed to laugh and play.  

While not everyone chooses to have Neji present, he will be offered to every family that comes to us. Often times we will hear that the family member who passed was not a “pet person”, but once we explain that he is here to comfort those that are here to mourn and make things just a bit easier for everyone, they “get” the why and are glad that he is here.  We have not had one family say they wished they had not used Neji, on the contrary, we have heard every time how much he helped and what a great service it is that we are providing.  Not to mention all of the positive comments we get from people coming in for visitation.  

Bailey

Door Greeter

Meet Bailey! Bailey is another Perry County Humane Society boy who now also calls the funeral home his home. He has just started training...this time under the watchful eye of Sir Neji!

For those of you that follow Neji's journey...you know that Neji was not adopted with the purpose of being a therapy dog. We simply adopted him as he was a senior with some health issues that needed a home. Little did we know then the role he would fall into as a therapy dog. He led himself into that role as we watched in amazement how he reacted in certain situations. With proper training and time, Neji has become a staple at the funeral home. 

We don't know what role Bailey will assume just yet...he is very loving and sweet but also quite energetic and curious. He may possibly be content with his role as door greeter. Bailey also had a long stay at PCHS and had severe weight loss and heartworms when they received him. They nursed him back to health and gave him the second chance he so deserved. He is still gaining weight and muscle strength back. Although most times Bailey is that pesky little brother, Neji has taken him under his wings and is quite proud at the funeral home to show him the ropes. 

Whatever role Bailey ends up suited for, we know they will continue to brighten many days in the work they do to also serve the community!