Giselle Corder, far left, is now chair of the ICFA's Women's Forum. She takes the reins from Del Doleman, center, and Linda Darby-Sempsrott, right. Anyone interested in co-chairing with Corder may contact her at giselle@srmp.org or (707) 542-1580. One of Corder's goals is to spread the message that the scholarships are available to everyone in the funeral and cemetery profession, not just management personnel.
ICFAU Scholarships Awarded
The ICFA Women's Forum awarded two ICFA University scholarships during the association's 2003 Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The two scholarship winners will attend ICFAU at the University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, July 18-23. They will be able to choose from among six undergraduate colleges.
Giselle Corder, general manager of Santa Rosa Memorial Park, who attended ICFAU last year on a Women's Forum scholarship, now serves as chair of the forum. "I want to give back to something that has given to me," Corder said of her reason for volunteering for the post.
"I believe promoting the scholarships is worthwhile," she said. "I want to spread the word about them. So many people I've talked to did not know they existed, and that they are available to everyone in the industry -- they are not limited to management personnel. Ultimately, the facilities these recipients work for will reap the benefits of their attendance at ICFAU."
Sherri L. Baca
Baca is CFO and assistant director of Roselawn Cemetery & Funeral Home in Pueblo, Colorado. "I am sincerely honored that the Women's Forum has chosen me as a scholarship recipient," Baca said.
"It continues to be my hope that every endeavor I take on will benefit the families we serve. I can't think of a better way to invest my time than to attend ICFA University. I look forward to this year's curriculum and to spending time with others who have this same love for the industry."
Baca previously worked as comptroller for a general contractor and as an admissions assistant at the University of Southern Colorado, from which she received a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in accounting.
Two months before Baca started at Roselawn, her father died. "I believe this gave me a valuable perspective on the industry," she said. "Fortunately, my experience was a positive one, because the local funeral director in my hometown provided much comfort and compassion to my family as we made arrangements for my father's funeral. I find that I empathize with the families bringing their loved ones to Roselawn, because I have been in their position. I have come to really embrace the work I do every day."
Baca is secretary/treasurer of the Colorado Association of Cemeteries. She attended ICFAU in 2001, completing the College of Administration and Management program, and was a session speaker at the 2002 ICFA Small Cemetery & Funeral Management Conference.
Leah A. O'Leary
O'Leary handles marketing and customer service and is a funeral assistant at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home and the Vertin Co., Breckenridge, Minnesota. She previously worked as a draftsperson, estimator and sales associate at a home center, having received a degree in architectural drafting and estimating from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, Minnesota.
"When the office manager position at our local funeral home became available over 15 years ago," O'Leary said, "I saw an opportunity to work in an industry that always fascinated me. I had little idea at that time what an incredible experience was in store for me.
"Assisting families as they journey through the death and memorialization of their loved one is one of the must humbling and rewarding tasks I have ever had the privilege to take part in.
"From that first day at the funeral home office, I knew I had found my niche. I am so fortunate to be working with a growing family funeral home that has allowed me to learn, grow and advance my career in service to families."
In addition to assisting the funeral directors with conducting services and attending to the needs of families, O'Leary is part of the administrative team at Vertin Co., which oversees the operation of 40 funeral homes and crematories. She also coordinates the in-house customer service program, produces the company newsletter and designs many of the brochures and general price lists.
"I am delighted to be a recipient of the 2003 ICFA University scholarship," O'Leary said. "This is an exciting time to be involved in the funeral industry. There are many changes ahead and much progress to be made in service to families.
"I look forward to the opportunity to learn from mentors and peers during our stay in Memphis, to share ideas and to capture a greater vision of the future of funeral service."
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