Our Caring Staff

Matthew Fiorillo, the owner of the Ballard-Durand Funeral Group, is a licensed funeral director in New York State and Connecticut. He has earned the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, Inc. This is noted by the CFSP acronym. Matt has committed to a program of lifelong learning to serve you and families in your community with the level of excellence expected of a CFSP. He is a lifetime member of the White Plains Historical Society, a member of the Tamarack Country Club, and is honored to currently be a Board Member for Hospice of Westchester, Selected Independent Funeral Homes, White Plains Rural Cemetery, and is the current President for Preferred Funeral Directors International.  Matt is a graduate of Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, and is originally from West Nyack, NY. He is a long-time resident of Westchester County, where he currently resides.

Melissa Gudiño is the Managing Funeral Director and Embalmer for the Ballard-Durand Funeral Group. Melissa Graduated and received her degree in mortuary science at Cypress College in 2013. After graduating she took some time to travel and have new experiences and moved from Southern California, where she was born and raised, to New Orleans. She moved back to California and completed her apprenticeship for licensure in 2017 and currently holds an embalming license and Funeral Directors license in the state of California. She resides in Manhattan and is licensed in New York State as a Funeral Director & Embalmer.  Melissa brings her expertise and knowledge of cremation to our company.  She is a Licensed and Certified Crematory Operator and has years of experience performing cremations.

Jordan Friedricks joins the Ballard-Durand Funeral Group as Director of Operations with 8 plus years of dedicated administrative work and customer service experience. Jordan graduated from University of Hartford with a degree in Bachelor of Arts. Jordan was born and raised in Westchester and now resides in Connecticut. She enjoys being outdoors, creating art, and playing with her dog Pippa. Jordan is excited to learn the industry and continue to grow here. 

Kaysie Mandel is a New York State licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for the Ballard-Durand Funeral Group. In 2019, Kaysie graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services in New York, N.Y., and has been working in the profession since. Kaysie was born in White Plains, N.Y. and now resides in lower Westchester County with her family. She knew from a young age that this was the profession she was meant to be in. Kaysie takes great pride in taking care of the families she serves and helping them to celebrate the life of their loved ones. 

Ernest J. Carpentieri, founder and former owner of the Hawthorne Funeral Home, now proud Location Manager of Ballard-Durand Funeral Group’s Hawthorne location. He earned his degree in Mortuary Science from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in 1979, and is a New York State licensed Funeral Director. Ernest has been servicing the Mount Pleasant Community with compassion since 1996.  His past affiliations include memberships of the Mount Pleasant Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, and the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is a Past President of the Westchester County Funeral Directors Association, Former Counsel Member of Holy Rosary Parish, and Past President of the Holy Name Society. A long-time active member of the Hawthorne Fire Department, and currently sits as Fire Commissioner since 2004. Most recently, Ernie was chosen as the Grand Marshall of the Mount Pleasant Medal of Honor Purple Heart Day Parade.

He resides in Hawthorne with his wife Donna, three children, and six grandchildren.

Tatyana A. Fowler joins the Ballard-Durand Funeral Group as an Advance Funeral Planner/Director of Aftercare, bringing with her a background in end-of-life care education and hospice. Tatyana is a graduate of CUNY Baruch College where she received her BS, Public Affairs and her certification as a nonprofit professional. A recipient of the Integrative Thanatology certification through NY Open Center’s Art of Dying program, Tatyana is continuing her education to fulfill her requirements as a Thanatologist and Celebrant to provide compassionate and mindful support to families. Concurrently, she is pursuing her funeral director license at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. She is passionate about empowering families through education on end-of-life care and preplanning arrangements to better understand the process, make clear choices that are right for them, and help alleviate financial and emotional burdens during a difficult time. In her spare time, Tatyana enjoys cooking, hiking and consuming the works of her favorite authors: Ayn Rand, C.S. Lewis, Jules Verne, and unapologetically, Nicholas Sparks.

Sam Suleiman is a licensed funeral director with Ballard-Durand. Sam has had many careers in his life, including urban planner, car salesman, and even process server, but it was not until he found himself in the funeral industry that he truly found his calling. He seeks to bring together his wealth of experiences to provide 5-star service to every family that Ballard-Durand serves.

Sam is a Yonkers native who has called Westchester home for over 30 years. After spending a few years working in the heart of Manhattan, he is happy to come home and serve the families of Westchester County. Sam’s favorite part of being in this field is the opportunity to serve families of such diverse walks of life and tailor the funeral experience to best meet the needs of his client families. 

Raquel Poveda is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer at Ballard-Durand Funeral Group, bringing a unique blend of artistic and scientific expertise to her role. A graduate of Hunter College (2007) with a bachelor's degree in art, she furthered her education by obtaining a degree in mortuary science from the American Academy McAllister Institute (2010). Specializing in embalming and restorative art, Raquel also shares her knowledge as an instructor of restorative art at AAMI, merging her artistic background with her professional skills in the funeral industry. Raquel, originally from Argentina, moved to New York at the age of one, grew up in Queens, NY, and currently lives in Orange County, NY. Outside of her professional commitments, Raquel enjoys nature, playing video games, sculpting, and spending quality time with her two dogs and husband.

Jillian Schwartz is a New York State licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for the Ballard-Durand Funeral Group. After owning and operating her private acupuncture practice for over 20 years, Jillian decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Funeral Director. It was a natural progression after spending many years caring for patients and their families, many of whom she supported through end-of-life care.

Jillian was taught the importance of continuing that care one last time for those who can no longer care for themselves, which is how she came to love embalming and restorative art. It is with the utmost empathy, respect and compassion that she provides support and guidance to help families and friends memorialize their loved ones in their own personal way. She is grateful to be entrusted with such a beautiful calling and for all that she has learned from everyone with whom she has crossed paths.

Jillian holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, a Masters in Oriental Medicine, and an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. She loves spending time with her cats, Al and Minka, all things summer, baking, and drawing. Jillian tries to live by the philosophy Amor fati ~ a love of fate and acceptance that both good and bad are necessary. She tries to make the most of every moment she has with those she loves, especially her daughter Olivia.

Joseph Schuka is a licensed funeral director for Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services. He has worked in funeral service for the past 15 years, and has been a licensed funeral director for 12 years. Formerly a native of Peekskill, NY, where he was well-established in the community and his church. Joe currently manages our Dutchess County location, Libby Funeral & Cremation Services in Beacon, NY. He is an active communicant of St. Joachim-St. John Parish in Beacon, NY; where he thoroughly enjoys assisting when needed as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and whatever else is needed by the parish Priests and Deacons.  Joe has a deep love for community and giving back of himself, recently Joe has become the newest member of the Exchange Club of Southern Dutchess. Also, very dear to his heart are the Veterans, he has a great sense of Patriotism which was instilled in him at an early age by his paternal grandmother. He can be seen assisting the local VFW with veteran affairs.  Joe truly enjoys his life’s calling as funeral director; assisting families at that most difficult time in their lives, easing the moments, and providing a lasting tribute for generations to remember that loved one forever.

As the Family Care Coordinator at Ballard-Durand Funeral and Cremation Services, I am deeply committed to providing compassionate support to families during some of the most challenging times in their lives. My journey in the service industry began with a background in cosmetology, where I honed my skills in the art of care and attention to detail. This experience laid the foundation for my understanding of the importance of personal connection and empathy, qualities that I carry into my current role.

I am excited to further my professional development by enrolling in the PIMS online mortuary science program this January. My goal is to become a licensed funeral director, a role that will allow me to expand my contributions to families in need. This next step in my education is not just a career advancement; it is a commitment to enhancing my ability to assist others during their time of grief.

Empathy has always been at the core of what I do. I understand that every family is unique, and each service should reflect the individuality of the loved ones being honored. My passion for personalizing services is driven by a desire to ensure that each tribute is as meaningful and memorable as possible. I believe that the way we commemorate and celebrate lives can provide solace and healing to those left behind.

At Ballard-Durand, I work diligently to create an environment that fosters open communication and understanding. I strive to be a resource for families, helping them navigate the complexities of planning a service while offering emotional support every step of the way. I know that my role is not only about logistics but also about being a compassionate presence that families can rely on during their time of need.

As I continue my journey in the funeral service profession, I remain dedicated to upholding the values of empathy, respect, and dedication. I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, as they will only deepen my understanding and commitment to serving families during their most vulnerable moments. It is my mission to ensure that everyone I work with feels truly cared for, and that their loved ones are honored in the most beautiful and personalized manner possible.

Ms. Assumma is a highly skilled clinical social worker. Her experience in bereavement and grief counseling started in 1980’s as a coordinator facilitating groups and providing individual and family therapy to address transition and loss. She has over 20 years’ experience in Hospice and Palliative care and holds certificates in Grief; Trauma, Children & Loss, Affirmative Psychology, and Mindfulness, and is a certified Anxiety Treatment Professional and Oncology Social Worker. Her private practice focuses on Life Transitions and Challenges. She promotes understanding, acceptance, and healing in the midst of pain and loss and believes in the strength, and resilience of the individual to cope and honor loved ones.

In 2015, Lulu the golden doodle became Westchester's first therapy dog to serve families in a funeral home. Like those used in hospitals and nursing homes, Lulu acted as a source of comfort and love in times of emotional distress. Families who requested her presence could soothe their grief by stroking her soft fur or merely enjoying her supportive companionship. A fixture at the funeral home, Lulu was well-known and well-loved by everyone in the Westchester community. Her sweet, outgoing nature touched the lives of all she came into contact with and contributed a calming presence to the atmosphere of the funeral home. Though her passing in March of 2021 was unexpected, Lulu leaves behind a lasting legacy of caring for and supporting others during their time of grief. Her memory has set the standard for all future therapy dogs at Ballard-Durand. Lulu's presence will be greatly missed by both Ballard-Durand staff and the Westchester community, but the memory of her dedicated life of service will continue to live on.