Leadership

For more than 120 years, families in Western New York have turned to Elmlawn Memorial Park for caring, compassionate guidance concerning burial and memorial needs.

Today, our tradition of care and concern is carried on by Andrea Williams and Stevie Gisel, who have more than 15 years of combined experience in helping clients during what is most always a difficult time for the family.

According to Andrea, no two families or clients are the same and every one has different needs. So first, the Family Service Counselors listens closely with sincere empathy. Different ages, backgrounds, religious beliefs, budget needs and other factors are taken into consideration to assist the person in determining what they would like to memorialize their loved ones.

"Our families have so many options, from traditional burial to cremation gardens to memorial benches and more," explains Andrea, whose background as a former business owner helps her handle the many details for clients. "We are here to guide them through, answering questions, offering choices and making suggestions, all with the understanding that the person with whom we are speaking is experiencing the loss of a loved one."

Stevie is a former teacher and notes that, as counselors, they also serve as educators for the family. "There is so much to know, that it can be overwhelming for the families, so it is up to us to help them understand what is available to them," Stevie adds. "Sometimes we wear many hats, but everything we do is to provide the best possible service for the family."

Both Andrea and Stevie point to the atmosphere of teamwork as another advantage at Elmlawn, where every department works together to ensure that client needs are met. To speak with one of the experienced and knowledgeable Family Service Counselors and to set up an appointment to meet with them, call Elmlawn Memorial Park at 716-876-8131.