Essex's Dean McMorran, Jr. Elected to Statewide Executive Board

Essex resident Dean McMorran, Jr., CCO, has been elected to his first term as an Alternate member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA).

McMorran is a licensed funeral director/embalmer at B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, Inc. in Wallingford, Bailey Funeral Home in Plainville, Carpino Funeral Home in Southbury, and Waterbury Funeral Home in Waterbury, Conn. He became a licensed funeral director/embalmer in 2006 after receiving his professional schooling from the former Briarwood College in Southington, Conn. (now Goodwin University).

His CCO designation indicates that he completed the National Funeral Directors Association’s (NFDA) Certified Crematory Operator program. He also received Celebrant training and certification from the Insight Institute, to better meet the needs of families during their time of loss. McMorran joined Bailey Family Funeral Homes, CT Life Tributes in 2021. Previously, he served many Connecticut families while working at several funeral homes in the state.

McMorran is a State of Connecticut Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and is a volunteer EMT with Old Saybrook EMS. A member of the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Shoreline Medical Reserve Corps., he also serves as a Practical Skills Examiner for the Connecticut Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). In addition, he has a background in Emergency Medicine and worked for a commercial ambulance company for over 14 years, responding to 911 calls in Connecticut across the state. And, he is a past member of the Connecticut Critical Incident Stress Management Team and was a Treasurer.

McMorran lives in Essex. Conn. with his wife, Nina, and their two children. He is a member of the Board of the Fountain Hill Cemetery Association in Deep River, Conn. An original Charter Member of the V.F.W. Men’s Auxiliary Post #9965 in Yalesville, Conn., he also is a Brother of the Wallingford, Conn. AF & AM Masonic Lodge, Compass #9. A native of Meriden, Conn., he graduated from F.T Maloney High School in Meriden.

The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association’s 2023 Officers and Executive Committee members all are licensed funeral directors/embalmers. The following is the complete list:

President: Lionel J. Lessard, Jr., CFSP, of D'Esopo Funeral Chapels in East Hartford and Wethersfield;

Vice President Melissa Melin-Miles of Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc. in Cheshire, Naugatuck, and Waterbury;

Treasurer: Edward J. Sheehy, Jr. CFSP, CPC, CCO, of Riverview Funeral Home in Shelton, and Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home in Derby;

Secretary: Jonathan L. Green, CPC, CCSP, of Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home in Fairfield;

Immediate Past President: David W. MacDonald, CFSP, CPC, CCO, of Wallingford Funeral Home in Wallingford, and Yalesville Funeral Home in Yalesville;

Executive Committee: Robert W. Hansen III, of Mulryan Funeral Home in Glastonbury;

Executive Committee: Michael J. Introvigne of Introvigne Funeral Home in Stafford Springs;

Executive Committee: Lissa Lovetere-Stone of Munson-Lovetere Funeral Homes, Inc. in Southbury and Woodbury;

Executive Committee: Jessica J. Mercuri of Ahern Funeral Home in Hartford and Unionville;

Executive Committee: June Williams, CFSP, CPC, of Carmon Community Funeral Homes in Windsor (2), Avon, Granby, Rockville, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, and Hartford;

Executive Committee Alternate: Joseph A. Murray of Castiglione Funeral Home, Inc. in Greenwich;

Executive Committee: Alternate: Dean McMorran, Jr. of B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, Inc.in Wallingford, Bailey Funeral Home in Plainville, Carpino Funeral Home in Southbury, and Waterbury Funeral Home;

NFDA State Leadership Representative: Diana Duksa Kurz, CFSP, of Duksa Family Funeral Homes in Newington, and Duksa Family Funeral Home at Burritt Hill in New Britain.

The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) is comprised of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes. Founded 134 years ago in 1889, the Wethersfield-based association is committed to the promotion and advocacy of high ethical standards in funeral service. This includes the development and presentation of ongoing professional training opportunities for practitioners and educational programs for association members and the public. For information about the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, call 860-721-0234 or visit www.ctfda.org or www.facebook.com/ConnFDA.