Wethersfield-based CT Funeral Directors Assn. Elects New V.P.

The Wethersfield-based Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) has elected Lionel J. Lessard, Jr., CFSP, as its 2022 Vice President.

Lessard is a licensed funeral director/embalmer and the General Manager of D’Esopo Funeral Chapel in Wethersfield and D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel in East Hartford, Conn. and , Conn. He is recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Prior to his election as Vice President, he served as a member of the Wethersfield, Conn.-based CFDA Executive Board.

Lessard became a licensed funeral director/embalmer in 1984 after receiving his professional schooling from the former New England Institute of Applied Funeral Arts and Sciences in Massachusetts. He joined the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel in 2000. He previously was employed for 21 years by Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home in East Hartford and West Hartford.
Lessard lives in East Hartford with his wife, Christina. He is a Trustee of the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the town of East Hartford Democratic Committee and 6th District Committee. He is Vice Chair of the East Hartford Economic Development Commission and is a member of the Economic & Strategic Development Committee of Goodwin University. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Sports Management Group-Nutmeg State Games.

Wethersfield resident John Cascio is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association. In addition to Lessard, the other CFDA 2022 Executive Committee members are:

• President – David W. MacDonald, CFSP, CPC, CCO, Wallingford Funeral Home and Yalesville Funeral Home in Wallingford;
• Treasurer – Matthew R. Adzima, Adzima Funeral Home, Inc. in Stratford;
• Secretary – Melissa Melin-Miles, Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc. in Cheshire, Naugatuck and Waterbury;
• Executive Committee – Albert M. DeLucia, Porto Funeral Homes in East Haven and West Haven;
• Executive Committee – Jesse M. Gomes, MA, CFSP, CPC, CCO, Molloy Funeral Home in West Hartford;
• Executive Committee – Jonathan L. Green, CPC, Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home in Fairfield;
• Executive Committee – Amanda Portelance, CCO, Spencer Funeral Home in East Hampton;
• Executive Committee – Thomas J. Tierney, John F. Tierney Funeral Home Inc. in Manchester;
• CFDA Policy Board Representative to National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) – Diana Duksa Kurz, CFSP, Duksa Family Funeral Homes in Newington and New Britain; and
• Immediate Past-President – Edward J. Sheehy, Jr, CFSP, CPC, CCO, Riverview Funeral Home in Shelton and Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home in Derby.

The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) is comprised of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes. Founded 133 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.