Meet Our Staff

John B. Appel Jr., Esq.

Family Service Manager/Funeral Director

John has been helping families since 2005, having joined the industry thirty days before hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana.  He is married to Jean Newman and is the father of John III and Patrick, currently in college, and step-father to Scot, a student at St. Francis Xavier.  He changed careers after the unexpected death of his father.  Going through that experience revealed to him the need for preplanning and the importance of educating families that their burial property and funerals can be handled before the loss of a loved one.

Marilyn Strecker

Funeral Director / Embalmer

Carrie Kippers Bruno

Funeral Director

Wayne Hoffmann

Funeral Director/ Embalmer

Ryan Pierce

Family Service Counselor

Ryan has been serving families since 2009.  He is married to Deanna and is father to Lexie, Kylie, currently attending Loyola University, and Christian and Jolie', students at Crescent City Christian School.  He loves to travel with his family.  He knows most people prepare for what may happen through medical and auto insurance, fire detectors, etc., but few prepare those that mean the most for what we know will happen one day.  His calling is to help people plan ahead, protect their families and have peace of mind. 

Matthew Hayes

Family Service Counselor

Matthew has been serving families since 2013.  He is married to Laine and is the father of Benjamin, with another child on the way.  He enjoys being able to serve families and help impact them in a positive way. 

Tanya Angelo

Family Service Counselor

Tanya has been assisting families since 2002, is a veteran of the United States Air Force and a Purple Heart recipient.  She is the wife of Paul Angelo and proud mother of Alexandria, a member of the Slidell High School Marching Band, and Caleb, a member of the Navy JrROTC at Slidell High School.  Tanya believes her strength lies in helping families make the difficult decisions they cannot. 

Justin Bergeron

Family Service Counselor

Gail Calderone

Family Service Counselor

Lisa Escalante-McGivern

Family Service Counselor

Lisa has been assisting families since 1996 and started her career here at the Garden of Memories.  She is the mother of Sam, who is graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University, and Jessica, the mother of Lisa's grandson.  She entered this industry after having dealt with three deaths in her family.  She saw the good and bad in the experience and knew she could help families through that process.  Es su deseo a cuidar sus nuestros queridos.