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Our Staff

Meet Our Caring Staff

Our Staff

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All of our licensed directors adhere to the highest standard of ethical practices and are committed to ensuring that all of your needs are attended to. Their commitment to the community and genuine compassion toward families are but a few of the characteristics that make them outstanding in their field. We are proud to have them on our staff.

Our Founders

a group of people posing for a picture with two men holding a certificate that says ' william j. williams '

Louis Mercadante (1925-2007) & Lorraine Mercadante (1925 -2009)

Kevin Mercadante
Kevin Mercadante
President
Kevin Mercadante
President

Born August 14, 1955 in Worcester. He is the son of our founders, Louis and Lorraine Mercadante. He is married to Katherine (Leonard) Mercadante; they have three children Kristopher, Michelle, and Melissa. He grew up in the Lake Quinsigamond Section of Worcester and graduated from North High School in 1973. He then received his bachelor's degree in Business from the Military College of Vermont Norwich University in 1977. His Associate's Degree in Funeral Service from New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Boston in 1980. Spent 2 years in the U.S. Army at Ft Sill OK and 12 years in the Mass Army National Guard. Retiring as a Major in 1995. He has been President of Mercadante Funeral Home inc 1979. He is dedicated to the Care and the compassion of each and every person who trusts us to serve them.

Stephen F. Gemelli
Stephen F. Gemelli
General Manager
Stephen F. Gemelli
General Manager

Born in Cambridge, Stephen grew up in Grafton and has been a resident of Worcester since 1991. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1985, and in 1987 from New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Boston with a degree in Mortuary Science. While working as a full-time funeral director since 1987 here at Mercadante, he earned a degree in Business Administration from Eastern Nazarene College, while attending night school. Stephen is active in his community and has served as chairperson and co-chair for various fundraising events throughout Worcester. A member of The National Funeral Directors Association, and Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, where he currently serves on the board of directors, and a Past President of the Greater Worcester Funeral Directors Association, he is a member of the Order Sons of Italy in America and is past president of the Shrewsbury Kiwanis Club.

Michelle L. (Mercadante) Elworthy
Michelle L. (Mercadante) Elworthy
Type 3, Licensed Funeral Director
Michelle L. (Mercadante) Elworthy
Type 3, Licensed Funeral Director

Born in Worcester, MA, grew up in the Grafton Hill Area and still remains a resident in Worcester. She is the granddaughter to our late founders Louis and Lorraine (Derosier) Mercadante and the daughter of the current CEO Kevin L. Mercadante. She graduated from St. Peter Marian Central Catholic Jr. /Sr. High School in 2002. Michelle received her Bachelor in Science of Business Administration from Nichols College in Dudley, MA in 2006. She then received her Associate in Applied Science in Funeral Service from FINE Mortuary College in Norwood, where she graduated in 2008. Michelle became a registered funeral director and licensed embalmer in 2009. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association. She is dedicated to the care and final farewell of your loved ones.

Michael J. Farrow
Michael J. Farrow
Type 6, Licensed Funeral Director
Michael J. Farrow
Type 6, Licensed Funeral Director

Born in Gardner, Michael grew up in Lancaster and has been a resident of Worcester since 2002. He graduated from Nashoba Regional High School in 1995.   Michael received his Bachelors from Framingham State College with a double major in chemistry and biology. He received  an Associate in Applied Science in Funeral Service from FINE Mortuary College in Norwood, where he graduated in 2002. Michael became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in November of 2003.  Michael is active in his community. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, Greater Worcester Funeral Directors Association, and The American Society of Embalmers. Michael is also licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 1992. Michael takes his position and responsibilities very seriously. He truly understands the importance of caring for the dead, individual family expectations, and the meaning of service. These attributes are evident in his attention to detail combined with his work ethic and dedication.  His compassion for families and loyalty to the funeral home makes him a key asset to the growth of Mercadante Funeral Home. 


Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his three French Bulldogs, Aywa, Stella, and Lucy. His time is invested in gardening, bird watching, kayaking with his dad, and coin collecting.

Bruce Plumley
Bruce Plumley
Type 6, Licensed Funeral Director
Bruce Plumley
Type 6, Licensed Funeral Director

Born in Brimfield, and raised in Lancaster Ma, Bruce was a 1974 graduate of Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton.  Bruce now resides in Holland Ma with his wife Belinda.  They have four adult children, Lauren, Taylor, Leah, and Adam.  


Bruce began his career as a funeral director in 1981 as a young apprentice in Springfield Ma.  He graduated with honors from the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Boston in 1983 and has served as a licensed funeral director and embalmer since.  


Bruce’s experience with death, dying and grief as a funeral director and embalmer lead him to answer a personal call to pastoral ministry.  Bruce pursued that call and began his seminary training and studies in Theology in 1999, graduating from Bethel Seminary of the East as an ordained minister of the Gospel in 2004.  Bruce served the Holland Congregational Church as an Elder/Pastor before retiring from local church ministry in 2018.  


As a bi-vocational minister-funeral director embalmer, Bruce joined the Mercadante Funeral Home in November 2017 just prior to his retirement from ministry and now serves full time as a funeral director, embalmer and minister officiating funeral services to many families.  


Bruce has a passion for helping people when the death of a loved one occurs.  He believes that understanding the funeral service, and proper grieving plays a key role in our lives and is committed to helping people find peace and comfort in their time of grief and sorrow.  Bruce has studied and written extensively about death, dying, and grief and welcomes anyone to speak with him that may be struggling with the death of a loved one.  

Matthew F. Lukasevicz
Matthew F. Lukasevicz
Apprentice Embalmer
Matthew F. Lukasevicz
Apprentice Embalmer


Desiree Graca-Derosier
Type 6, Licensed Funeral Director
Desiree Graca-Derosier
Type 6, Licensed Funeral Director

Born in Providence and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island. Desireé graduated from Cranston High School East in 2013.

She went on to attend Bristol Community College where she graduated with an associate degree in Thanatology and Grief Facilitating. After having a poor experience working for a local funeral home, she enrolled in Mortuary College. She started attending Mount Ida College for a bachelor’s degree in business management. When Mount Ida claimed bankruptcy and with the new school not adopting the funeral program, she transferred to FINE Mortuary College in Norwood where she was able to finish her degree. She graduated in 2019 and moved to Massachusetts. Desiree began her career as an apprentice in Norwood, MA. Desireé became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2021. She is also certified in Sea Burials. Desireé now lives in Leicester with her husband and children.  Desireé enjoys going out with her family to the local restaurants and shops. She loves the outdoors and going on an adventure.

Desireé has a passion for helping people in one of their most difficult times of need. She is committed to helping families understand the funeral service and all that happens when going through the grieving process. 


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