Our knowledgeable staff are passionate about providing families guidance and support during the funeral planning process and well after the funeral. Together, we can honor your loved one’s life while beginning your grief journey.
Rachel Kennedy Becker is the owner of Diablo Valley Cremation and Funeral Service. She was born and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. She graduated from Hotel and Catering Management in 1996 from Trinity College Dublin and Cathal Brugha Street. She started in the funeral industry in 1998 with her husband Jay, who owns a removal service. " I believe that we have the best funeral directors and staff in the industry and we take so much pride in helping every customer who calls. We all love what we do, so it makes it easy to come to work everyday". Rachel has 3 kids and 3 dogs. She loves coaching soccer, going to Tahoe and hiking with friends.
A 1996 graduate of San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, Rose has been an embalmer and funeral director for over 25 years. She completed her apprenticeship in Concord, CA and received her embalmer’s license shortly thereafter. She then acquired her funeral director’s license and, for several years, held a cemetery salesperson license. She joined Diablo Valley Cremation & Funeral Services in July of 2017.
She met her husband, Danny, in high school. They dated for 9 years before they got married in August of 2000. They have one daughter and a puppy and live in Benicia.
Rose enjoys entertaining family and friends and loves to travel.
Mark has served in the funeral industry for the last 15-years. His experience includes funeral and pre-need funeral arrangements, cemetery sales and cremation services. He graduated from Sonoma State University in Marketing and Human Resource Management. He never takes for granted the trust families place in him and has always considered what he does to be a ministry and not a job.
Mark is married with two children and three dogs. His passions included bay area sports teams, his family and his puppies!
Bari Hendershot has been in the Funeral Business since 2007. Although her collegiate studies covered Art History and Gallery Exhibition, Bari found her unexpected path in the funeral industry and never looked back. Bari is well known point of contact for cremation information with various local hospices and care facilities and frequently gives informational talks on family preparation and what to expect when the time comes.
After hours, she is a local dance instructor and professional dance artist. She loves travel, reading, cooking, and spending her free time with her significant other, their two cats and their families.
Charlie has been in the funeral industry for over 25 years. He began doing transportation in the mid 1990s. He has worked with many different mortuaries throughout the Bay Area. Charlie has been with Diablo Valley Funeral Home, as an Arrangement Counselor and office assistant, since 2015.
Charlie is also a musician and performs at local venues in the Contra Costa area.
Maritza was born and raised in the Bay Area. She obtained her cosmetology licence in 2016 and hoped to use it in the funeral industry. Maritza joined Diablo Valley Cremation & Funeral Services in March 2021 on part-time basis and quickly earned a full-time position. She plans to attend mortuary college and receive her embalmer's licence. A mother of two young men, Maritza enjoys watching her sons play soccer. She also likes hiking and bike riding.
Originally from the South Suburbs of Chicago, Robin moved to the Bay Area in 2018 and has since made her home in Martinez. No stranger to making life-altering decisions, Robin transitioned to the funeral industry after a career in coffee. She brings with her gratitude, empathy, and community. Outside of work Robin spends time working on projects with her partner and their cat, Norman.
Hannah was born in Kansas and in 2008 moved to Oregon. She began her carrer in Funeral Service in 2022. Hannah graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 2024. Hannah, her husband Derek and daughter Abby relocated to the Bay Area in September 2023. She joined Diablo Valley Funeral Home in 2023 and is currently serving her embalming apprenticeship.
Hannah enjoys spening time with her family and exploring the Bay Area.
Sidney is from the Bay Area and has lived here her whole life. She started in the funeral industry once she graduated high school in 2016 and now has 5 years of experience under her belt. She joined the Diablo Valley family in February of 2024. Sidney plans on being in the industry for many more years to come and gaining as much knowledge in the industry as possible to further help families.
In Sidney’s free time she enjoys Marvel, playing softball, watching movies/shows/anime, and learning about mythology. When she’s not doing that, she cooks and spends as much time with her cat Erebus as possible.
Casey is a Bay Area native.
While achieving her degree in criminal justice, she was introduced to funeral services. Casey now has four years in the funeral industry and counting. This field chose her. She can’t imagine doing anything else with her life. She started in Marin County, served her community in Solano County and now is proud to be part of the team here at Diablo Valley Cremation and Funeral Services in Contra Costa County.
Her beautiful family of 5 and their fur baby are her motivation. They go camping up the north coast, she loves to cook southern food, watches true crime documentaries and enjoys being outdoors. She is deeply connected spiritually and has learned through life’s obstacles that it’s best to dance in the rain.
Raymond Avila was born and raised in Southern California. He moved, with his family, to the Bay Area in 2019.
Ray joined Diablo Valley in October of 2024. He enjoys playing basketball, working out and spending time with family and friends
