Our staff's commitment to you

Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information, and direction as needed to all members of our community, their families, and friends who are dealing with loss and grief.  We feel it is an honor to serve familes at their time of need.  We are here for you from the first hour and always. 

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George Estes Cemetery Manager George@valleymemorialpark.com

George has been part of Valley Memorial Park since 1981.  It is an honor to have George as such a valued employee who has given his life and be of service to the families that have come to VMP to bury their loved ones.  George has also given back to the community by being part of the Novato Rotary for 39 years and a Scout Master for over 20 years and is still active with the Marin Council of BSA.  He is also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and mostly worked with the youth groups here in Novato. 

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Jerome White Funeral Director Jerome@ValleyMemorialPark.com

In 1974 Jerome began his calling in the funeral business in San Franciso's North Beach neighborhood.  With serval decades of serving families from all walks of life in their time of need.  Jerome just recently joined the staff of Valley Memorial.  Away from his work life, Jerome enjoys cooking for and eating with friends and family, craft brews, a good laugh, a good story and loving his cats Moby and The Little Kitty. 

 

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Jesus Santana Grounds Manager Jesus@valleymemorialpark.com

Jesus has been with Valley Memorial Park since July 1999.  He started here at VMP as a Grounds Keeper and has worked his way up to being the Grounds Manager.  Not only is he a Grounds Manager, but Jesus is everyones "Go to Guy"  Jesus can pretty much do and help in every department there is at VMP.  From selling property, managing the Crematory, helping with funerals andwering the phones and yes even the Accounting.  Jesus has a heart of gold and it shows when he is  working with families helping them to find that special burial spot for their loved one.  Jesus gives to the staff and families that come to VMP 110% of his time, attention and care.  We are so very fortunate to have Jesus as our friend, co-worker and employee.   

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Kenya Richards Accounting accounting@valeymemorialpark.com

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Lauren Elkin III CEO Lauren@valleymemorialpark.com

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Lorena Lupercio-Diaz Funeral Director / Cemetery Sales Lorena@valleymemorialpark.com

After a fulfilng career in teaching, Lorena found her passion as a funerl director and pre-planning advisor - guiding and assisting families through difficult conversations and times of grief.  She takes great pride in providing families with the information and resources needed to make educated decisions for themselves and loved ones.  She is thrilled to be part of the team at Valley Memorial Park, and looks forward to serving this beautiful community.  Outisde of work, Lorena enjoys travel, performing arts, books, time spent with cats, and sharing delicious meals with friends and family. 

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Raye Lee Estes Administration Raye@ValleyMemorialPark.com

Raye-Lee Estes has over 40 years of customer service experiece & joined our Valley Memorial Park family fulltime, in 2016.  She considers being of service to the families in our community a great honor & strives to make a very difficult time as easy & preaceful for them as possible.

Raye-Lee was born in San Francisco & raised in northern California.  She is a 1974 graduate of Novato High school & has been a resident of Marin County since 1969.  She marrried her high school sweetheart, George Estes in 1978.  They have 2 grown children & are the proud granparents of 3 perfect grandhildren. 

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Raymond Soudah Asst. Cemetery Manager / Funeral Director

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Scott Gatze Funeral Director Scott@ValleyMemorialPark.com

Being raised in Manteca, Scott is native to the northern California region, and is a 5th generation Californian.  Scott started his career in funeral service in 2008 while working and living in California’s Central Valley. Scott was inspired to enter the funeral profession by hearing stories from his grandma Barbara about her uncles George Grunnagle & Michael Sullivan who both owned mortuaries in California. Since then, Scott has worked in many roles in the funeral profession, and is a California licensed Funeral Director & Crematory Manager. Scott enjoys traveling, going to restaurants, books, genealogy, orchids and most importantly spending time with his family.

“I am honored to be a part of Valley Memorial Park, and to serve the families of Novato and the Marin County communities during their times of need.”

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Sherri Jacobs Accounting / Marketing sherri@valleymemorialpark.com

I came to Valley Memorial Park in December of  2016.  I am new at this type of business. Once I realized what a valuable service our company is to the community, I started a mission of getting the word out that there is a new Funeral Home in town.  One that can take care of all of a familes burial, funeral, cremation and celebration of life needs on their worst day.  In hopes that we can make it a little easier for them. I am very proud of Valley Memorial Park and the contributions they put forward in the community.

George Estes

Cemetery Manager
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George has been part of Valley Memorial Park since 1981.  It is an honor to have George as such a valued employee who has given his life and be of service to the families that have come to VMP to bury their loved ones.  George has also given back to the community by being part of the Novato Rotary for 39 years and a Scout Master for over 20 years and is still active with the Marin Council of BSA.  He is also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and mostly worked with the youth groups here in Novato. 

Jerome White

Funeral Director
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In 1974 Jerome began his calling in the funeral business in San Franciso's North Beach neighborhood.  With serval decades of serving families from all walks of life in their time of need.  Jerome just recently joined the staff of Valley Memorial.  Away from his work life, Jerome enjoys cooking for and eating with friends and family, craft brews, a good laugh, a good story and loving his cats Moby and The Little Kitty. 

 

Jesus Santana

Grounds Manager
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Jesus has been with Valley Memorial Park since July 1999.  He started here at VMP as a Grounds Keeper and has worked his way up to being the Grounds Manager.  Not only is he a Grounds Manager, but Jesus is everyones "Go to Guy"  Jesus can pretty much do and help in every department there is at VMP.  From selling property, managing the Crematory, helping with funerals andwering the phones and yes even the Accounting.  Jesus has a heart of gold and it shows when he is  working with families helping them to find that special burial spot for their loved one.  Jesus gives to the staff and families that come to VMP 110% of his time, attention and care.  We are so very fortunate to have Jesus as our friend, co-worker and employee.   

Kenya Richards

Accounting
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Lauren Elkin III

CEO
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Lorena Lupercio-Diaz

Funeral Director / Cemetery Sales
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After a fulfilng career in teaching, Lorena found her passion as a funerl director and pre-planning advisor - guiding and assisting families through difficult conversations and times of grief.  She takes great pride in providing families with the information and resources needed to make educated decisions for themselves and loved ones.  She is thrilled to be part of the team at Valley Memorial Park, and looks forward to serving this beautiful community.  Outisde of work, Lorena enjoys travel, performing arts, books, time spent with cats, and sharing delicious meals with friends and family. 

Raye Lee Estes

Administration
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Raye-Lee Estes has over 40 years of customer service experiece & joined our Valley Memorial Park family fulltime, in 2016.  She considers being of service to the families in our community a great honor & strives to make a very difficult time as easy & preaceful for them as possible.

Raye-Lee was born in San Francisco & raised in northern California.  She is a 1974 graduate of Novato High school & has been a resident of Marin County since 1969.  She marrried her high school sweetheart, George Estes in 1978.  They have 2 grown children & are the proud granparents of 3 perfect grandhildren. 

Raymond Soudah

Asst. Cemetery Manager / Funeral Director
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Scott Gatze

Funeral Director
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Being raised in Manteca, Scott is native to the northern California region, and is a 5th generation Californian.  Scott started his career in funeral service in 2008 while working and living in California’s Central Valley. Scott was inspired to enter the funeral profession by hearing stories from his grandma Barbara about her uncles George Grunnagle & Michael Sullivan who both owned mortuaries in California. Since then, Scott has worked in many roles in the funeral profession, and is a California licensed Funeral Director & Crematory Manager. Scott enjoys traveling, going to restaurants, books, genealogy, orchids and most importantly spending time with his family.

“I am honored to be a part of Valley Memorial Park, and to serve the families of Novato and the Marin County communities during their times of need.”

Sherri Jacobs

Accounting / Marketing
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I came to Valley Memorial Park in December of  2016.  I am new at this type of business. Once I realized what a valuable service our company is to the community, I started a mission of getting the word out that there is a new Funeral Home in town.  One that can take care of all of a familes burial, funeral, cremation and celebration of life needs on their worst day.  In hopes that we can make it a little easier for them. I am very proud of Valley Memorial Park and the contributions they put forward in the community.