Our Team

Michael Crean is the President and CEO of Kearney Funeral Services Ltd. He has been a resident of New Westminster for more than 30 years where he has been an active presence in the local community. In his professional life, Mike has been leading his locally owned family business for more than 35 years. He is a former board member of FSABC, the Independent Funeral Service Association and the Provincial Government Funeral Trade Advisory Committee. Mike has been a passionate advocate for health care issues for decades, as a founding member of the SFHR board and Community Health Council in New Westminster. Since that time, he has served at the highest levels on the boards of the Catholic Health Association of BC and Saint Mary’s Hospital. In addition, he was a founding board member of the Denominational Health Association. Most recently, he was chair of the Providence Health Care Society in Vancouver. Mike has also been involved for many years with Rotary. He is the former chair of World Community Service for Rotary District 5040 and was a member of the Canadian Rotary Committee for International Development. Most recently, Mike completed his 15th trip in twenty years to Africa – two to Zimbabwe and thirteen to Uganda – where he worked to implement Rotary Projects, setting up hearing testing centres and operating equipment. Mike finds time to indulge in his hobbies: playing drums in two working bands, sailing, travelling, skiing, cycling, hiking and playing broomball, squash and racquetball.

Ryan was born and raised in New Westminster. The 4th generation of a 117 year-old family business, Ryan entered the Funeral Director and Embalmer Apprenticeship program in 2006, becoming a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2008. Following completion of his apprenticeship, Ryan returned to Simon Fraser University to pursue a degree in Physics, completing his degree in 2014 before returning to the family business. Ryan is an active member of the Vancouver Rotary Club as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1283. Ryan is married to Jennifer Kauppila and together they have a young son Rowan. In his free time, Ryan enjoys skiing, mountain biking, reading and enjoying the outdoors. Ryan has a passion for helping the bereaved and is an advocate for bereavement education and out reach. He has worked to bring Dr. Alan Wolfelt to Vancouver, is an organizer of annual Honour a Life events and an advocate for community work that directly impacts those suffering a loss.

Rob began his career in service and leadership by enrolling in the Officer Training Program at the Royal Military College of Canada in 1989. After earning his funeral director and embalmer license in 1993, he purchased Burquitlam Funeral Home that same year—continuing a proud family legacy as a second-generation funeral director.

Following the 2023 merger with Kearney Funeral Services, Rob took on leadership of the Preneed Department while continuing to serve as an active owner in the business. He is dedicated to helping families plan ahead with clarity, care, and confidence—bringing decades of experience to an evolving and essential area of funeral service.

Outside of work, Rob and his wife Tammy stay busy raising their four kids and two cats.

Aaron was born in Vancouver, B.C., spending his formative years in Prince George before returning to Burnaby to complete his BA at Simon Fraser University. He completed his BC Provincial Apprenticeship Funeral program in 1996, working full time in the funeral profession and later becoming Manager of Vancouver Memorial Services and Crematorium in 2000 and the General Manager of Hamilton-Harron Funeral Home in 2006. In March of 2009 he joined Bell & Burnaby Funeral Chapel where he served as Manager until April 2017. Since May 2017, Aaron served as Operations Manager at Kearney Funeral Service (Columbia-Bowell Funeral Chapel, Kearney Burnaby Chapel and Kearney Cloverdale). As of May 2020, he will be located at the Kearney Burnaby Chapel where he is proud to continue his professional journey with a locally owned and independent funeral service provider.

Active in outdoor sports and music, Aaron has served or is serving on several professional boards as well as community and fraternal associations. With 30 years in the funeral profession, Aaron continues his dedication and commitment to the families that he and his colleagues serve at Kearney Funeral Services.

Originally from Ontario, Joanna started her career in Funeral Service working part-time while attending Don Bosco Secondary School. During this time Joanna realized that her calling in life would be in the Funeral Profession. Being entrusted to care for those who have left this world and the people they leave behind is an honour and a privilege. "Meeting people from different religions, backgrounds and cultures all over the world has been an experience that I feel could not have been duplicated had I chosen another profession. When I look back on the connections that I have made with so many people over the years I am inspired and grateful. I am always looking forward to establishing the next relationship".

Joanna graduated from Humber College and received her Funeral Director's License in 1994 where she continued to work as a Funeral Director in the Toronto area. In 1997 Joanna moved from Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver, BC where she lives, works, and raises her own family. When not at work Joanna enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, travelling, cooking, reading, and curling up in front of a good movie.

Jeannette was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario and moved to Toronto, Ontario in 1991 where she has worked in all levels of retail management and working with the Disney Corporation. In 2007 Jeannette followed her dream to become a Licensed funeral director embalmer at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel. Then moving into a Management role with the Giffen and Mack Funeral Home and Chapel serving on the OACFP committee and was actively involved within the community she served spanning different roles in her career.

In 2017 Jeannette became a mother and had joined the Highland Funeral Home & Chapel as a Senior Funeral Director & Embalmer and in 2020 was promoted to Team Lead Senior Funeral Director. In August 2021 Jeannette had relocated her family to British Columbia and is now the General Manager at Kearney Funeral Services – Vancouver.

Jeannette has a passion to serving her families and making their vision come to life through personalization and celebrating a life well lived. Jeannette and her family are world travellers and have explored many parts of the world together. In her spare time, she enjoys running races, biking and spending time with her family in the outdoors.

Jeannette believes: "Every day of your life is a special occasion, Celebrate it, Every day, Each moment at a time!"

Originally from Ontario, I moved to Vancouver in the late 1990s. After a busy career filled with entrepreneurial ventures and leadership roles, I found my true calling in the funeral profession in 2020. I take great pride in educating and guiding families through one of life’s most difficult moments, helping to ease the burden with compassion and care.

In my spare time, I enjoy exploring the natural beauty of our province—hiking, biking, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Mike has been married 30+ years and is the proud father of 4 adult children and grandfather of one energetic 2 year old boy. He has spent his entire adult life in service to others, working with youth in sports, coaching at the elementary, high school and college level, providing representation support to workers as a union representative for 35 years, first as a volunteer and then as a full time union officer, helping build financial stability for families through estate planning and insurance tools as a Fraternal Benefits Specialist with the Knights of Columbus. Mike also helps seniors with affordable housing through charitable foundations, serving first as Vice President and then President for more than 10 years. The culture of care and compassion at Kearney Funeral Services allows him to continue the work he has spent his entire life doing and doing this work within a company that allows him to provide the best service to our clients - the way he would want to be treated. Mike looks forward to serving you!

Born and raised in Manila. She migrated from the Philippines with husband and only son, who is on his 2nd year at UBC.

Her background is in banking, social and community services.

She is a devout catholic. A member and household leader of the Couples of Christ Community for several years now.

Connie has a big heart for elders and seniors. She is caring and compassionate, with great listening skills. She loves helping families by attending to their needs and ensuring to give the best possible service to them. Her philosophy in life is that you only live once. So, “live life to its fullest."

Anne Plunkett-Rumley was born in County Cavan, Ireland. On May 1st 1987 she started working with Kearney Funeral Services. She is a Vital Statistics Registrar and a Licenced Funeral Director - this is her vocation. Working with the bereaved, she is very compassionate, caring and detailed. A parishioner at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Walnut Grove , she is very active in her parish: a CWL member, Counting Team, Hospitality and Greeting Team and an Extraordinary Minister. She enjoys her family, Church, friends, gardening and cats.

Steven Colón was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. When his mother moved back to Puerto Rico, he decided to join her there, where he completed his studies in Funeral Directing, Embalming and Autopsy Assisting. He worked in Puerto Rico for 6 years as a Funeral Director and Embalmer until 1999, when he moved to join his wife in Vancouver. In 2000, Steven worked with Kearney Funeral Services (Broadway & Oak location) as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and later at Kearney Columbia-Bowell (New Westminster location). Steven is ever mindful of the needs of all the families he serves, endeavouring to provide the best possible service with compassion and dignity, and in accordance with the wishes of loved ones. Steven is currently a parishioner of the St. Mary’s Parish in Vancouver and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the BCBP (Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals). Steven and his wife Belinda are loving parents to four Puerto Rican Chihuahuas that they adopted from the same canine family.

Alex was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. His ancestry came from Taishan, Guangdong, China, so he speaks Cantonese at home. He used to work as a journalist, and in the police force before moving to Canada. He worked a handful of odd jobs in Halifax, Nova Scotia before relocating to Vancouver in 2016, where he found his true calling to join the Funeral profession. He graduated as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2018 from the Canadian College of Funeral Service. He later trained as a Funeral Celebrant from the Insight Institute in Oklahoma, and now helps many bereaved families to celebrate the life of their loved ones.

Born in St. Boniface MB. He moved to Vancouver, BC in 1998 and started working in the funeral industry in 2012 and Graduated from the Canadian College of Funeral Services in 2016.

Art and antiques are two of his passions and hobbies. He loves the outdoors and spends weekends in Stanley Park or English Bay.

Matthew Palmer was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in Wales. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Cardiff, Matthew went on to discern a vocation to the Catholic Priesthood for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. However, after several years of Philosophy and Theology studies at seminary in Nebraska, Matthew decided not to become a Catholic Priest and instead settled in British Columbia where he met his wife, Bernadette, and joined the team at Kearney Funeral Services. Matthew lives with his wife in Maple Ridge, is an active member of Holy Family Parish in Vancouver and enjoys nothing more than a good book or a long hike.

The experience gained from living and training as a Catholic seminarian has given Matthew many valuable skills that continue to inform his way of life and which are readily applicable to his work with Kearney Funeral Services. He is committed to serving all the families who reach out to Kearney’s with a dedication that is rooted in his Catholic Faith.

“Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Ps. 129: 7-8

Alexander was raised in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to Vancouver in 2009, inspired by the city’s dynamic balance of urban living and natural beauty. With a strong desire to support others during life’s most challenging moments, he is currently pursuing studies to become a licensed Funeral Director. Deeply committed to service and compassion, Alexander is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in his community through care, empathy, and professionalism.

Jaycee was born and raised in Nanaimo, BC, where exploring and immersing oneself in the vast, untouched forests of Vancouver Island is a popular pastime. During Jaycee’s time in Nanaimo, they pursued a double-major in Anthropology and English at Vancouver Island University, while simultaneously employed at Edgewood Treatment Centre, an in-patient mental health and addictions treatment facility. During this time, Jaycee recognized the importance of assisting members of their community, and the necessity in providing an empathetic and supportive environment. A passion for dedicating oneself to providing gentle guidance had blossomed, and Jaycee quickly knew they wanted to devote their time in giving back to community members however possible. 

In June of 2022, Jaycee moved to Vancouver, BC, to pursue a career in the funeral profession. With the ongoing kindness and support of those at Kearney Funeral Services, Jaycee enrolled in the Canadian College of Funeral Services in September of 2023, and is set to graduate with their dual Funeral Directing and Embalming license in September of 2025. 

With a passion for literature, education, anthropology, and natural history, Jaycee’s interests, work history, and personal experience has led them to a successful career in the funeral profession. This has also led to a well-rounded perspective when assisting those who may need a helping hand when experiencing the bereavement, grief, and vulnerability that occurs when a loved one is lost.