Hot August Night - Brings the spirit of Ohana!
The LACFDA Board members
Aloha and Mahalo to all who helped make our Luau-themed Hot August Night a great success!
Rose Hills Memorial Park hosted the event inside their beautiful Hua Yuan Center, giving us all respite from the hot summer sun. Upon entering this oasis, guests were greeted with a bubbling koi pond, tropical tunes, and of course, leis!
Twenty one vendors participated in this year’s event, and we are so grateful to each one. They brought the luau theme to life with decorations, Hawaiian attire, and their gracious interactions with all who visited their tables. Each guest was given a bingo card to mark off whose booths they had gone to. At the end of the evening, the completed cards were entered into a drawing and two winners were selected.
White Dove Release
Dodge Co and friends
Longtime LACFDA vendors, American Crematory. The popcorn was delicious!
Captain Tony Miller with LACFDA Vendor Partner Donna Misterly, both from Prince Charters/AshScatteringsAtSea.com
After cocktail time and vendor table “island hopping”, we moved into the other side of Hua Yuan for dinner. A delicious spread of Polynesian/Hawaiian inspired cuisine made up the buffet, courtesy of South Bay Food Company.
As guests finished up their dinner our LACFDA President, Russell Chemerisov, gave an official welcome and Joe Henson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ray Perez-Plascencia presented the Douglass Family Memorial Scholarship to Cypress College Mortuary Science student, America Espinosa. We wish her much success in her future in our profession!
Isis Huckins, Russell Chemerisov, America Espinosa and Raymundo Perez-Plascencia
Lastly, our vendors had an opportunity to introduce themselves and their company and draw a winner from the business cards they had collected. From Starbucks gift cards to a 2-night getaway in Yosemite – the vendors’ prizes kept everyone waiting in anticipation, to see if they might be the next name drawn.
The Trademark Carriage crew raffle off a Yosemite retreat!
Our 21 Vendors, all lined up to generously present their raffle prizes.
In the end, we all walked away winners on that lovely August night - rich in the sense of “Ohana,” which is a Hawaiian word that transcends the traditional meaning of the word “family,” and encompasses a sense of community, interconnection, and supporting one another. It is that spirit that LACFDA strives to create and uphold among funeral professionals and vendor partners.
Pictured: LACFDA Immediate Past President, Isis Huckins and CFDA Immediate Past President, Jenna Moerk
We thank you all for your continued involvement and support!
Lisa Pahl, creator of The Death Deck, and also our newest Sponsor Member!
