Our Valued Staff

When a funeral goes smoothly, it is not by accident or good luck, but because no detail has been overlooked. Every team member has been highly schooled in every aspect of old-fashioned service with excellence.

Well before the family and friends arrive for the service, the director meets with his or her team and assigns their responsibilities. Every one from the pianist, who can play a wide selection of music from popular tunes to more traditional hymns and familiar classics, to the person greeting the friends and relatives, directing them to the location of the service, is given a list with their assigned duties. Everything possible is done to make certain each funeral meets the demanding standards that have singled out Burquitlam Funeral Home since 1964 as the Family Funeral Home of choice for hundreds of families.

Rob McCormick, Owner & Funeral Director Rob joined the Officer Training Program in 1989 with the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.  In 1993 he graduated with his funeral director and embalmer license, the same year he purchased Burquitlam Funeral Home. Rob is a second generation funeral director who is proud to continue the family tradition. When he and his wife Tammy aren't busy looking after their 4 kids, 2 cats and one dog you can find them ballroom dancing at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

Lauren Priest, Assistant Manager Lauren was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. After years in the hospitality industry, she enrolled in the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2011 to obtain her Funeral Director and Embalmer licenses. Since joining the Burquitlam Funeral Home team in 2012 she has cultivated a career as a funeral director, embalmer and manager. Lauren enjoys taking road trips through this beautiful province with her husband, visiting local galleries & museums, and exploring antique shops at every opportunity!

Mark Albert, Funeral Director Growing up on Vancouver Island, Mark entered the funeral profession in 2005. After apprenticing in West Vancouver, Mark graduated from the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2008. He has been serving families for the last 12 years. Residing in Coquitlam, he is honoured to be part of the McCormick’s Family Buquitlam Funeral Home for the last 5 years.

Linda Mizuguchi, Funeral Director & Family Care Counselor Originally from Timmins, Ontario, Linda has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from York University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Ethics and Religion from the University of Toronto. Linda had worked in Long Term Care for 13 years before moving to British Columbia, where she currently is the Family Counselor at Burquitlam Funeral Home.  Her role is to assist people with advance planning, as well as to offer aftercare information and support.   Linda enjoys skiing, hot yoga and spending time outdoors or at the beach with her husband and two children.

Melani Robinson, Apprentice Funeral Director & Embalmer Melani was born and raised in Southern Ontario, and in 2013 she earned her certification in Child and Youth Worker Education from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. She moved to the Tri-Cities area in 2014, and began her career as an apprentice funeral director and embalmer with Burquitlam Funeral Home in 2016. Melani graduated with Judy from the Canadian College Funeral Service Program in British Columbia in 2017. Melani’s desire to help people led her into the funeral industry and continues to work towards providing the best possible care to the families she serves. She appreciates that each different family has different needs and enjoys being able to recognize those needs and help families through the funeral process.

Judy Yuen, Apprentice Funeral Director & Embalmer Judy was born in Manhattan, New York. Judy spent most of her childhood in Brooklyn, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Utica College of Syracuse University.   Judy immigrated to Canada immediately after her marriage in 2012, and she began her career as an apprentice funeral director and embalmer with Burquitlam Funeral Home in 2016. Judy graduated with Melani from the Canadian College Funeral Service Program in British Columbia in 2017. Judy enjoys music, singing, cooking, learning new recipes, and discovering new ingredients. Her favorite readings is from the ‘food’ section from The New York Times.

Cindy Mortin, Office Administrator Cindy was born in Chilliwack, BC, and grew up in High River, Alberta. After a short time in Kelowna, her and her husband settled in Port Moody where they spend their spare time on soccer fields and in hockey arenas as they raise their two sports minded boys. While Cindy did not seek out funeral service purposefully, when she joined Burquitlam Funeral Home in 2013, she finds the opportunity to assist families at such a difficult time very rewarding.

Natalie Thomas, Adminstrator Natalie was born in England, where she pursued a career in dance. Immediately following her marriage, she immigrated to Canada, where her life became involved in dentistry,  working as a chair side assistant and administrator for many years. In 2008 nearing retirement age, Natalie joined the funeral business, working in administration, with her primary responsibility as a receptionist. Natalie is a Cancer survivor, who since 2007 has dedicated her private life to raising funds for the BC Cancer Society, and has participated in their annual walks. She also for 20 years has been a community police station volunteer with the R.C.M.P.

Megan Young, Administrator Megan joined the Burquitlam Funeral Home family as a funeral assistant in 2015, and has since become on of our administrators.

Russ Laturnus, Embalmer & Funeral Director Russ grew up in Chilliwack, BC and started his funeral career in Vancouver in 2004.  He currently lives in Port Moody with his wife and their handsome greyhound.