Ave Maria Memorial Chapel

Staff Appreciation Week: Wednesday Ann Peters has worked in the cemetery/funeral business for over 5 years. She is the Office Manager at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and girlfriends. Ann graduated from Watsonville High School.

Staff Appreciation Week: Tuesday Richard Pina was born and raised in Watsonville, he attended and graduated from Aptos High School and Cabrillo College. He now resides in Aptos. He's been working for the Carroll family for 8 years. Richard is the General Manager at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park. He's married and has a 10 year old daughter. Richard enjoys golfing, coaching local youth sports and his daughter softball team. He also is an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and Golden State Warriors.

Staff Appreciation Week: Friday Patrick Carroll was born and raised in Watsonville. In 2012, Patrick and his family purchased the corporately owned funeral home and changing it back to a family owned and operated funeral home. The Carroll Family has been in the funeral services since 1950, owning the Pajaro Valley Memorial Park and Crematory. Patrick feels extremely blessed to working alongside his family and serving his community every day. He is also proud to see his daughter and nephew eager to be a part of the Family Business. "We feel honored and blessed by the community of Watsonville receiving these amazing recognitions within the last few years. As a family owned funeral home we make it our goal to put each family that we serve our number one priority."

Staff Appreciation Week: Thursday Sonia O. Longoria is someone you can trust to care for you or your loved ones. She has over 20 years of experience in funeral and cemetery services, and is a second-generation cemeterian. She has compassionately served Central Coast families for over 5 years as a certified funeral arranger and licensed pre-need specialist for Ave Maria Memorial Chapel.

Staff Appreciation Week: Wednesday Martha Hernandez is retired. She worked for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office from 1984 to 2012. Martha has also worked in the funeral business for over 16 joyful years and is a licensed bilingual, bicultural and biliterate funeral arranger at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel.

Staff Appreciation Week: Tuesday Matthew Talia has been in the funeral profession for 4 years now and is a part of the 3rd generation of their family business. He is the Operations Manager at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel and has a true passion for helping people. Matt is currently pursuing his Associate’s Degree in Psychology at San Jose City College.

Staff Appreciation Week: Monday Fermin Medina was raised in Watsonville and attended Aptos High. After high school he attended Cabrillo College. Fermin's interest in the Funeral Industry lead him to Davis Memorial Chapel where he found a position in 2002. He served his embalming apprenticeship under Pat Carey, and went on to Mortuary College in 2005. The company transferred him to a location in Long Beach, All Souls Mortuary, where he worked during his schooling. He at...tended Cypress College in the L.A. area and graduated with a Mortuary Science degree in 2006. Fermin then returned to Davis Memorial Chapel as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. He became the Managing Funeral Director after Pat Carey's departure in 2007. He successfully ran Davis Memorial Chapel with only a staff of 3 until the Carroll Family purchased the Chapel in 2012. Fermin stayed on with Ave Maria Memorial Chapel and is the General Manager. He has never lost his love for the job. Fermin enjoys reading about history and traveling. He has been to several places in Europe and travels to Mexico often. See more

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Wednesday~ From the Staff of Ave Maria Memorial Chapel

Come See Us Today at the Watsonville Business Expo at the Fairgrounds in Watsonville.

A big thank you to Pat Carroll and Ave Maria Memorial Chapel for the donation today at the Pajaro Valley Chamber mixer. We love our partners!

Come join us tonight at the 1st United Methodist Church, 229 Stanford St., Watsonville for Planning Ahead for Peace of Mind. Sonia Longoria, our Pre-Need Specialist at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel will be on the Panel of Professionals answering any questions and giving valuable information about Pre-Arrangements.

Many cremation and funeral providers subcontract out there cremations to a second party provider, but Ave Maria Memorial Chapel is different. We are the only local family owned funeral home in the Pajaro Valley that owns our own Crematory, which is located out at our Cemetery, Pajaro Valley Memorial Park. Our cremation process ensures families from the moment your loved one arrives at our funeral home, throughout their cremation process, to the return of the cremated remains to you, your loved one never leaves our families care. As a full service provider, we can provide indoor and outdoor burial choices that best suit you. We also can walk you through our selection room and present the many options available in all styles and price ranges. Call today to speak with cremation preplanning specialists, Sonia Longoria, 831-724-4751.

The Carrroll Family and Staff of Ave Maria Memorial Chapel at the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner accepting Business of the Year

We would like to thank everyone for joining us last Thursday at our Chamber Mixer. We had an amazing outcome rasing over $400 for Hospice of Santa Cruz County. The owners, Patrick & Debbie Carroll decided to match the amount of donations made that night rasing over $800 for Hospice of Santa Cruz County.

Staff Appreciation Week: Friday Patrick Carroll was born and raised in Watsonville. In 2012, Patrick and his family purchased the corporately owned funeral home and changing it back to a family owned and operated funeral home. The Carroll Family has been in the funeral services since 1950, owning the Pajaro Valley Memorial Park and Crematory. Patrick feels extremely blessed to working alongside his family and serving his community every day. He is also proud to see his daughter and nephew eager to be a part of the Family Business. "We feel honored and blessed by the community of Watsonville receiving these amazing recognitions within the last few years. As a family owned funeral home we make it our goal to put each family that we serve our number one priority."

Staff Appreciation Week: Thursday Sonia O. Longoria is someone you can trust to care for you or your loved ones. She has over 20 years of experience in funeral and cemetery services, and is a second-generation cemeterian. She has compassionately served Central Coast families for over 5 years as a certified funeral arranger and licensed pre-need specialist for Ave Maria Memorial Chapel.

Staff Appreciation Week: Wednesday Martha Hernandez is retired. She worked for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office from 1984 to 2012. Martha has also worked in the funeral business for over 16 joyful years and is a licensed bilingual, bicultural and biliterate funeral arranger at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel.

Staff Appreciation Week: Tuesday Matthew Talia has been in the funeral profession for 4 years now and is a part of the 3rd generation of their family business. He is the Operations Manager at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel and has a true passion for helping people. Matt is currently pursuing his Associate’s Degree in Psychology at San Jose City College.

Staff Appreciation Week: Monday Fermin Medina was raised in Watsonville and attended Aptos High. After high school he attended Cabrillo College. Fermin's interest in the Funeral Industry lead him to Davis Memorial Chapel where he found a position in 2002. He served his embalming apprenticeship under Pat Carey, and went on to Mortuary College in 2005. The company transferred him to a location in Long Beach, All Souls Mortuary, where he worked during his schooling. He at...tended Cypress College in the L.A. area and graduated with a Mortuary Science degree in 2006. Fermin then returned to Davis Memorial Chapel as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. He became the Managing Funeral Director after Pat Carey's departure in 2007. He successfully ran Davis Memorial Chapel with only a staff of 3 until the Carroll Family purchased the Chapel in 2012. Fermin stayed on with Ave Maria Memorial Chapel and is the General Manager. He has never lost his love for the job. Fermin enjoys reading about history and traveling. He has been to several places in Europe and travels to Mexico often. See more