OUR STAFF

Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.

Staff at Pierson's Funeral Service
Michael J. Pierson

Michael J. Pierson

President, Pierson’s Funeral Service

Michael Pierson was born and raised in Calgary. He was one of the seven Pierson children to attend Viscount Bennett Jr. & Sr. High Schools. He then attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he studied Music and Business. In 1986 he transferred to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated with a Bachelors of Mortuary Science (cum laud) in 1987. He had training and experience in funeral homes in Utah and Ohio while attending University prior to returning to Calgary in 1988 to join the family firm. Michael has always shown leadership characteristics as well as being community and service minded. In High School he served as Class President and more recently served as the President of the International Avenue Business Revitalization Zone, an organization which has done significant work to improve the business district in the Forest Lawn area of Calgary. Michael also served on the Executive Council of the Alberta Funeral Service Association for eight years including a term as President. Michael is past Chairman of the International Avenue Arts and Culture Centre. Michael has an active Church life and loves to spend time with his wife Kathleen and their sons Eric and Connor. Michael has a passion for his work at the funeral home. He loves helping families who need our services and is proud of the good reputation and business the family has built.

David Root

David Root

General Manager, Pierson’s Funeral Service

David is a grandson to the founders of Pierson’s Funeral Service, Ches & Joan Pierson. He was exposed to the family business from an early age and is proud to continue the family business into another generation. David graduated from Lester B. Pearson High School and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southern California. Upon returning from his mission he attended Mount Royal University. In 2005 he married his wife Marysol and they now have four children. Although his first intentions in school were in another direction, he joined the family business and quickly recognized his love for funeral service and changed programs, graduating with a General Arts & Sciences Certificate as well as a Funeral Director and Embalmer Extension Certificate. David is still actively involved with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has also volunteered with the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee since he was a teenager and has been an official volunteer since 2009. David’s official work with Pierson’s started in 2005 and he currently serves as our General Manager as well as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. David’s love for the profession has led him to return to Mount Royal University as an instructor for the Funeral Services Program. He has also been an active member of the Alberta Funeral Service Association and is currently serving as a Director on the Board.

Rose Lynn Root (nee Pierson)

Rose Lynn Root (nee Pierson)

General Manager, Pierson’s Flower Gallery

Rose Lynn (Pierson) Root was born and raised in Calgary, graduating from Viscount Bennett High School and is the second of the seven Pierson children. Rose Lynn was raised in the shadow of her parents Ches & Joan Pierson and has learned the importance of serving families when a loved one has died. She has contributed her talents and hard work from the incorporation of the business in 1983, initially with the building and furnishing of our funeral home as well as sewing the drapes with her mother Joan. Rose Lynn has also had many other roles in the company, clerical support, organist, general helper and for the past many years as a floral designer and manager of our floral shop. Rosie continues to have ownership in Pierson’s and serves as Secretary Treasurer of our Pierson Family Board, where she is an important contributor to the success of Pierson’s. Rose Lynn is married to Mayne Root and is proud that two of their four children are involved in the family business, David as General Manager in the funeral home and Rebecca “Becky” Walker, who works in the flower shop. Rose Lynn also loves being a grandmother to 7 grandchildren.

Claire Drummond

Claire Drummond

Office Manager

Claire Drummond was born and raised in Winnipeg where she graduated from Grant Park High School. After attending Red River Community College, she worked for CKY Television for 7 years as a Promotions Coordinator. She then worked as an Office Administrator in Financial Planning before entering the funeral profession in 2004 at Pierson’s Funeral Service. She currently manages our busy office looking after all aspects of our business operations. She has a love of helping people and enjoys using her creative flare designing beautiful stationery for the families we serve. Claire’s dedication to serving our clients is unmatched. She is married to Geoff, and loves spending time with her four children and two grandsons.

Keith Jungwirth

Keith Jungwirth

Manager – Customer Care Centre and Crematorium

Keith is a native of Cudworth, Saskatchewan where he graduated from the Cudworth High School. Keith is a graduate of the Mount Royal College Funeral Director Embalmer program in 2006 and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer the following year. He joined Pierson’s in November of 2006 and manages our Customer Care Centre, overseeing embalming and cremations. Keith is an instructor at Mount Royal University in the Embalmer Training program and oversees Practicum Students and Embalming Labs while at Pierson’s. He excels at his profession and we are privileged to have him on our team.

David M Ostopowich

David M Ostopowich

Licensed Funeral Director

David was raised on a farm in the surrounding area of Legal, Alberta. He is married to Valerie (nee Dudra). Together they have two children, Lisa and Christopher, and one grandson Chase.

In 1982 David commenced funeral service with Howard & McBride Funeral Home in Edmonton under the direction of Luke LaFrance. Since then, he was given the opportunity to travel across the prairie provinces serving families compassionately. David received his diplomas for being a funeral director and embalmer through the Alberta School of Mortuary Science, Saskatchewan Funeral Service Association, and the Manitoba Funeral Service Association.

David believed in continuing education, and through the years he attained three management designations through the University of Alberta and the Canadian Institute of Management.

David moved to Calgary in 2002 and joined the team of professionals at Pierson’s Funeral Service Limited. After a few years, he stepped away from Pierson’s only to return to join the Pierson family in serving the citizens of Calgary.

David attends St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church and has served as president of the parish council. His faith has carried him through numerous other volunteer positions with the Ukrainian community.

David’s other passion is working with the Knights of Columbus. He is a member and actively involved with the St. Nicholas Byzantine Ukrainian Knights of Columbus Council #7659 and the St. Stephen’s Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly #2522. He has held various positions at the council level, and at the State level.

David has been passionately serving the Catholic community, and other communities abroad for over 40 years.

Teresa Ensminger

Teresa Ensminger

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Chelsea Ouellette

Chelsea Ouellette

Licensed Funeral Director

Bridget Halfyard

Bridget Halfyard

Licensed Funeral Director

Katie Richardson

Katie Richardson

Licensed Funeral Director

Daryl Urness

Daryl Urness

Family Care Director

Hazel Wilsher

Hazel Wilsher

Family Care Specialist

Sarafina Manley

Sarafina Manley

Office Assistant/Funeral Attendant

Kerry Smith

Kerry Smith

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Marc Hamoline

Marc Hamoline

Funeral Attendant

Karla Sherwood

Karla Sherwood

Funeral Attendant

Joseph Hernandez

Joseph Hernandez

Funeral Attendant

Madeline Collingridge

Madeline Collingridge

Funeral Attendant

Marcy Wasylenko

Marcy Wasylenko

Funeral Attendant

Anne MacNeil

Anne MacNeil

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Calvin Cockerline

Calvin Cockerline

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Gordon Deans

Gordon Deans

Funeral Attendant

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