Meet Our Caring Team

Steve Houfek

Steve Houfek

General Manager/Licensed Funeral Director

Steve grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota and graduated with a high school class of fewer than forty students. He went on to Gustavus Adolphus College where he earned a degree in psychology and then continued to the University of MN-Twin Cities for his degree in mortuary science. 


Having been in the field for well over two decades, Steve has been committed to service and helped several thousand families over the course of his career. He believes if you can ease someone's suffering and help your fellow humans, you've led a good life. Steve resides in the northwest Twin Cities suburbs with his wife, children, and family dog.

Steven Anderson

Steven Anderson

Licensed Funeral Director

Steven was raised in Brooklyn Park and graduated from Park Center High School in 1980. He attended the University of Minnesota in search of a medical degree. While going to college, he worked at Hennepin County Medical Center in an Oncology Unit. Because of the life-changing experiences he had with these individuals and their family members, Steve changed his educational direction, and in 1985, he registered for the Mortuary Science Program at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1987.


Steve and his wife, Monie, were married in 1985, and they live on a small hobby farm just north of Anoka. Steve and Monie are very actively involved with their children and with their church. 

Melanie Parrish

Melanie Parrish

Licensed Funeral Director

Melanie was born in Houston, Texas. When she was 13, her family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Melanie has always had a strong desire to help others. As a teenager, she worked for Midway Hospital in St. Paul as a candy striper. She also volunteered through her church families and served meals at a local food shelf.


After high school, Melanie attended the University of Minnesota and earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a focus on archaeology and ancient Semitic languages. She worked on archaeological digs in the Mediterranean for a couple of summers.


Melanie spent the following years assisting others as a customer service representative. She then went back to the University of Minnesota and completed a degree in mortuary science, fulfilling a life-long dream of helping others in their time of need. She is currently pursuing a master’s thanatology. She lives in Fridley with her husband, Rich, and their young son, Joe. Melanie enjoys reading, studying languages, vegan cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Rae Guntzel

Rae Guntzel

Licensed Funeral Director

Rae was born and raised in Hopkins, Minnesota. She spent most of her time during high school working and volunteering for the Depot Coffee House. When she wasn’t making coffee and organizing battles of the bands, you could find her going thrifting with Grandma or collaging with friends. After losing a friend in high school and organizing a funeral for a teacher’s spouse, Rae found her passion for funeral service.

 

Rae attended the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Program. She came from a restaurant family and spent her college years as a waitress on the weekends. She is grateful to the service industry for teaching her how to work with both compassion and grit. 


Rae graduated in 2022 and joined the team here in the fall of 2023. She believes that the funeral ceremony is an important part of the grieving process and is honored to assist families when they need it most. Outside of work, Rae is an avid B-rated horror movie watcher, rug maker, cat mom, and wool sweater lover. 

Kamieka Corbett

Kamieka Corbett

Funeral Director Intern

Kamieka joined the team in 2023. She attended the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science, where she grew her passion for giving service to families in need. She will complete her requirements to become a licensed funeral director in 2024.

   

Kamieka grew up in the Twin Cities. She has fond memories of Cinco De Mayo parties on Cesar Chavez Street and snowmobile rides along the St. Croix River. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she moved to Circle Pines in 2017 with their daughter. 


Outside of work, Kamieka can be found taking long walks around her neighborhood when the moon is full and bright and making delicious meals and treats for her friends and family; if she has a little extra time on her hands, she’ll hunt a fresh rabbit for her famous indigenous rabbit stew.


Kamieka cares for others with respect, kindness, and transparency. She believes that funeral rituals can help allow loved ones to experience a sense of healing and growth. She comes from a big family and understands that all families have unique dynamics. Every loved one was unique, as are the memories of them. She is honored to work with families to create very personalized, meaningful tributes.

Cecilia Doherty

Cecilia Doherty

Advance Funeral Planner


Laura Kepke

Laura Kepke

Crematory Manager

Laura was born and raised in Buffalo, MN. After high school, she went to college to become a professional photographer and then again to be a park ranger. After working in customer service for around 20 years, she decided to go to school a third time. She then attended the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science where she graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree. 


Laura lives with her two dogs, Ragnar and Taz. She enjoys going to concerts and spending time with friends, family, and dogs.

Share by: