O'Connor Mortuary

Joseph G. Fitzgerald

Joseph Fitzgerald grew up in Joliet, Illinois, then moved to California in 1984 after graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. While at DePauw, Joe was a two-sport athlete, playing football and baseball. He started his business career in sales with the Gallo Wine Company in Los Angeles and in the commercial real estate business as a broker. In 1992, Joe joined O'Connor Mortuary after spending seven years in the commercial real estate business. When he started, his primary responsibilities were serving as a funeral director and assisting families with arranging and directing their funeral arrangements. He is now the Chief Financial Officer, responsible for overseeing the financial aspects of the business, and Chief Executive Officer. As a member of the O'Connor family through his marriage to Kathryn, Joe is proud and honored to carry out the family's tradition of personal family service within the community. Joe and Kathryn have three children who keep them very busy. When Joe is not at one of his children's sporting events, he enjoys staying active mountain biking, and running. He is also a member of the Monarch Beach Rotary Club and was a past president of the Laguna Hills Club.

Education: Bachelor of Science, Communications, DePauw University

Charles A. Ricciardi

Charles A. Ricciardi was born and raised in Pacific Beach, which used to be a small town near San Diego, California. He graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1983, where he played on the school baseball team. In addition to playing sports, Charles grew up as an avid woodworker, building cedar chests, tables, dressers, and a 14-foot boat among other projects, several of which won awards at the Del Mar Fair. His father instilled in him a strong work ethic, which was apparent in the series of jobs he took on at a young age: he worked a paper route for the San Diego Union starting at the age of 12, then as a dishwasher at a family owned Italian restaurant, and later at Souplantation while attending school at Mesa Junior College and San Diego State. His hard work earned him multiple promotions, from dishwasher to management, and eventually on to be a food and equipment sales representative for S.E. Rykoff and Co. He began working for O'Connor Mortuary in 1992, after marrying into the family. It was a field in which he never thought he would work, but he quickly came to realize how rewarding it is to help families through the most difficult times of their lives. He has served in multiple capacities at O'Connor Mortuary, including running the Pre-Need sales department, spearheading the opening of the arrangement center in Irvine, serving as community relations liaison and crematory manager, and served as COO, partner, and co-owner since 1999. We are now pleased that he has stepped into the role of President of the company. Charles is locally involved with the Lions club of Laguna Niguel as well as the Exchange Club of Irvine. His greatest accomplishment in life was meeting and falling in love with his beautiful wife, Loretta (O'Connor), and having three children who continue to amaze, thrill, and test the two of them every day: Faith, Christian, and Cameron. It is his honor to help and serve the families of Orange County when they need it the most.

Joanna Ramirez

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Joanna Ramirez began her career in funeral service after graduating from Cypress College's Mortuary Science Program. After spending time at a family-owned mortuary in Miami, she joined O'Connor Mortuary in 2006 as an apprentice embalmer and has since grown within the company, earning her licenses as an embalmer, funeral director, and crematory manager. Today, she serves as the General Manager, leading with a deep commitment to compassion, professionalism, and care. Joanna lives in Huntington Beach with her husband and their two children. When she's not at work, she enjoys relaxing at the beach, watching cooking shows, and finding joy in organizing anything that can be moved or thrown away. Motto "Be where you are."

Education: Mortuary Science Program, Cypress College

Certifications: Licensed Embalmer , Licensed Funeral Director , Crematory Manager

Amy

Amy came to O'Connor in 2010 after working at several other mortuaries, having at last found where she belongs. Her incredible drive, clarity of mind and ability to multi-task make her the ideal manager of our Administrative Department. Amy oversees the filing of all Death Certificates and other important documentation with a precision and efficiency that makes all of our lives easier. In her off time, you can find Amy with her two daughters, romping around their happy place - Disneyland. Amy's encouragement comes from the Bible, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Erica

Erica has been interested in the death-care profession from a young age. She responded to the call by enrolling in the Mortuary Science department at Cypress College and touring as many mortuaries as she could. Here's what she said about meeting us for the first time, "I felt differently from the moment I was greeted at O'Connor. I felt such a sincere and welcoming attitude from everyone." It was meant to be. Her passion for funeral service is fueled by the opportunity to plan a meaningful and healing event that honors the life of those we are serving. A native to West Virginia, she misses the slow paced small town feel she knows and loves. It wasn't until she moved to California in 2013 that she realized how much she loved and missed things like rainy days and the silent winter nights. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her son Benny doing just about anything and the simple things like cuddling to watch a movie. Erica is married and is looking forward to making more great memories with her family. Her life quote is "Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet."

Education: Mortuary Science coursework, Cypress College

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Teresa

Teresa has always been passionate about serving her community. Before joining us, she worked with the Catholic Church and developed a strong desire to support families during times of grief. She's known for going the extra mile—volunteering at religious and community events and building strong connections with local churches. Teresa also loves to cook and takes pride in making comforting dishes inspired by her Mexican heritage. In her free time, she enjoys hosting friends and family, traveling to Mexico, and spending time with her dog, Kali-man. A proud Dodgers fan, she lives by the famous Vin Scully quote: "Good is not good when better is expected." Her competitive spirit shines through in everything she does, always striving to be her best—for herself and for those she serves.

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Terese

Terese came to us as our Aflac Representative, and was definitely not looking for a career change. After spending time with our staff as our rep, however, she began to feel a pull not only into funeral service but specifically to the team at O'Connor. In her own words, "I could tell there was a great team at O'Connor… people who really care about what they do and the families they serve." Terese's background includes a career at Hewlett Packard, being a stay-at-home-mom, and volunteering herself into a position as the music teacher & choir director at the Mission Parish School. While her exposure to the funeral profession had come from her talent as a singer, often singing at funerals and usually helping families make musical selections that their loved one would have liked, Terese also has experienced personal loss. Her empathy for grieving families is tremendous. Terese is a people person whose compassion and instant warmth make her an ideal Funeral Arranger. Music is still a passion of Terese's, along with cooking, socializing and playing board games with her family and friends. Terese is also a proud Bruin and graduate of UCLA, as well as a faithful member of the Catholic Church. Her life quote is, "Work like everything depends on you, but pray like everything depends on God!"

Education: Bachelor's Degree, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Maranda

Maranda came to know grief at a young age with the death of her father. That experience created a life-long connection to those who have been impacted by grief. As she searched for a meaningful career, she found O'Connor and has thrived here as she helps so many. An Orange County native and graduate of UCI, Maranda likes to divide her time between the travel and the beach, but most often finds herself curled up with her cats and a good book. A guiding philosophy of her life comes from her favorite author, Octavia E. Butler: "All that you touch You Change. All that you Change Changes you."

Education: Bachelor's Degree, University of California, Irvine (UCI)

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Jennie

Jennie possesses an innate gift for guiding families through life's most profound transitions, making her an invaluable asset to the funeral profession. Her deep empathy is backed by a decade of experience in emergency room administration management, where she supported individuals navigating sudden illness, injury, and loss. Bringing an exceptional balance of professionalism, a calming presence, and organizational skill, Jennie elevates the strength and care of our entire team. At her core, Jennie's heart belongs to people, centered above all on her two daughters and her darling beloved granddaughter, Penelope Rose. When she isn't serving families, she can be found embracing the great outdoors—hiking, camping, and dedicating her time to Scouting America. Demonstrating the highest tier of leadership, Jennie earned her Wood Badge rank in 2014 (the adult equivalent of the Eagle Scout rank) and served as the 2025 Wood Badge Course Director. In 2026, she will take her expertise to the global stage, traveling to Germany to staff the international scouting movement's adult leadership training in Oberdachstetten. Jennie holds a deep conviction that empowering adult leaders directly paves the way for youth to thrive as upstanding citizens, and she is profoundly honored to champion this development. Jennie truly lives by her personal creed: "Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show."

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Mandy

Mandy used to drive by O'Connor on her way to school, often wondering what it was like to work at a mortuary. When a path opened up, she jumped at it. For Mandy, "having a hand in making their wishes for their loved ones become reality is the best part of this job." She also dearly enjoys hearing the stories of the families we are serving. Being a safe space is something Mandy excels in and values being for our families. An avid animal-lover, she has a self-described "zoo" at home where she cares for a dog, a cat, two leopard geckos and two snakes. Mandy also enjoys art, watercolor being her favorite medium. Her favorite quote is "They say that the best blaze burns brightest when circumstances are at their worst." – Howl's Moving Castle

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Jose

Jose was looking for a fulfilling path where his love of service and care for people could be utilized. Knowing O'Connor's reputation, he made his way here and our values perfectly intersected with his own. A true steadying force, Jose is passionate about caring for people in their most challenging moments. "It's not just about managing logistics; it's about creating a space where families can honor and remember their loved ones in a meaningful way." As an Arranger, Jose gets to ensure families have these meaningful ceremonies every day. This love of supporting others carries over into his private life where he volunteers with the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) here in Orange County. Jose also loves spending time with his wife and two children and enjoys playing his alto saxophone. His guiding philosophy comes from Ghandi – "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others." For him, "the act of serving others, offering compassion, and making a positive impact brings a sense of purpose and satisfaction that is beyond measure."

Certifications: Volunteer, Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) Orange County

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Melanie

From a young age Melanie has thrived in creative spaces, planning and designing her birthday parties and finding ways to make events extra special. Her first interaction with O'Connor was planning her step-mother's ceremony. Now, as an Arranger, Melanie knows what families are feeling and thinking when they walk through our doors. Finding points of connection, hearing stories, and bringing peace to the questions and plans is where her passion lies. In her own time, Melanie enjoys being pool or beachside with a good book and a tall glass of iced tea. She enjoys baking and cooking for her daughters, cheering them on in their passions, and enjoys Craft Nights with her girlfriends. A personal philosophy she holds is: "The grass may be greener on the other side, but the water bill is guaranteed to be higher. In other words, be content with what you have. If God wanted you to have more, he'd give it to you."

Services: Funeral Arrangements , Funeral Planning

Natalie

Natalie has been a member of our Service Staff since 2023.

Services: Funeral Service Support

Maya

Maya has been a member of our Service Staff since 2023.

Services: Funeral Service Support

Jessie

Jessie was looking for a new path when he found his place with us. After experiencing the death of his father, Jessie felt an interest and desire to support others in that familiar pain. Jessie's passion and energy invigorates our team and brings a greater sincerity to our work. His personal time is spent watching sports, working out, hiking, enjoying the beach and spending time with his girlfriend and their two cats. A favorite quote of his comes from George Carlin, "Every person you look at, you can see the universe in their eyes, if you're really looking." Jessie says, "it reminds me of how we all really do come from different backgrounds, experiences, and how a little bit of eye contact and empathy can aide each other through our paths."

Services: Funeral Service Support

Mitch

Mitch has been a Service Director at O'Connor Mortuary since 2010. He finds purpose in helping families through what he believes is often the most significant and emotionally charged event in their lives. Mitch strives to deliver flawless and thoughtful service to everyone he serves, and is truly someone we are proud to have on our team. Mitch finds great solace in music. He both writes and plays, and is recharged by the emotional and spiritual power of music. In his own words, "My personal philosophy is to treat people like I would want to be treated. I try to make things easier for our families. Life is difficult enough."

Services: Funeral Service Support

Andrea

Andrea has been a member of our Service Staff since 2024.

Services: Funeral Service Support

Libby

Libby has been a member of our Service Staff since 2025.

Services: Funeral Service Support

Amanda

Amanda has been a member of our Service Staff since 2026.

Services: Funeral Service Support

Sarai

Sarai was searching for a job that offered fulfillment and the chance to impact someone's life for the better. They fell in love with the position here at O'Connor where they get to daily prioritize caring for the experience of each family walking through our doors. Having experienced many funerals personally, Sarai is committed to giving families a caring and safe space to honor and grieve their loved one. While we hope to have many years with Sarai, they are currently in nursing school with the aspiration of becoming a medical examiner. In their spare time they enjoy reading, writing, and playing tabletop games with friends. Their personal philosophy is: Embrace your differences, uniqueness makes the world more interesting!

Services: Funeral Service Support

Gordon

Gordon has been a member of our Part-Time Service Staff since 2007.

Services: Funeral Service Support

Courtney

Courtney has been a part of our team since 2026.

Teresa

Teresa's personal experience of the loss of her brother set her on a path into the mortuary profession. Determined to provide the compassionate, thoughtful and delicate care families need at their worst moments, Teresa found herself here. From the first moment she connects with a family, over the phone or in person, she is committed to giving the support and compassion she knows that they need. Her personal time is filled with her many hobbies: crocheting, cross-stitch, reading, and meditating. Teresa is in pursuit of growth and finding purpose. Her personal philosophies are many and changing, but perhaps best summed up in this one, "The quality of your mind is determined by the quality of your thoughts."

Kyra

Kyra is our Care Coordinator and has been with O'Connor since 2026.

Victoria

Drawn to a path where she could make a meaningful difference, Victoria found her way to us and has thrived in her role. As the first person most families meet when they come through our doors, Victoria excels in creating a warm, compassionate and calming experience for all of our families. Victoria has a soft spot for dogs and the fun and comfort they bring to her life. She also finds herself drawn to curios, unique bits of history, art and compelling stories. Her personal philosophy is: "Nothing is permanent. Kindness still matters."

Ann

Ann is very community-minded, and in her search for the right professional fit, it was important to her that the employer be proactive in reaching out and being a source of local communal support. She found that at O'Connor. Ann appreciates the opportunity to be a person that can answer difficult questions for families and put them at ease in a very difficult time. Her personal time is similarly spent in giving to others through her love of cooking and baking for her friends and family. Over the years, Ann has also been active in numerous volunteer organizations that focus on feeding and caring for the homeless. Her life philosophy comes from C.S. Lewis: "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

Rosemary

In 2007, Rosemary joined the team in the unique and supportive role of Director's Assistant. Her position requires a detailed editorial focus as she oversees all obituaries and all of our printing. She ensures that our memorial folders and prayer cards are typo-free and customized to illustrate the story of your loved one. She loves how pictures truly tell a story, and takes delight in restoring old photos to their original vibrancy. She enjoys walking, reading and spending time with her family, and loves finding time to play her piano and classical guitar. She lives by the golden rule, "Treat others as you wish to be treated."

Susy

Susy studied forensic anthropology at Cal State University of Los Angeles, and from there decided to pursue her degree in Mortuary Science at Cypress College. She found her way to O'Connor because she fell in love with the compassion and mission of our team. Her values aligned perfectly with our company culture and we were thrilled to invite her to our team. Susy is passionate about hiking, loves pizza and has a soft spot in her heart for turtles. Her quote is a lyric from her favorite band, Paramore, "Don't miss a chance to move forward. Daydream a little. Don't be scared to embrace the way that it hurts just to grow. You'll look back and your heart will thank you for not standing still when what you needed the most was to move forward."

Education: Forensic Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles , Mortuary Science, Cypress College

Justin

Justin has been a member of our Care Center team since 2022.

Jeremy

Jeremy's one requirement for the work he does is that it leave a meaningful impact on others' lives. He saw the funeral profession as a critical time in life where people are most in need of compassionate care. In his own words, he is "passionate about finding ways to be compassionate." He is an avid reader, diehard LA Chargers fan and a frequenter of the outdoors – Big Sur being a particular favorite to visit. Jeremy sums up his outlook on life with the belief that "there is no such thing as an unsolvable problem. Anything can be fixed with the right tools, perhaps a new perspective, a new attitude, or even just willpower." – An attitude and mindset we are thrilled to have on board with us.

Angela

Angela began her career in funeral service after enrolling in Mortuary Science School in 2014. Initially working part-time, she quickly discovered a deep passion for the field and knew it was the path to a fulfilling and meaningful career. Angela takes great pride in supporting families through the care of their loved ones, and her commitment to the profession led her to serve as President of the Orange County Funeral Directors Association. In her free time, Angela enjoys spending quality time with her family—especially her two daughters. She also loves supporting her brother at his local concerts, roller-skating, journaling, and listening to early 2000s pop music. Known for her fierce loyalty to her loved ones, Angela lives by the motto: "Be easy to love, hard to break, and impossible to forget."

Education: Mortuary Science School (enrolled 2014)

Certifications: President, Orange County Funeral Directors Association

Karla

Knowing from a young age that she wanted to work with dying and grieving people, Karla spent 10 years as a nursing assistant. After the loss of a friend, her interest in funeral service led her to learning about the local Mortuary Science school. As a member of our Care Center team, Karla feels deeply passionate about her work and the healing, significant moments it gives. Karla loves sports but no team has her heart like the Lakers. She is also deeply interested in music, enjoys quiet time at the beach, and is obsessed with her little Corgi, Luna. Her favorite quote comes, fittingly, from her favorite person, Kobe Bryant: "The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do."

Jasmin

Jasmin knew she wanted a career in a field that helped others. After considering following her mother into nursing, she found out about funeral service and never turned back. She is passionate in helping out in the small details and helping to transform the most painful moments into profound and healing experiences. Her personal time is spent with her family, dog and friends. She loves creating, perfecting her skills, and crafting any and everything. Time with her family is precious and making memories with them is of the utmost importance. In her own words, Jasmin shares: "Throughout my time in high school I had one teacher encourage me to find a job that doesn't feel like a job, to find something that makes you happy and I won't work a day in my life. Here I am in the profession that makes me happy and I have not worked a day in my life for the past 6 years in the funeral service profession."

Becky Lomaka, MA, CT

Becky signed on as the Director of Grief Support and Education in 2013, with a determined passion to bring education, encouragement, and validation to the professional and volunteer communities we interact with. Becky believes that "Education is our most powerful tool in our efforts to help the community learn more about how to cope with death and the journey of grief after loss." Through our quarterly workshops, seminars and in-service programs Becky is making a difference in our community and changing grief-care for the better. Becky is proud to be a "Hockey Mom" who spends much of her free time watching her two boys and her husband out on the rink. She loves getting together with her close-knit neighborhood friends for dinners in the backyard and enjoys walking with Sandy, their yellow lab. Becky truly lives her life by the advice of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

Services: Grief Support , Aftercare Programs

Molly Keating, MA, CT

Molly joined the O'Connor team in 2009 as a weekend receptionist without plans of a mortuary career. Over the years, as her job evolved, she discovered a passion for grieving people and was able to fuse that with her love of writing. Molly now heads up our blog, Facebook and other social media pages, assists with our quarterly educational workshops, and maintains internal organization and structure. In 2015 Molly received her Certification in Thanatology (CT), the study of Death, Dying & Bereavement. Molly is driven to provide helpful resources to the online and real-world communities. With a master's degree in English Literature, Molly spends a lot of her free time reading and writing. She can also frequently be found at Disneyland or in a good coffee shop laughing with her husband. Her favorite quote comes from one of her favorite books, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables: "Woe, alas! To him who shall have loved bodies, forms, appearances only. Death shall take all from him. Try to love souls, you shall find them again."

Education: Master's Degree, English Literature

Certifications: Certification in Thanatology (CT), 2015

Services: Grief Support , Aftercare Programs

Paulette

Paulette learned about our mortuary while serving as a Bereavement Minister at St. Edward's Catholic Church. She found tremendous purpose in being present for people in their grief and recognized the importance that this comfort was. Of all the mortuaries she worked with, she found O'Connor to be the most impressive and found her way into a Service Director position. Paulette is known around the office for her baking, generosity and thoughtfulness. She never needs a reason to stop by with a pumpkin log or giant cookie cake to share with everyone. On her own time, Paulette volunteers at an assisted living where her mother lives, caring for her and many other residents, and for many years now she and her husband have trained and raised many puppies for the "Guide Dogs for the Blind" program. Paulette also attends Saddleback College Emeritus courses and spends lots of time with her friends and family. Her guiding philosophy comes from Maya Angelou, "My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry, to get my work done, and to try to love somebody, and the courage, to accept the love in return."

Services: Grief Support , Aftercare Programs

Shawn

Shawn has pursued a life and profession focused on serving families, one at a time. At O'Connor, Shawn found a place of work that aligned with his values. A gifted listener, Shawn deeply enjoys learning the stories of the families in front of him and helping them craft a ceremony unique to their needs and their life. He is a very proud father of three and loves spending time with them exploring food. Whether they are cooking together or trying new dishes at restaurants, there is a deeply shared love of food. Shawn's southern roots help him to savor all the more the importance of a good meal and good company. Shawn's life philosophy is most beautifully expressed in his own words – "…always pursue joy. Joy is always in process, it has no end, it is not tied to an outcome, it is a constant." The optimism, comfort and hope that Shawn carries with him is reflective of this unique and poignant perspective.

Services: Pre-Planning Services , Funeral Financing

Luis

Luis came to O'Connor with 15 years of insurance experience and a desire to care for the families in his community. Pre-planning quickly became a new passion for Luis, who finds great purpose in helping families plan ahead for the most difficult days in a person's life: dealing with the loss of a loved one. In his time at O'Connor, Luis has helped hundreds of families create memorable and meaningful funeral ceremonies tailored to meet their personal needs and wishes. A father to three sons, Luis' free time is packed and fully committed to his children, and he spends lots of time with friends and family in the great outdoors, at the beach, or a favorite sporting event. Luis' life is encompassed by a quote from the legendary Bob Marley, "Love the life you live, and live the life you love." Every day, his goal is to do just that.

Services: Pre-Planning Services , Funeral Financing

Donna

Donna has an extensive and impressive background in Accounting and Human Resources, and while working at a mortuary had never been on her radar, she was drawn to the unique combination of her gifts that could be used here. Donna ensures that some of the essential components of our company are run with excellence. Donna is detailed, capable and steady, an ideal and trustworthy person to have managing the more technical elements of our work. Her free time is spent volunteering to serve those in need and if she gets time to herself, she is an avid reader and relaxing at the beach. Perhaps her greatest joy is in the sweet company of her daughter and two grandsons. Her face lights up whenever she can share time with them. Donna is guided by this passage from the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the Lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Natalie Miske

Natalie has been a member of our team since 2024.