James Michael Papavero
Maspeth
Summary
Growing up in a multi-generational funeral family business has provided me with a unique experience in learning compassion and understanding human emotion. I suppose arriving at countless homes where a devastated family surrounding their deceased loved one has directly instilled in me an awareness to do my job professionally as well as personally.
Aside from my work in the funeral industry, I have traveled to experience life overseas. Several months were spent in Nagaland, India (where I volunteered teaching photography) and a full year was spent in Chongqing, China (teaching english).
Life has been an interesting ongoing journey and I am embracing what may come next. After 36 years of existence, I have grown to love different music, cooking cuisines I've yet to attempt, reading about science and nature, dancing, and learning new languages.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Licensed Funeral Director
Provenzano Lanza Funeral Home
New York
12.2025 - Current
- Assisting "at-need" family members with the death of a loved one.
- Securing necessary documentations/forms required for death registry and final dispotion.
- Ordering embalming instruments, chemicals, replacing inventory/maintaining equipment, keeping a clean and organized work environment.
- Preparing cadavers for viewing, from the embalming process up until the service itself.
Licensed Funeral Director
Papavero Funeral Home
New York
04.2015 - Current
- Assisting "at-need" families with death of a loved one.
- Help getting deceased to funeral home from place of death: residences, nursing facilities, medical examiner offices, hospitals, etc.
- Preparing human remains that were autopsied or organ donors for traditional funeral services.
- Securing documentation for shipping human remains internationally.
Licensed Funeral Director
Dignity Memorial
New York
10.2022 - 10.2024
- Embalmed different cases for 6-8 hours every day.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY 09.2018 - 06.2022
Continuing Education - Advertising
School of Visual Arts
New York, NY 06.2021 - 08.2021
Certified/Licensed - Funeral Program
American Academy McAllister Institute
New York, NY 12.2017 - 06.2020
Skills
- Embalming techniques
- Restorative art
- Documentation management
- Equipment maintenance
- Extreme comfort around cadavers due to 20 years of exposure
Languages
Chinese (Mandarin)
Limited
Certification
- Funeral Director License
- Driver License
Timeline
Licensed Funeral Director
Provenzano Lanza Funeral Home
12.2025 - Current
Licensed Funeral Director
Dignity Memorial
10.2022 - 10.2024
Continuing Education - Advertising
School of Visual Arts
06.2021 - 08.2021
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Adelphi University
09.2018 - 06.2022
Certified/Licensed - Funeral Program
American Academy McAllister Institute
12.2017 - 06.2020
Licensed Funeral Director
Papavero Funeral Home
04.2015 - Current