Portraits
Kevin Michael Mason
Licensed Funeral Director, Owner / Manager , Officiant & Life Story Celebrant
HELPING THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY GRIEVE
Kevin is a Rochester native and has lived in the Buffalo area for almost 15 years. He graduated from Monroe Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science. He is a Licensed New York State Funeral Director, Grief Counselor and a Life Story Celebrant . He is past President and a volunteer board member for K. A. T. S. (Kids Adjusting Through Support). He is past Vice-President of the Five Points Block Club Association and an active member of the North Buffalo Block Club Association. Kevin is an active member of the Church of St. Casimir; where he has served as a church Trustee and on the parish council. Currently, he serves as the President of their Entertainment Committee. Kevin is the co-founder and published author of Stepping Stones Through Grief which is a series of children's coloring and activity books to help children and their families through the grief process. He is the co-founder of G.O.A.L.S, (Going on After Loss Successfully) -which is their monthly support group offering individual, family and group counseling. He has served on the Speakers Bureau for Hospice Buffalo. Kevin volunteers for the Buffalo Animal Shelter and serves on the Board of Directors for the Buffalo BarkYard which is Buffalo's first "off" leash dog park. Kevin has also served on the Board of Directors for the Monroe and Genesee County Funeral Directors Association. He is a member of the Erie-Niagara Funeral Directors Association where he serves on the Nominating Committee. He is the founder of "A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE" - a Christmas program that collects and delivers Christmas Cards to area nursing facilities. Kevin serves on the Advisory Board of the Betterment Foundation as a grant writer. He is an active member for the Kaisertown Coalition and has served as chair for their National Night Out and has served as chair for the By-Laws Committee. Kevin has been a volunteer for the Junior League and Big Brothers/Big Sisters program as well as Compeer. The Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home supports many local fundraisers and charitable foundations. When not at the funeral home, you most likely will find Kevin on a golf course or at the BarkYard with his two rescue dogs, Cody and Hudson. He enjoys cooking and entertaining family and friends at home as well as working in his extensive gardens at his residence. He also enjoys writing short stories and is in the process of writing a novel. In 2016 Kevin founded a company called FABRIC OF THE HEART, which will transform your loved ones favorite article(s) of clothing into a beautiful keepsake. We have made pillows, teddy bears, crosses, or what ever you envision. Many of keepsake articles made from your loved ones' clothing can be designed to hold a portion of cremains. Please visit www.fabricoftheheart.com.
"I am so honored and privileged to serve my community and neighborhood as a Funeral Director.I adhere to our "Family First Motto" and treat every family as if they were my very own. I very much like the idea that the KEVIN M. MASON FUNERAL HOME is a small neighborhood facility allowing myself, my family and our staff to provide stellar personalized and caring service to every family we are honored to serve. We have worked hard to develop and maintain our paramount reputation"
Licensed Funeral Director, Owner / Manager , Officiant & Life Story Celebrant
HELPING THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY GRIEVE
Kevin is a Rochester native and has lived in the Buffalo area for almost 15 years. He graduated from Monroe Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science. He is a Licensed New York State Funeral Director, Grief Counselor and a Life Story Celebrant . He is past President and a volunteer board member for K. A. T. S. (Kids Adjusting Through Support). He is past Vice-President of the Five Points Block Club Association and an active member of the North Buffalo Block Club Association. Kevin is an active member of the Church of St. Casimir; where he has served as a church Trustee and on the parish council. Currently, he serves as the President of their Entertainment Committee. Kevin is the co-founder and published author of Stepping Stones Through Grief which is a series of children's coloring and activity books to help children and their families through the grief process. He is the co-founder of G.O.A.L.S, (Going on After Loss Successfully) -which is their monthly support group offering individual, family and group counseling. He has served on the Speakers Bureau for Hospice Buffalo. Kevin volunteers for the Buffalo Animal Shelter and serves on the Board of Directors for the Buffalo BarkYard which is Buffalo's first "off" leash dog park. Kevin has also served on the Board of Directors for the Monroe and Genesee County Funeral Directors Association. He is a member of the Erie-Niagara Funeral Directors Association where he serves on the Nominating Committee. He is the founder of "A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE" - a Christmas program that collects and delivers Christmas Cards to area nursing facilities. Kevin serves on the Advisory Board of the Betterment Foundation as a grant writer. He is an active member for the Kaisertown Coalition and has served as chair for their National Night Out and has served as chair for the By-Laws Committee. Kevin has been a volunteer for the Junior League and Big Brothers/Big Sisters program as well as Compeer. The Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home supports many local fundraisers and charitable foundations. When not at the funeral home, you most likely will find Kevin on a golf course or at the BarkYard with his two rescue dogs, Cody and Hudson. He enjoys cooking and entertaining family and friends at home as well as working in his extensive gardens at his residence. He also enjoys writing short stories and is in the process of writing a novel. In 2016 Kevin founded a company called FABRIC OF THE HEART, which will transform your loved ones favorite article(s) of clothing into a beautiful keepsake. We have made pillows, teddy bears, crosses, or what ever you envision. Many of keepsake articles made from your loved ones' clothing can be designed to hold a portion of cremains. Please visit www.fabricoftheheart.com.
"I am so honored and privileged to serve my community and neighborhood as a Funeral Director.I adhere to our "Family First Motto" and treat every family as if they were my very own. I very much like the idea that the KEVIN M. MASON FUNERAL HOME is a small neighborhood facility allowing myself, my family and our staff to provide stellar personalized and caring service to every family we are honored to serve. We have worked hard to develop and maintain our paramount reputation"
Non-Licensed Staff
Daniel R. LaRussa is no stranger to the funeral home environment. Having worked as an attendant, his level of compassion, concern and dedication to families is unparalleled. Daniel has also worked many years in the health care industry, to which he attributes his heightened sense of wanting to help people through life transitions. Daniel owned and operated his own adult daycare center for many years. So dedicated to this passion was he that Dan decided to become a Certified Grief Counselor. He now brings his passion and commitment to help those in their grief journey to the Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home. He is the co-founder of G.O.A.L.S - Going On After Loss Successfully. An art lover, Dan decided to take classes to incorporate painting into his grief counseling sessions for both adults and children. He volunteers for the Church of St. Casimir, A Christmas Message and Buffalo Junior League as well as many other not-for-profit organizations.
"On the other side of grief is healing. Most people may not realize that the healing begins with the funeral/farewell service. Through open honest dialog, listening, and even through our art therapy, the healing process will over time replace the grief.......and you will be OK"
- Daniel LaRussa
Catherine Ann Taberski - having retired from the "corporate world" as a secretary for many years, Catherine found herself wanting to work part time. She joined the staff of the Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home as an administrative assistant. She brings expert clerical and bookkeeping skills as well as "people skills" She now enjoys meeting families, being a "hostess", assisting during calling hours and services. She especially likes talking to and helping children while at the funeral home. As an extraordinary homemaker and baker, she provides the cookies and brownies served at the funeral home.
"After almost 35 years in the corporate arena I was looking so forward to retiring. In the time I have been at the funeral home I have received so much personal satisfaction from helping others. I feel like this is a new beginning. I work with such dedicated individuals who will go above and beyond to help families, the families are so beautiful and receptive. Who would have thought the funeral home would be my second home." - Catherine Ann Taberski
Daniel P. Marinola
Daniel has been a vital part of the Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home since 2015. Daniel orchestrates funeral processions and drives the lead car. He lends his expertise to helping maintain the facility when needed. He recently updated our media system to be more efficient. During services at the funeral home or church, you will find Dan assisting the family with programs and seating. He is attentive to the needs of everyone in attendance. On weekends, you will most likely find Dan being a Disc Jockey (DJ). He is an active member of the Cadillac Club and is an avid antique car collector.
"After I retired I found I had time on my hands and decided I wanted to do something to help people. I enjoy being at the funeral home and helping families however I can. I never anticipated doing this, but now I can not imagine myself not being here. The satisfaction I receive in knowing I made even the slightest difference is immeasurable. "
Daniel R. LaRussa is no stranger to the funeral home environment. Having worked as an attendant, his level of compassion, concern and dedication to families is unparalleled. Daniel has also worked many years in the health care industry, to which he attributes his heightened sense of wanting to help people through life transitions. Daniel owned and operated his own adult daycare center for many years. So dedicated to this passion was he that Dan decided to become a Certified Grief Counselor. He now brings his passion and commitment to help those in their grief journey to the Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home. He is the co-founder of G.O.A.L.S - Going On After Loss Successfully. An art lover, Dan decided to take classes to incorporate painting into his grief counseling sessions for both adults and children. He volunteers for the Church of St. Casimir, A Christmas Message and Buffalo Junior League as well as many other not-for-profit organizations.
"On the other side of grief is healing. Most people may not realize that the healing begins with the funeral/farewell service. Through open honest dialog, listening, and even through our art therapy, the healing process will over time replace the grief.......and you will be OK"
- Daniel LaRussa
Catherine Ann Taberski - having retired from the "corporate world" as a secretary for many years, Catherine found herself wanting to work part time. She joined the staff of the Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home as an administrative assistant. She brings expert clerical and bookkeeping skills as well as "people skills" She now enjoys meeting families, being a "hostess", assisting during calling hours and services. She especially likes talking to and helping children while at the funeral home. As an extraordinary homemaker and baker, she provides the cookies and brownies served at the funeral home.
"After almost 35 years in the corporate arena I was looking so forward to retiring. In the time I have been at the funeral home I have received so much personal satisfaction from helping others. I feel like this is a new beginning. I work with such dedicated individuals who will go above and beyond to help families, the families are so beautiful and receptive. Who would have thought the funeral home would be my second home." - Catherine Ann Taberski
Daniel P. Marinola
Daniel has been a vital part of the Kevin M. Mason Funeral Home since 2015. Daniel orchestrates funeral processions and drives the lead car. He lends his expertise to helping maintain the facility when needed. He recently updated our media system to be more efficient. During services at the funeral home or church, you will find Dan assisting the family with programs and seating. He is attentive to the needs of everyone in attendance. On weekends, you will most likely find Dan being a Disc Jockey (DJ). He is an active member of the Cadillac Club and is an avid antique car collector.
"After I retired I found I had time on my hands and decided I wanted to do something to help people. I enjoy being at the funeral home and helping families however I can. I never anticipated doing this, but now I can not imagine myself not being here. The satisfaction I receive in knowing I made even the slightest difference is immeasurable. "