Meet Our Staff

John G. Weeden

Location Manager / Funeral Director - Embalmer

R.I. License # 1070

John G. Weeden of Ashaway and Rockville, Rhode Island is a Funeral Director/Embalmer and the Location Manager of both the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home and S.R. Avery Funeral Home. He has been associated with both funeral homes since 1985.

He is a graduate of Chariho High School, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science degree, and the former New England Institute of Anatomy and Sciences in Kenmore Square, Boston, now part of Mt. Ida College, Newton, Massachusetts.

John and his wife Janet (Mourninghan) Weeden are active members of the Westerly Yacht Club and Hopkinton Historical Society. Both attend St. Joseph Church in Hope Valley.

John volunteers and serves on the Hopkinton Animal Control Commission. He is on the Board of Governors for the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association and is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. In his spare time, John enjoys spending time with his wife Janet, traveling, practicing yoga, working out at morning boot camp, and skeet and trap shooting at the Narragansett Gun Club.

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Michele J. Wegner

Managing Partner / Funeral Director - Embalmer

R.I. License #1242, C.T. License #2663,

M.I. License #4501007788

Michele J. Wegner is a Funeral Director/Embalmer and the Managing Partner of both the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home and S.R. Avery Funeral Home. She received her degree in Mortuary Science from Briarwood College, Southington, Connecticut in 2005 and has been a practicing funeral director ever since. She is a licensed funeral director in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Michigan.  She is on the Board of Governors for the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.  Prior to that, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology/Chemistry from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1997.

Michele is a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a Captain in the Army Engineer Corps, then working for the Stanley Works (Stanley Black & Decker) as a logistics and operations manager. She spends her free time exercising and traveling and is active in both the American Legion and the 82nd Airborne Division Association. Michele and her husband David Roden reside in Stonington, Connecticut.

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Angela Cornell

Administrative Assistant

Angela E. Cornell of Bradford, RI joined S.R. Funeral Home in September of 2018.  She is a 1999 graduate of Chariho High School. She had previously worked as the Training Supervisor for JCPenney and as a Pastry Chef for local restaurants in the Westerly area for many years. Angela is also a Notary Public.

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Nicole Whittaker

Ambassador/Administrative Assistant

Nicole joined S.R Avery Funeral Home in March of 2016. She graduated from Chariho High School in 2002 and earned an Associate's Degree in Business from the Community College of Rhode Island. She is a member of  Kappa Beta Delta and is also a Notary Public.

Ray Smith

Ambassador

Ray is the owner/operator of Bea Smith’s Clothing Company. He is a native of Westerly and a 1982 graduate of Westerly High School. He attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont before assuming ownership of the family business, Bea Smith’s, in 1984. Ray continues to grow this popular clothing company via direct sales to retirement communities and an e-commerce platform.

Ray is active in the business community of Westerly, serving as the Secretary of the Old Town Hall Museum. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce and as past president of the Downtown Business Association.

Ray married his wife Sharon in 1994. They enjoy vacationing in Turks, Caicos and New Hampshire and sailing their Hobie and are devoted dog lovers. They are active parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Pawcatuck Connecticut. They reside in Bradford Rhode Island.

In his spare time, Ray enjoys hiking with his dog, relaxing at the beach, and collecting Lionel electric trains. He is a member of Rhode Island Mobile Sportfishermen and the New Haven Railroad Historical Society.

Brian Browne

Ambassador

Brian Browne of North Stonington, CT joined S.R Avery Funeral Home in August of 2017. He is a graduate of Wheeler High School and attended Western CT State College. Brian has over 40 years of training and experience in repair, maintenance and operation of mechanical equipment including automobiles, submarines and power plants. He also currently works for James Thompson Lumber in Hopkinton, RI.

Robert Kirkland

Ambassador

Bob Kirkland of Westerly, RI joined S.R. Funeral Home in August of 2018.  He is a retired physical education teacher at Exeter/West Greenwich schools.  He later was in retail selling convenience items to various stores and gas stations.  He enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends.

Benjamin Hanssen

Ambassador

Benjamin R. Hanssen of Westerly, RI joined S.R. Funeral Home in September of 2018.  He is a graduate of Westerly High School and currently enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island. 

Yvette Wightman

Ambassador

Yvette was born and raised in Hope Valley, RI and she is the mother of three children and three grandchildren.  Yvette has been a certified Phlebotomist for the past 8 years.  She is also a member of the Faith Bible Chapel and the Hope Valley-Wyoming Fire Dept. Auxiliary.  

David Grande

Ambassador

David is a resident of Westerly and joined the team in October 2020.

David Roden

Ambassador

David Roden joined Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home in July of 2016.  He is employed at Digital Realty as a product marketing manager, David is also the owner of The Exercise Coach, a private fitness studio in Groton, CT. Prior to that David was a data center consultant where he is a recognized expert in precision cooling systems and technology. He earned a mechanical engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY in 1993.  

David is a US Army veteran and a paratrooper, earning the rank of Captain. Active in the veteran community, David serves as the Treasurer and Executive Committee member for the Greater Hartford Chapter of the 82^nd Airborne Association. In his spare time he enjoys strength training, travel and an occasional cigar.