Our Staff

Michael, a licensed Funeral Director since 1989, grew up in Telephone, TX, a small community along the Red River in north Texas. His first job was hauling watermelons for his best friend’s family. He knew from a young age that he would be in funeral service, having assisted his father in the business growing up. Michael is a graduate of Sam Rayburn High School in Ivanhoe, TX in 1987, and later graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Over the following years, he acquired several hours of computer programming training. During his career in Funeral Service, Michael has worked in different locations in the DFW area as well as in Bonham, TX, and is a past board member of the Dallas County Funeral Directors Association. He is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Lector, and former Minister of Consolation in the Catholic church. “As cliché as it may sound, I truly believe funeral service is what I am called to do. I genuinely strive with each family to make the process of making the final arrangements for their loved one as personal, meaningful and as pleasant as possible.” When not serving families, Michael enjoys his other love, as a “Tech Geek.” He is the owner and operator of his own computer repair business, which he does on his time away from New Hope. Michael lives in Leonard, TX, and loves to spend precious family time with his wife, Theresa. Michael has two grown and married children, Chasen and his wife Helen and Kelsea and her husband Evan, 2 grandsons, Preston Jack & Parker Michael and his inherited daughter, Michelle, her husband Spencer and their two boys, Roman and Slade. “Nothing matters more than family."

Michael oversees all funeral home and cemetery operations.

TFSC License Number: 9601

Born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Hector Villanueva moved with his family to the United States as a teen and settled in a small town in Southwest Kansas where he attended and graduated from Garden City high school. He then continued his education at Fort Hays State University and graduated with BGS in Business Administration and BA in Modern Languages with an emphasis in Spanish.

During his undergrad years, Hector volunteered his time to different organizations helping others on campus and in the surrounding community of Hays, KS. His passion for helping others landed him a job at his alma mater, Fort Hays State University as the Multicultural Recruitment Admissions Counselor. During his tenure at FHSU Hector served as a liaison and advisor for First Generation College students. He helped run and mentor multiple diversity organizations and helped retain and encourage first generation students.

In 2017 Hector moved to Dallas, TX to attend the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, where he obtained an Associate of applied science in 2019. His passion for helping others in their time of need has taught him that every individual has their own unique story and that it is important to honor those who have passed. Outside of work, Hector enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling to new places, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures.

Hector takes care of all aspects of the arrangement process, including planning service, the personal care of the decedent, and viewing and supervision of the service.

TFSC License Number: 117830

Pam has been a part of funeral service since the early 1990s. She grew up in Mesquite, TX and graduated from North Mesquite High School. She matriculated to Eastfield College and earned an Associates of Arts degree. She transferred to East Texas State University – now Texas A&M Commerce where she received a Bachelor of Science degree followed by a Master’s degree in education. After Graduation, she taught Reading at the junior high, high school and college level. After the sudden death of her 56-year-old father, Pam felt called to funeral service. She was offered a golden opportunity to spend a summer in a funeral home with a renowned female embalmer and knew after the first day that funeral service was the field in which she wanted to spend her career.

Pam enrolled in the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1992 and graduated at the top of her class. While in Mortuary College she was a member of the scholastic honors fraternity where she held the office of Scribe. At Dallas Institute, Pam received her dual license of Funeral Director and Embalmer.

Pam was co-owner of a new funeral home in Dallas and after several years she sold her interest in the funeral home to pursue other areas in the field. In 2002, the opportunity was offered to combine her teaching background and her funeral service background. Pam became an instructor at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. While teaching at DIFS, Pam successfully completed all the requirements to receive the coveted CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner). This achievement signifies the commitment to raise and improving the professional standards of funeral service practice. Less than 10% of funeral directors in the United States hold this CFSP certification.

Pam left her teaching position and purchased an old empty funeral home building. She used her experience to bring it back to its original glory. In 2015, Pam and her husband decided to sell the funeral home and retire. For Pam retirement was short lived because funeral service was calling her back to the business.

Pam is a published author in the field of education and the field of funeral service. Pam has dedicated her life to serving her community. She was elected as Council Member/Deputy Mayor Pro Tem for the city of Rowlett. She is a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International and she served on the Board of Directors of Texas A&M Alumni Association. Pam holds a Private Pilot’s license and loves to fly, a Real Estate License, a Texas Master Gardeners Certificate and enjoys playing in the dirt. Pam and her husband Jim have been married for 33 years and live in Rockwall County with their Great Pyrenees named Balto.

Pam remains passionate for funeral service. It completes her to bring positive closure to families who have lost a loved one. She is always learning. The celebration of life is unique to each family and only an experienced funeral director can meet these needs. Pam continues to learn and serve.

TFSC License Number: 10747

Mike grew up in Austin, TX where he graduated from Crockett High School in 1981. He then attended Howard Payne University earning a bachelor’s degree in music education, and afterward, a Master of Music degree at The University of Texas in Austin.

Over the past 40 years, Mike has served in church related ministry as a Music Minister, Education Director, Senior Adult Minister, Associate Pastor, and Staff Evangelist. He also traveled with his wife and son in a singing and preaching ministry for almost 20 years performing revivals, concerts, and special events throughout Texas and other parts of the United States until moving to the Dallas Metroplex area in 2015. Mike and his wife currently reside in Forney, TX and remain active in church music ministry.

Mike began his career in funeral service as an Ambassador at New Hope. While serving in that capacity, he determined that he wanted to give more, and so he attended Mortuary College and obtained his Funeral Director's license. He sees the opportunity of working at New Hope Funeral Home as another outlet to minister to the needs of people and share the blessed hope found in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Evelyn got her start in the funeral profession as a prearrangement counselor. Shortly after finding her calling she attended an open house event at the Dallas Institute Of Funeral Service, where she applied and later attended, graduating in 2016.

Evelyn, now a Licensed Funeral Director, brings over 8 years of experience to New Hope Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens. 

Evelyn resides in Garland, TX .  In her free time, she enjoys working out, gardening and sewing. 

Evelyn oversees the New Hope cemetery operations and property sales.

Kristina, a proud native Texan, grew up in Duncanville, Texas where she currently resides, and graduated from Duncanville High School in 1992. Kristina has 25 years of experience in an administrative and support role with various organizations before coming to New Hope: “You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you”. – John Bunyan

Kristina has two adult daughters and a soon to be son-in-law. In her free time, Kristina is an avid baker and enjoys spending time outdoors; hunting, fishing, and paddle-boarding on the lake.

Kristina is in charge of all of our records management, such as Death Certificates and Service Recordkeeping.

Brenda was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. She grew up in Monterey, CA, and moved to Dallas in 2009. She finished her General Educational Development Test, and her first job was as a pediatric dental assistant, where she worked for 5 years.

While with the dentist's office Brenda learned how to perform routine dental cleanings, take patients X-rays and assist the dentist with complex dental procedures. There she discovered the love and enjoyment of assisting others in need, and later found exactly that opportunity at New Hope. She is happy to offer a helping hand wherever and whenever is needed.

Brenda is the second of three sisters. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her son, Ever and two fur babies Phoebe and Ranger.

Brenda is in charge of our front lobby reception, so she's often the first face you will see.  She also serves as our Archivist, digitizing historical records.

Bio forthcoming....

Cameron grew up in Stuttgart Arkansas, known as the rice and duck capital of the world. He moved to Texas to marry his fiance and start his career in the funeral profession in 2023. 

Cameron enjoys daily strength training and spending time with his family. He also has a great interest and passion for technology and animals, especially cats.

He is our Decedent Care Ambassador which means he is the first person to see your loved one and  bring them into our care. He takes great pride in giving your family the greatest care possible.

Martin has been in customer service his entire life, working with people. "Solving problems and finding solutions has always been my strongest gift." In 2015 he entered into this career path to help people provide their families with peace of mind. "Both of my parents had their funeral arrangements prepared when my father passed away in 2019 It really strikes home when you find out you are able to celebrate a loved one’s life, instead of having the looming job of planning a funeral. I want to provide this same peace of mind to other families just like my own."

Martin is our Prearrangement Counselor and is here to help you prearrange and/or prefund your funeral plans.

Ken has been married to his wife Lori for 35 years. They have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. 25 years ago they came to Texas from Maine to lead in worship & children’s ministry at Hope Church of Sunnyvale. Over the years his focus of ministry has included training and experience in pastoral & grief counseling. God has used Ken to help others who have suffered loss. He has led the GriefShare support group at his church for the past 6 years. Through the passing of his grandparents, close friends, and more recently his parents, he has learned to understand the pain of grief as a journey not an event. 

In 2018, Ken became the chaplain for Shalem Hospice Care of Sunnyvale. His compassionate care of patients and their families, through the death experience, has equipped him to serve 3 years as an ambassador/chaplain here at New Hope Funeral Home. 

The scope of Ken’s service is not limited to the end of life. He has served 16 years providing safe transportation for students as a bus driver for Mesquite ISD. Ken loves spending time with his family; vacationing at his family camp in Maine; mentoring and caring for the needs of others; and leading others to lift their voices in song to the Lord. 

Brad is originally from Arkansas, but grew up in the Midwest. He is a US Army veteran and served for 20 years as an employee of the US Department of Defense and the US Department of Justice working within the Federal Bureau of Prisons in various locations throughout the United States.

He started, owned and managed Grubbs Graphics in Addison, Texas for 30 years before selling the company. Brad and his wife, Angie are semi-retired managing real estate investments within the Dallas area. He and Angie jointly minister to the senior adults at Landmark Family Fellowship Church.

The loving and caring spirit Brad has carried all his life fits perfectly in his ministry role as an Ambassador at New Hope Funeral Home. When he is not busy working, he loves spending time with family and his passion for automobiles.

Angie was born in Overton Texas. She grew up in Wichita Falls and Odessa Texas. She graduated from Permian High School in Odessa. She has worked in the medical field for over 30 years in Tyler Texas. Angie is now self-employed and has lived in Mesquite for the last 5 years with her husband Brad. She has 2 sons, Rick and Daniel and 2 grandchildren. She has been married to her husband Brad for 11 years.

She attends Landmark Family Fellowship Church where her and Brad teach a senior adult Sunday School class.

She feels blessed to work and be a part of New Hope Funeral Home due to her love and passion for being there for other people.

If not working she loves shopping, being outdoors, being involved in her church and spending time with her family.

Carol was born in Dallas and lived most of her life in the Mesquite and Garland area.  She graduated from Texas A & M Commerce with a degree in Elementary Education.  She taught for 27 years in the Garland ISD and loved helping children to succeed. 

After her husband passed away she felt the call to continue helping others.  As an ambassador she can help and love people through a very hard time in their life. What a wonderful blessing!

Terry is a life-long resident of Mesquite, Texas. He graduated in 1972 from Mesquite High School and from East Texas State University in 1975.  After graduating from East Texas State, Terry began his 47-year professional career that included construction management, banking, construction material manufacturing, and engineering. 

Upon his retirement in December 2022, Terry pursued being an Ambassador for New Hope Funeral Home. Terry loves helping people and ministering to them in their time of need. Terry expressed, “At this stage of my life, I know this is where the Lord has called me to serve.”

Because of his passion for the city and people of Mesquite, Terry was encouraged to run for the Mesquite City Council in 1984. He served for 10 years on the city council, leading Mesquite during some very critical growth years. He was appointed Mayor Pro-Tem by the council two different times during his tenure.

Terry and his wife, Lisa, raised their family in Mesquite. Their daughters, Lindsay Paris and Elizabeth Smith, are both graduates of Mesquite High School. Terry and Lisa are blessed with 3 grandchildren: Lola Paris, Harper Paris, and Barrett Smith. The Brimers and their daughters’ families all attend Community Life Church (c|Life) in Sunnyvale. You can always find Terry at the front door greeting everyone as they come in.

In his spare time, Terry loves to play music. He and two other retired Mesquite Skeeters recently formed a band: "The Grateful Not To Be Dead Combo." They play classic country and rock. "Playing music is therapy for my soul,” said Terry.

Blanca has worked in the funeal profession since 2019.  "This has been one of the most rewarding careers I have had.

Blanca has been married to her husband for 49 years, and they live in Mesquite, Tx and and have 2 children. 

She enjoys decorating and spending time with my family and friends.

Blanca is one of our Ambassadors, serving as a part-time receptionist and also assisting with visitations and services. 

Robert was born and raised in Big Spring, Texas. He is now a happy resident of Fate, Texas. Robert graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1985. After graduating, Robert spent seventeen years at Johnson’s Funeral Home in San Angelo, Texas. He moved to the Dallas area in 2003 with his wonderful family. Robert and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 40 years. Together, they have three children and six grandchildren. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, going to movies, and watching NBA basketball – “Go Spurs Go”.  After almost 40 years in the funeral industry, Robert decided it was time to retire from full-time work. He and Cindy now have the freedom to do more traveling and spend more quality time with each other, family, and friends.  Their faith is important to them. They attend a local church in Rockwall where Robert occasionally teaches Sunday school.  Working part time at New Hope gives Robert the opportunity to continue doing what he loves to do.