History & Staff

Michael graduated from Methuen High School and went on to obtain his mortuary services degree from New England Institute for Applied Arts and Sciences in 1972. He was awarded the prestigious David McCool Family Service Award from this institution at that time. Michael, who began his career working for his father in 1969, is a second-generation owner of the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home. In 1992, he purchased the business and resolved to continue the legacy of service and dedication instilled in him by his dad. Michael’s philosophy is: “What’s good is never good enough – we can always do better.” He has tried to communicate this principle to all of his employees and co-workers and has encouraged them to perform better than expected. Michael is a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes and served on their Resource Board of Directors for 6 years. He is also a member and former board member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association. Michael is a charter member of the Methuen Exchange Club and belongs to the Methuen Historical Society. Michael has been married to his wife, Maureen, for 34 years and has one son, Chris. In his spare time, Michael enjoys boating, fishing and playing with his two grandchildren, Adam and Sean.

Rob Chase was born and raised in Methuen and has been a Merrimack Valley resident for most of his life. He is a 4th generation Methuen resident. After graduating from Methuen High School, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where he majored in Business Administration and minored in Psychology and Economics. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, Rob attended and graduated summa cum laude from Briarwood College in Southington, Connecticut with an associate’s degree in Funeral Service. He then graduated with a juris doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover.

Rob has over 30 years of funeral-related experience and has been a funeral director in both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. He is also a licensed, non-practicing attorney in Massachusetts.

In his free time, Rob and his wife, Sabrina, enjoy spending time with family and friends. Rob has a son, Dustin, and three step-children, Tiffaine, Nick, and Chris.

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A Methuen High School graduate, with family still in town, Yesenia Aguilera brings with her years of experience, an authentic, caring disposition, and a purpose for serving the community that has served her well.

Born into an Ecuadorian and Cuban family, Miami, FL was home before moving to Methuen in 1996 at the age of ten. After graduating high school, she pursued her interest in the funeral field by attending and graduating from The Funeral Institute of the Northeast in Norwood, MA in 2013. She excelled in her career as a licensed funeral director and embalmer on the south shore specifically for the Jewish community. Currently resides in Methuen, where she is raising her three beautiful children Samuel, Daniel and Juliette.

During the rare times she is off, she spends it with her family, immediate and extended. She is not one to stay home if there is an opportunity to travel; she has been fortunate to visit Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, and all of the Caribbean Islands. Being bi-lingual has certainly helped during her traveling as well as in her career. Yesenia serves on the Advisory Board for FINE Mortuary College in Norwood and is also on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association.

Yesi is proud to be serving her community with a family owned, community oriented funeral home.

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Andy was born and raised in Methuen, MA, growing up in the Arlington Neighborhood. He was introduced to the Pollard Family at an early age. His grandparents were neighbors of and friends to the Pollards, living on Brown Street across from the original location of the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home. After the death of his father in 1979, he developed a special relationship with Mike Pollard and to this day is ever thankful and grateful.

Graduating college, he received his degree in Audio Visual Media Technology. He worked in the production industry in New England and, at one time, owned and operated his own audio visual production company.

In 1995, he began his career in the funeral industry, working for several funeral homes in the North Shore and Merrimack Valley before joining the staff of the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home in 2000. For 15 years, Andy served many families with compassion, support and understanding.

Attending seminary, he was ordained an American Catholic Priest in 2005 by the late Archbishop Lawrence J. Harms, D.D. in Methuen, MA. While working at the funeral home, Andy developed a professional relationship with Rob Chase, now owner and president of the funeral home.

Leaving the funeral home in 2015 to continue his theological studies, he received his Doctorate of Divinity and was commissioned bishop in May of 2020. During the crisis of the pandemic, as bishop, he founded The Old American Catholic Christian Church and the private community, Saint Michael of the Jerusalem Cross, an all-inclusive catholic Christian ministry, providing support to those suffering the many challenges in daily life.

Approached by Rob and his wife, Sabrina, to return to the funeral home as the Director of Community Education and Facilities Manager, Andy is humbled and honored to continue the 70 year legacy of the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home.

Today, Andy continues to live in the Merrimack Valley, residing in Haverhill with his wife of 33 years, the Reverend Brenda L. Gourdeau, SMJC, and continues an all-inclusive, proactive and compassionate ministry serving all regardless of one’s condition in life.

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Drew, as he is known to family and friends, grew up in Lynnfield, MA, with his parents, two older brothers and younger sister. With his entire family living in the area, it has fostered the importance of family values.

After graduating from Lynnfield High School, in 1992, Drew experienced college at Western New England University in Springfield, MA. He was hoping that he would find his career path in sampling academia, but there wasn’t anything that seemed to spark a passion.

Drew returned to Lynnfield where he started to gain some life experience by trying various types of employment. Through his favorite job at a hospital, he came to realize the personal fulfillment he received from assisting people who needed help.

After a serendipitous suggestion from his family, Drew found his calling in Funeral Service. He is a graduate of The Funeral Institute of the North East Mortuary College in 2002, magna cum laude. He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Massachusetts as well as New Hampshire.

Residing in the Merrimack Valley area since 2015, Drew became a homeowner in Haverhill, MA in 2020.

When Drew is not helping those who are dealing with one of the most difficult times in their lives, he enjoys spending time with his ever-important family and friends, as well as his beautiful black cat, Cinderella. His other passions include golfing, helping pet adoption charities, enjoying the beauty of New England, and The Dave Matthews Band.

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Andrew McDonald was born and raised in Lynnfield.

Graduated from Lynnfield High School, Class of 2007. Later graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2011. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree he earned his degree in Funeral Science from Mount Ida College. Andrew has years of funeral-related experience.

As a director he likes learning about and engaging with families in the community and serving them in their time of need.

He is a member of both the National Funeral Directors Association and Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association.

In his free time, Andrew and his wife Amanda enjoy spending time with their two children and enjoy watching them learn and grow up.

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Rick was born and raised in the Merrimack Valley and has been a lifelong resident. He is a graduate of Methuen High School, Fitchburg State University, and the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Boston. A third-generation funeral director for over 40 years, he is licensed to practice in both MA and NH. He is the prior owner of (6) independent funeral homes including the former Charles Dewhirst Funeral Home in Methuen and the Goundrey and Dewhirst Funeral Home in Salem NH.

Active professionally and in the community, he is a Past President of both the MA Funeral Directors Association and the NH Funeral Directors Association. He has also held leadership rolls at 1st Church Congregational in Methuen, John Hancock Masonic Lodge, Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce.

When not helping families and volunteering time in the community, he and his wife Lynn enjoy traveling, spending time with family and their cat Hal.

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Carrie Lynn Berube is a lifelong Methuen resident and graduate of Methuen High School, class of ’85. Carrie has her degree in Business Management and has spent decades at various levels of management in the retail industry. Carrie joined the funeral home staff in 2019. She brings a lifetime of experience serving others to her position at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home.

Carrie recently celebrated 35 years of marriage to her husband, Stephen. She and her husband have two children, Alexandra and Nicholas.

Carrie enjoys entertaining, traveling, gardening and most of all spending time with family and friends.

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Hanna Hazel Talmo is honored to be part of the Kenneth H. Pollard team. Hanna's current goal is to obtain her Funeral Directors license. She is presently registered in the Funeral Service program at Northshore Community College. Hanna is excited to be part of the celebration of life journey and hopes to own her own funeral home one day! She looks forward to serving her community in her hometown of Methuen.

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Funeral Assistant

Kevin Carney has been with us since June 2021. Born in Methuen, MA. and raised in Salem, NH.
A graduate of Central Catholic High School and the University of New Hampshire, where Mr. Carney received his BS in Business Administration. In college Kevin worked summers at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Cemeteries.
Kevin has spent 32 years in banking and hi-tech finance. Retiring from IBM in 2020 after 26 years of service. In July 2020 Kevin returned, part time, to St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Cemeteries with a focus on burial and grounds care. This experience complements his role with us at KHP.
Kevin resides in Derry, NH with his wife. They have two grown sons and two granddaughters.

Paul Marggraf was born in Methuen, MA. and currently resides in town.
Mr. Marggraf was fortunate enough to join the Pollard family in 1963 and is honored to serve families of the Merrimack Valley.
Empathy and compassion are two of Paul’s strongest qualities.
Paul is approaching 60 years in the profession. We are grateful to have him on our team.