Blog | Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service

Honoring The Fallen Officers of Fredericksburg, VA

In the Fall of 2017, Fredericksburg Police Chief David Nye came to Found and Sons of Fredericksburg to inquire about have a memorial built in honor of the fallen police officers of the Fredericksburg Police Department. Chief Nye and Captain Purcell were hands on and involved throughout the almost 8 month process. Monument Counselor and Funeral Assistant, Jeremy Grimes, assisted with the design of the memorial and arranged for the foundation, walkway, landscaping, and delivery.

The names of people and businesses that donated to the cost of the memorial.

The monument and its 7 pieces weighed close to 4 tons. The right and left wings and 4 bases were made out of Rockville granite while India Black was used for the central piece. The height of the monument is 9 feet and it is 12 feet long.

Companies instrumental in bringing the project to a successful conclusion were Christiana Karsky with Cold Springs Granite for the monument fabrication and delivery, Chris Iannarelli with All Seasons Landscaping and Irrigation for the foundation installation, walkway and accent lighting, Paul with Coleman Motor Company for offloading the delivered parts of the monument and later hoisting each piece in place, Burt Bugoney engineering for the required structural engineering of the foundation, DJ Smith of DJ’s Stoneworks and Engraving for engraving walkway bricks, and Riverside Bricks for getting the bricks onsite.

Pictured from left to right: Detective Alexandra Tittle, Officer Jennifer Moore, Officer Joseph Young, Officer Donald “Lee” Ridenour, Sergeant Rashawn Cowles

Pictured from left to right: Captain Purcell, Funeral Director Raymond Rhodes, Funeral Assistant and Monument Counselor Jeremy Grimes, Funeral Director Julie Found, Chief Nye

It was an honor for us to be a part of this project. We would like to thank Chief Nye and Captain Purcell for contacting us and trusting us in helping create something monumental for the town of Fredericksburg. This memorial shall stand to honor the fallen officers of Fredericksburg for years to come.

A Memory To Hold On To

There are many ways to honor and remember a loved one after they have passed. For Christi Thompson, her way of honoring someone is by creating memorial pillows, made from the clothing that a loved one wore.

Christi has been a Culpeper resident since moving here from Fairfax, VA when she was 15. It’s no surprise that she picked up sewing since her mother, Cynthia Godfrey, was the seamstress for the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Department. Cynthia became well known in the community for her seamstress skills. After doing some work for one gentleman in the Sheriff’s Department, she soon had other officers requesting her to tailor their uniforms. By referrals and her quality of work, Cynthia found herself with a full time job of keeping the officers uniforms looking sharp.

Cynthia had a very close relationship with Christi, her son-in-law, and grandsons. “She was basically a second mom in our household” says Christi. Known as “Mimi” to her grandsons, she helped Christi in homeschooling her grandsons. In 2016, Cynthia passed away after fighting a brave and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Her spirit still lives on through Christi, as she has filled her mother’s shoes and is now the seamstress for the Sheriff’s Department.

The first pillow that Christi ever made was actually made for a very close friend and co-worker that had passed away. The daughter of her late and former co-worker came to have a pillow made out of a shirt that her mom, Carol, often wore. The shirt that was that was provided had a slight coffee stain underneath the collar. For the people that didn’t know Carol, they wouldn’t quite understand the meaning behind the stain. Carol was an avid coffee drinker when she would be working with Christi in Belk Department Store of Culpeper. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Carol with a coffee stain on her shirt from drinking too quickly. Co-workers and friends always found it funny and somewhat normal to see the stain on Carol’s shirt by the end of her shift. Carol’s daughter had the pillow made as a way to keep her mother’s memory and presence with those that are still here.

Christi enjoys making these memorial pillows because of how they represent the person without words. As Christi finished telling the story behind Carol’s pillow, she began to explain that the pillows in our showroom were pillows made from pieces of her mom, Cynthia’s, clothing. She went on to explain how special it is to see a person’s clothing and just feel like you’re right back at home with that person. “It really is about keeping the spirit and presence of a loved one alive” Christi says.

To have a memorial pillow created for your loved one that is deceased, you can contact Christi at [email protected] or visit Found in Sons Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Culpeper, VA.

An Interview with Owner & Funeral Director, Scott Found

How long have you been a funeral director?

I have been a licensed FD since 1991 and involved in the funeral business since I was 13 years old.

What led you to this profession?

Following my brother Sam’s footsteps.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

For the past 5 years as an owner, I spend most of my day concerned with the operations of Found and Sons. My main concern is always “is it best for our clients?”. I also try my best to be fair with employees and contractors.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

As an owner, the most rewarding part of my job is supporting community projects that help the youth, veterans and the elderly. As a Funeral Director, the most rewarding part of my job was knowing that I made a very difficult time easier for a family that was struggling with a loss.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

Funeral Directors can sometimes be thought of as not caring or not emotional. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. Do we become desensitized to the acute trauma of death? Yes. But, good funeral directors grieve with you, internally. While we may not have all the outward signs of grief, we feel the pain of each family and we internalize the stories and sadness.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

There is nothing wrong with price shopping. In today’s economy, every dollar counts. The best question you can ask a funeral director is: What is the bottom line? Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples as pricing structures can vary from funeral home to funeral home.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

Funeral directing is not your normal profession. Do not expect a 9 – 5 job with weekends off, funeral directors serve those in need 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

How does being a funeral director play into your life compared to having a “normal” job How do you manage to keep a good balance of work life and personal life?

The hours of a funeral director can make normal life difficult. You have to be prepared to miss important life events in order to serve the community. It took me 25 years to learn how to balance work and personal time, and I’m not sure I have figured it out yet.

What do you enjoy most about working and living/working in the Culpeper? What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area?

The people and the land is what makes the Culpeper area so awesome to work and live. Folks are down to earth and honest for the most part and the country vistas are beyond compare.

Who is one person that inspires you? What is one quote that inspires you? I seek inspiration daily from many places but most importantly from my family. My twins inspire me to be a better father and person every day. My parents provide wise counsel in my ventures as a new dad and as an example of the ups and downs in a marriage and raising a “Found”. My wife, Jennifer provides me with inspiration to keep going when I want to quit or get down. My favorite quote is “The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

An Interview with Funeral Director, Jennifer Found

How long have you been a funeral director? What were you before you became a funeral director?

I became a licensed funeral director in Pennsylvania in 1998 and then Virginia in 1999. It’s all I’ve ever done since I graduated high school in 1993. During the period between college and Mortuary school I worked at an undergarment company called Bestform.

What led you to this profession?

I wanted to be a medical examiner or pathologist at first but during my first semester of college I realized I couldn’t handle 10 years of college and went to a funeral home to try it out and have been doing it ever since.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

When a family thanks you for all that you’ve done and tells you that you’ve made the process a lot easier than expected.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day, honestly. I could make arrangements at 10:00 AM, embalm at noon then clean the chapel to get ready for a visitation then possibly go on a removal and make arrangements again. If it’s not that, I could sit at my desk catching up on paper work for a solid 8 hours. It’s something different everyday. No service is the same. No families are the same. You have to be good at multi-tasking and talking with people.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

That funeral directors are just directors. People don’t think that we also scrub bathrooms, embalm, put on makeup and casket people. We also put up and take down tents if we need to, mark off graves in the cemeteries, fill in as pallbearers, shovel snow, wash cars, etc.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

That funeral directors work long, hard hours. We do this because it is gratifying to help those when they need it most.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

I always encourage everyone to follow their dreams. Educate yourself and just start working part time at a funeral home to get a preview of what your life will be like. It’s a lot of crazy hours and you really have to dedicate yourself to the profession, but it is a very rewarding career.

How does being a funeral director play into your life compared to having a “normal” job How do you manage to keep a good balance of work life and personal life?

It’s very hard to plan things. You just never know what you’ll be doing from one moment to the next. Your emotions get involved and it’s hard to shut things off in your head sometimes. When you wake up in the middle of the night and your singing, “How Great thou Art” in your head, you know it’s time for a mental health day.

What do you enjoy most about living in Culpeper?

I love Culpeper. I really believe this is where I’m meant to be. I love the small town atmosphere and getting to know everyone in the community. What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area? I love taking the kids to the parks, including Mountain Run Lake. I love hiking the beautiful mountains we have like Old Rag and White Oak Falls, and most of all I enjoy eating at all of Culpeper’s fabulous restaurants.

Who is one person that inspires you/what is one quote that inspires you?

My husband inspires me. His positive attitude and great work ethic if the reason this funeral home has done so well. He loves his community and loves to give back to his community and all the family’s we serve. He was and still is my mentor. He taught me everything I know and I am grateful for that.

An Interview with Funeral Director, Tonya Backe

How long have you been a funeral director? What were you before you became a funeral director?

I’ve been a licensed funeral director for two years. Prior to becoming a funeral director, I worked in a local medical office for 28 years.

What led you to this profession?

I was led to the funeral industry through friends that are directors. I was looking for a second career and thought the funeral industry would suit me as I enjoy serving others.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

The most rewarding part of being a funeral director is when families express their gratitude for all that you’ve done to help pay tribute to their loved one.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I don’t think there is a “typical” work day for a director. Our industry is so unpredictable. A work day could consist of meeting with families to make funeral arrangements for a death that has occurred, or meeting with families to make pre arrangements for funeral services, perform embalming, preparing for visitations/viewings, etc.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

A typical misconception people have about funeral directors is that directors are mostly introverts that are odd, creepy, and uncaring.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

That pre-need arrangements are transferable. If you have made pre-arrangements with a funeral home and decide you would prefer another funeral home to serve you, they can be transferred.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

My advice to someone considering becoming a director would be that this profession can be a very demanding profession with long hours and even sleepless nights, but if your desire is to truly help serve others, this has to be one of the most rewarding careers you could choose.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

The funeral industry is not 9-5; it is 24/7. When you serve a family, it doesn’t begin at 9:00 AM and end at 5:00 PM. It is when they need you. Keeping a good balance of work life and personal life takes a bit of planning. I have to be certain to schedule time off to rejuvenate. That is the key for me to maintain a healthy balance of work and personal life.

What do you enjoy most about working and living and working in the Culpeper area? What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area?

What I enjoy most about working the Culpeper area is that our community is still quaint and although we are ever-growing, we are maintaining a bedroom community. You can still walk down the street and know someone that passes you, be it on the sidewalk or driving on the street. I enjoy the shops on Davis Street and the rich history our county holds.

Who is one person that inspires you? What is one quote that inspires you?

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” – Theodore Roosevelt

My biggest inspiration are my children. They inspire me to be the best person I can be.