Rick McLean
Executive Director
Rick McLean has been an employee of Holy Cross since 2013. In March, 2019, he was hired as the Executive Director of Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services for the Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Rick was born in Spokane and is the father of two beautiful daughters, Alexiis and Amanda McLean. He spent the majority of his career as the president and owner of Mid Valley Chrysler Dodge and Jeep in Grandview, WA. Rick’s true passion is doing the work of the Lord. He has been actively involved in the Catholic community as a sacristan, lector, and Eucharistic minister and has facilitated many bible studies throughout the years. He is committed to serving his brothers and sisters in Christ through the Corporal Work of Mercy of burying the dead.
Rick McLean
Executive Director
Rick McLean has been an employee of Holy Cross since 2013. In March, 2019, he was hired as the Executive Director of Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services for the Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Rick was born in Spokane and is the father of two beautiful daughters, Alexiis and Amanda McLean. He spent the majority of his career as the president and owner of Mid Valley Chrysler Dodge and Jeep in Grandview, WA. Rick’s true passion is doing the work of the Lord. He has been actively involved in the Catholic community as a sacristan, lector, and Eucharistic minister and has facilitated many bible studies throughout the years. He is committed to serving his brothers and sisters in Christ through the Corporal Work of Mercy of burying the dead.
Clint Champion
Director of Funeral and Cemetery Services
Clint Champion has been with the ministry of Holy Cross Funeral & Cemetery Services since March, 2022. He entered the funeral and cemetery profession in 1986, and has been working in Spokane since 1993. Clint has worked in many facets of the profession, including as a cemeterian, licensed funeral director, intern embalmer, crematory operator, funeral home manager and pre-arrangement counselor. He brings a heart of compassion and a wide range of experience to every family he serves. Clint has been married to his wonderful bride Vikki since 1985. They have six adult children, and six grandchildren (so far). Clint and Vikki have been members of Shiloh Hills Fellowship church since 2010.
Clint Champion
Director of Funeral and Cemetery Services
Clint Champion has been with the ministry of Holy Cross Funeral & Cemetery Services since March, 2022. He entered the funeral and cemetery profession in 1986, and has been working in Spokane since 1993. Clint has worked in many facets of the profession, including as a cemeterian, licensed funeral director, intern embalmer, crematory operator, funeral home manager and pre-arrangement counselor. He brings a heart of compassion and a wide range of experience to every family he serves. Clint has been married to his wonderful bride Vikki since 1985. They have six adult children, and six grandchildren (so far). Clint and Vikki have been members of Shiloh Hills Fellowship church since 2010.
Matthew Trudeau
Chief Operating Officer
Matthew Trudeau
Chief Operating Officer
Sarah Jobe Cuba
Accountant
Sarah Jobe Cuba
Accountant
Theresa Sullivan
Funeral Director
Theresa has been serving families in the Spokane community as a Funeral Director since 2012 and joined Holy Cross Funeral & Cemetery Services in August, 2016. Theresa feels honored to be a part of the Diocese’s non-profit ministry of helping families through one of the most difficult times of their life. She is dedicated to the families she serves and believes that she is blessed to have found her calling. Theresa was born and raised in Spokane, attended Assumption Catholic School and Gonzaga Prep High School. She is married to Jere and they have three children, and three grandchildren. Theresa enjoys camping, reading, and antiquing. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister at Assumption Parish and is currently the President of the Inland Empire Funeral Directors Association.
Theresa Sullivan
Funeral Director
Theresa has been serving families in the Spokane community as a Funeral Director since 2012 and joined Holy Cross Funeral & Cemetery Services in August, 2016. Theresa feels honored to be a part of the Diocese’s non-profit ministry of helping families through one of the most difficult times of their life. She is dedicated to the families she serves and believes that she is blessed to have found her calling. Theresa was born and raised in Spokane, attended Assumption Catholic School and Gonzaga Prep High School. She is married to Jere and they have three children, and three grandchildren. Theresa enjoys camping, reading, and antiquing. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister at Assumption Parish and is currently the President of the Inland Empire Funeral Directors Association.
Alijean Bays
Funeral Director
Alijean was born and raised in Colfax, WA, just one hour south of Spokane. She is no stranger to the funeral industry. Their close family friends owned Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, where she spent a lot of her childhood time. She married in 1999 to Roger Birchmier and has 4 amazing kids! She was blessed with being able to stay at home with their kids. Then a tragic accident in 2012 took Roger from this earthly life and left Alijean to raise their kids on her own. God blessed Alijean once again with her husband, Jeff in 2014, who has 3 kids and whose wife has passed as well. This has left Jeff and Alijean with the "Brady Bunch" and beyond experience raising 7 kids between them. No small task! Alijean loves working in the funeral business as she always has had a passion for comforting people in the darkest time in their lives. Alijean enjoys camping, and genealogy, and looks forward to traveling around the world with her husband Jeff.
Alijean Bays
Funeral Director
Alijean was born and raised in Colfax, WA, just one hour south of Spokane. She is no stranger to the funeral industry. Their close family friends owned Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, where she spent a lot of her childhood time. She married in 1999 to Roger Birchmier and has 4 amazing kids! She was blessed with being able to stay at home with their kids. Then a tragic accident in 2012 took Roger from this earthly life and left Alijean to raise their kids on her own. God blessed Alijean once again with her husband, Jeff in 2014, who has 3 kids and whose wife has passed as well. This has left Jeff and Alijean with the "Brady Bunch" and beyond experience raising 7 kids between them. No small task! Alijean loves working in the funeral business as she always has had a passion for comforting people in the darkest time in their lives. Alijean enjoys camping, and genealogy, and looks forward to traveling around the world with her husband Jeff.
Terry Malmsten
Intern Funeral Director
Terry Malmsten
Intern Funeral Director
Christopher Gordon
Embalmer
Christopher Gordon
Embalmer
Mark Lamb
Family Service Advisor
Raised in the Spokane Valley, he has been a registered member of St Mary, St. Pascal and currently at St Joseph Otis Orchards. Active in Youth ministry, Parish council’s and Knights of Columbus at all three. He joined Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services in 2012 as a Family Service Advisor. Mark is Married to Janet they have two children and two grandchildren. He has a passion for serving the needs of the Spokane Christian community.
Mark Lamb
Family Service Advisor
Raised in the Spokane Valley, he has been a registered member of St Mary, St. Pascal and currently at St Joseph Otis Orchards. Active in Youth ministry, Parish council’s and Knights of Columbus at all three. He joined Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services in 2012 as a Family Service Advisor. Mark is Married to Janet they have two children and two grandchildren. He has a passion for serving the needs of the Spokane Christian community.
Mark Westbrook
Family Service Advisor
Mark Westbrook decided to join Holy Cross following a family crisis. We’ll let Mark tell the story:
“I remember how terribly sad my wife, Nancy, and her sister were when they drove off to Holy Cross Cemetery. Their brother had just died and they had to find a resting place for him near their folks. When they returned they were actually laughing, “Tommy’s moving back in with Mom & Dad.” That is when I began to appreciate just how much comfort cemeteries provide, and how a touch of humor, can be appropriate and a blessing. That chuckle really got us through a tough time. As Nancy told how the cemetery’s representative (Greg Finch) had suggested using her parent’s niche, I realized that Greg had passed up a bigger “sale” in order to do what was best for my wife and family. I saw the ministry in his work, and felt its call.
“Now I am in my sixth year with Holy Cross. I am deeply grateful for the many families I’ve come to know and have had the privilege to help. This is a sacred place. When walking the grounds I’m constantly reminded of really good folk who have gone before us in the sign of faith. Life is precious and God is certainly present, especially in our sorrow.”
Mark grew up Spokane, went to Cataldo and L.C. High School. He is the nephew of Rev. J. Severyn Westbrook. Mark and Nancy have two children. Mark previously I worked in marketing and advertising and he is a very active parishioner of St. Ann Parish.
Mark Westbrook
Family Service Advisor
Mark Westbrook decided to join Holy Cross following a family crisis. We’ll let Mark tell the story:
“I remember how terribly sad my wife, Nancy, and her sister were when they drove off to Holy Cross Cemetery. Their brother had just died and they had to find a resting place for him near their folks. When they returned they were actually laughing, “Tommy’s moving back in with Mom & Dad.” That is when I began to appreciate just how much comfort cemeteries provide, and how a touch of humor, can be appropriate and a blessing. That chuckle really got us through a tough time. As Nancy told how the cemetery’s representative (Greg Finch) had suggested using her parent’s niche, I realized that Greg had passed up a bigger “sale” in order to do what was best for my wife and family. I saw the ministry in his work, and felt its call.
“Now I am in my sixth year with Holy Cross. I am deeply grateful for the many families I’ve come to know and have had the privilege to help. This is a sacred place. When walking the grounds I’m constantly reminded of really good folk who have gone before us in the sign of faith. Life is precious and God is certainly present, especially in our sorrow.”
Mark grew up Spokane, went to Cataldo and L.C. High School. He is the nephew of Rev. J. Severyn Westbrook. Mark and Nancy have two children. Mark previously I worked in marketing and advertising and he is a very active parishioner of St. Ann Parish.
Gordon Blunt
Family Service Advisor
Gordon joined Holy Cross Funeral & Cemetery Services in 2017 after a diverse career in commercial banking, cost analysis, and sales. Gordon re-located with his family from western Washington in 2013 and decided to change career paths to be able to give back to others in some capacity. Gordon believes that serving Christ through the ministry of the Corporal Work of Mercy is his calling and he has a passion for serving as a Family Service Advisor. He feels privileged to have the opportunity to serve Spokane’s Christian community, not only in their hour of need, but planning for their future needs. He and his wife Kris attend St. Thomas More Parish and enjoy spending time with their four children, family and friends.
Gordon Blunt
Family Service Advisor
Gordon joined Holy Cross Funeral & Cemetery Services in 2017 after a diverse career in commercial banking, cost analysis, and sales. Gordon re-located with his family from western Washington in 2013 and decided to change career paths to be able to give back to others in some capacity. Gordon believes that serving Christ through the ministry of the Corporal Work of Mercy is his calling and he has a passion for serving as a Family Service Advisor. He feels privileged to have the opportunity to serve Spokane’s Christian community, not only in their hour of need, but planning for their future needs. He and his wife Kris attend St. Thomas More Parish and enjoy spending time with their four children, family and friends.
Tyler LeMaster
Family Service Advisor
Tyler LeMaster
Family Service Advisor
Lisa Rusaw
Family Service Coordinator
Lisa Rusaw
Family Service Coordinator
Sister Judith Nilles, OP
Cemetery Service Rep.
Sr. Judith has served as Receptionist and Service Representative at Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services since 2012. Her fifty-some years as a Dominican Sister, teacher, school principal and pastoral minister working for the Diocese of Spokane have helped prepare her for this ministry of accompaniment; the ministry of presence. She feels her work at Holy Cross is an opportunity to integrate her pastoral experience with the needs of people as they relate to funeral and burial planning. When not at work she loves reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends in the area.
Sister Judith Nilles, OP
Cemetery Service Rep.
Sr. Judith has served as Receptionist and Service Representative at Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services since 2012. Her fifty-some years as a Dominican Sister, teacher, school principal and pastoral minister working for the Diocese of Spokane have helped prepare her for this ministry of accompaniment; the ministry of presence. She feels her work at Holy Cross is an opportunity to integrate her pastoral experience with the needs of people as they relate to funeral and burial planning. When not at work she loves reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends in the area.
Deacon Craig Blomgren
Cemetery Service Rep.
My name is Craig Blomgren. I have been married to Cindy for 46 years and we have two grown children, a boy and a girl. We have been blessed with 7 grandchildren from 7 to 21 years old, who all live in Spokane. Cindy and I have been Christians all our lives but we were both received into the fullness of the Catholic Faith at the Easter Vigil at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Parish in Spokane in 2001. I have been a Deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for almost 7 years this August and have had the pleasure of working as a Representative for the Catholic Cemeteries of Spokane since 2013.
Deacon Craig Blomgren
Cemetery Service Rep.
My name is Craig Blomgren. I have been married to Cindy for 46 years and we have two grown children, a boy and a girl. We have been blessed with 7 grandchildren from 7 to 21 years old, who all live in Spokane. Cindy and I have been Christians all our lives but we were both received into the fullness of the Catholic Faith at the Easter Vigil at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Parish in Spokane in 2001. I have been a Deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for almost 7 years this August and have had the pleasure of working as a Representative for the Catholic Cemeteries of Spokane since 2013.
Vikki Champion
Office Administrator
Vikki joined Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services in July 2019. Previously she worked for several local funeral homes in office administrative roles. She enjoys working behind the scenes, supporting the staff and ministry of Holy Cross. Vikki has been married to Clint for 34 years and they have 6 adult children, and have been blessed with 6 beautiful grandchildren. She and her husband are members of Shiloh Hills Fellowship. Vikki enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, reading and crochet, especially new grand baby blankets.
Vikki Champion
Office Administrator
Vikki joined Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services in July 2019. Previously she worked for several local funeral homes in office administrative roles. She enjoys working behind the scenes, supporting the staff and ministry of Holy Cross. Vikki has been married to Clint for 34 years and they have 6 adult children, and have been blessed with 6 beautiful grandchildren. She and her husband are members of Shiloh Hills Fellowship. Vikki enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, reading and crochet, especially new grand baby blankets.
Retta Brockie
Office Administrator
Retta Brockie
Office Administrator
Michele Lindley
Funeral Home Receptionist
Michele Lindley
Funeral Home Receptionist
Sr. Bernadette Pederson
Receptionist
My name is Sr. Bernadette. I was born in Spokane and have lived in this area all my life. I have been a sister for over 26 years. As a sister, I have worked as a teacher, professional cook, and administrative assistant. I am also privileged to volunteer as a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Hospital and as a visitor to the home-bound. I enjoy cooking, watching mystery shows, and doing artwork.
Sr. Bernadette Pederson
Receptionist
My name is Sr. Bernadette. I was born in Spokane and have lived in this area all my life. I have been a sister for over 26 years. As a sister, I have worked as a teacher, professional cook, and administrative assistant. I am also privileged to volunteer as a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Hospital and as a visitor to the home-bound. I enjoy cooking, watching mystery shows, and doing artwork.
Nathan Hueser
Grounds Operations Manager
Nathan Hueser
Grounds Operations Manager
Newt Coster
Grounds
Newt Coster
Grounds
Dan Holden
Grounds
Dan Holden
Grounds
Mike Jackson
Grounds
Mike Jackson
Grounds
Trevor Gardner
Grounds
Trevor Gardner
Grounds
Jeff Kaniaupio
Grounds
Jeff Kaniaupio
Grounds
Theo Holcomb
Grounds
Theo Holcomb
Grounds
Joe Waham
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Joe Waham
Funeral Director/Embalmer