New site manager at Parndon Wood Crematorium
The new site manager of Parndon Wood Cemetery & Crematorium, Vivienne Centala, says her priority is get to know families who make up the local community.
Vivienne said: “Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to come to terms with in life and we know that at some point, everyone will experience it.
“I don’t want to wait and meet families for the first time when they are attending the funeral of a loved one, I want Team Parndon Wood to be there for the community long before our services are needed.
“We’re a part of the community and want to make every effort to make it the best it can be, not just on the day of the funeral service.”
Vivienne is no stranger to placing a crematorium at the heart of its local community, because for the past 15 months she has been at the helm of Aylesbury Vale Crematorium.
Both sites are part of Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 37 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, tranquil places for people to visit and reflect.
Her Westerleigh Group career began in October 2019 when she joined New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium as Assistant Manager.
She then became Site Manager at Aylesbury Vale in March 2021.
She chose this career path because, she said: “I wanted to make a difference.
“After having experienced the loss of both my parents, I wanted to show comfort and support to other families when they needed it the most.
“My two daughters have been incredibly supportive and proud of my career progression, which helps keep my motivation high.
“At Parndon Wood, I want to replicate what I’ve achieved at Aylesbury Vale.
“I want to bond the team together and then engage with and support the community at their events while working closely with our funeral director colleagues, to remind them all of why we should be the crematorium of choice.
“Parndon Wood Cemetery & Crematorium is a beautiful site with a vast lawned cemetery area, dating back several decades.
“The recently refurbished chapel is now the jewel in the crown and has given the whole team a huge boost.
“I’m going to enjoy the challenge of being back at a site with a cemetery, which presents an entirely different set of challenges, along with a growing team, and I can’t wait to take the site forward.
“I would love to invite anyone and everyone from the local community to visit our site, meet the team and look around.
“I look forward to hearing about local events, and to offer my time and resources to help those events be as successful as they can be.”
