Tributes

Celina Hernandez

Managing Partner

   Celina Hernandez, has worked in the funeral industry for more than 22 years as of 2020. She began working with Wilson & Kratzer in 1997, where she remained for 13 years until transferring to Greer Family Mortuary in Alameda where she became the Office Manager and worked for six years prior to her return to Wilson & Kratzer in 2017.

Celina was born, raised and has lived in the Bay Area her entire life. She attended schools in the San Pablo and Richmond areas and now resides with her own family in Pinole. Celina prides herself on helping the diverse community from which she comes from and believes no two funerals or services should be the same. Early in her career, she was nominated, and received the award for “Funeral Service Person of the Year” (2004) from the California Funeral Directors Association. She is currently Managing Partner, Funeral Arranger and a Notary Public for the Civic Center Chapel location.

When Celina is not at work, she is busy with her family of five. Investing time with those she loves and holds dearest to her heart. 

Karyl Thompson

Funeral Director

Karyl Thompson, licensed Funeral Director, began working for Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries in 2022.

Ryan Lipuma

Embalmer

Ryan has been with the Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries since 2010. He is a very valued employee and has a passion for helping our community. He is a graduate of American River College in Sacramento and a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.

Jordan Baldwin

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Jordan has been an employee with Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries since March of 2014. She is currently working as an embalmer where she assists in many capacities. In 2018 she graduated from American River College in Sacramento with an Associates of Science degree. She is a true joy and has proven to be someone we can all rely on.

Stephanie Hernandez

Administrative Assistant

Joel Vincent Garland

Ambassador /Funeral Assistant

Joel was born in Tallulah, Louisiana, and moved to Oakland, California in 1955. He is a graduate of Castlemont High (class of 1967) and Merritt Jr. College (class of 1970). He also spent one year at the University of California, Berkeley

In 1979, Joel began working as a Life Insurance Agent. At the time of his retirement, he was a Sales Manager for United Insurance Company of America.

Joel started working for Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries in January of 2007 as an Ambassador/Funeral Assistant.