Meet Our Staff 

Rick Berardinelli

President Emeritus / Licensed Funeral Service Practioner

Rick Berardinelli, a lifelong resident of Santa Fe, served as our company President until early in 2016 and now works primarily in a public relations role. He has been affiliated with the Berardinelli firm since 1975. Rick attended Los Niños Kindergarten, Wood Gormley Elementary School, Harrington Junior High, the University of New Mexico, and Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute, where he earned an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts as a Sous Chef. He worked in that capacity for three years then attended the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1975.

Over the years he has held the positions of Vice President, President, CEO and Funeral Service Consultant. Rick has earned the credentials of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), a result of many years of education and activities related to his profession. Professionally, he has served as a member and chairman of the New Mexico Board of Thanatopractice, as a board member and president of the New Mexico Funeral Service Association, as a member and lecturer with the National Funeral Directors Association, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Office of the Medical Investigator for the State of New Mexico.

His community work has included serving as President of the Santa Fe Fiesta Council, President of the Santa Fe Fiesta Foundation, board member of the Santa Fe County Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Bank of Santa Fe (now Wells Fargo), Open Hands, Montezuma Lodge #1 A.F. & A.M., the City of Santa Fe Historic Design Review Board, City Personnel Board, City Parks and Recreation Commission, the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust, Bienvenidos Outreach and as a board member, Past President and current member of the Santa Fe Rotary Club. He is a member of La Union Protectiva in Santa Fe. He was instrumental in the creation of Gerard's House for grieving children and is a current member of their board. He is also currently serving on the boards of the Santa Fe County Chamber of Commerce and Coming Home Connection.

Gerald R. Rodriguez

Licensed Funeral Service Practitioner / Certified Crematory Operator / Pre Need Counselor

Gerald was born in Santa Fe at the “Old St. Vincent’s.” He is the son of the late Eliseo and Paula Rodriguez, also lifelong residents and world renound artists.

Gerald attended Cristo Rey School then went on to Santa Fe High School. He attended Highland University, Santa Fe Community College and The Amarillo College of Mortuary Science, where he earned his degree in Funeral Science.

Gerald was a Firefighter –Paramedic with the Santa Fe Fire Dept. from 1980 until his retirement in 1999.

His love for Funeral service and wanting to be of service to the folks of Santa Fe began at an early age. In 1972 at the age of 14, Gerald came to work at Berardinelli Mortuary under the tutelage of Robert Berardinelli, the founder of Berardinelli Mortuary. Even while working at the Santa Fe Fire Dept., Gerald “Helped out” on his days off at Berardinelli Mortuary.

After his retirement from SFFD, he has continued to work here at Berardinelli’s as a Funeral Director and Embalmer. He is still very passionate about being able to be of humble service to the people of Santa Fe, Pecos, Pojoaque, and Nambe’.

He is a member of the Perpetual Adoration Society at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Fe, and a member of the choir at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambe’. He is a member of the Pilgrimage for Vocations

Gerald likes to garden and  play drums.

Christy Cantu

Funeral Service Intern

Christy was born and raised in Tennessee, in the 90’s she moved with her family to Albuquerque where  she attended Madison Middle School and then Manzano High School. In 1999 she moved back to Tennessee with her family.

She spent the next 14 years in restaurant management and then warehousing for 5 years after that. In May of 2019 she returned to New Mexico with her husband and daughters, this time landing in Santa Fe. She worked a couple of odd jobs when she first got here but in October of 2019 she found her passion serving families.

She takes great pride in what she does and really loves serving the families and the community of Santa Fe.   

Danielle Moreno

Office Administrator

With over 18 years working with the public in some way or another, Danielle has fine-tuned her public relations skills making her transition from Ambassador and Receptionist to Office Administrator easy.  She has been part of the Berardinelli Family for over 4 years and enjoys what she does.

Having three children, she has become an active part of our community.  She was a former board member of the Santa Fe National Little League, and an active member of Communities In Schools  She also tutors reading and language arts at Nava Elementary, and is a "team mom" for numerous teams her children are on.  On top of all of this she is a supporter of First Serve New Mexico, and the Santa Fe Humane Society.

Carmela Aldeis

Ambassador

Carmela Aldeis has worked for Berardinelli Family Funeral Service for 11 years. She was born and raised in Santa Fe and comes from a big family. She is a graduate of St. Catherine's Indian School and attended Highlands University. Carmela is well known for her excellent customer service and impeccable attention to detail. She is deeply involved in the community and has coached volleyball, basketball, and softball at the Santa Fe Indian School. In addition to her coaching, she volunteers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis. She is on the altar society, a member of La Conquistadora and she serves as a Eucharistic minister. She also takes the time to visit patients at St. Vincent’s Hospital and administers communion to patients who are unable to attend mass. If you ask her what her biggest pride and joy is she will always answer with a wide smile and say it is her 92 year old roommate who also happens to her mother, Anita. Carmela is extremely close with her mother and she is always proud to tell people that her mother is everything that she lives for. 

Telephone: 1-505-984-8600

Amanda Chavez

Ambassador

Amanda “Goldie” Chavez is easy going and personable; her ability to put people at ease in a time of grief is unparalleled. She is always willing to go the extra mile for the many families that we provide services for at Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. She was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM. She graduated from Capital High School, GO JAGS! She is a VERY proud Army BRAT. Goldie started serving families over 15 years ago. Her adventure started out with the National Cemetery and she later went on to work at local funeral homes in Santa Fe. We are lucky to now have her working for Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. In her spare time she coaches a girls AAU team.

Santiago H. Salazar III

Embalming Supervisor

Santiago H. Salazar III

Santiago is a valuable member of the Berardinelli team as the leader in our preparation room and embalming supervisor.

1976 Graduate of the Commonwealth Institiute of Funeral Service in Houston, TX.

He is a dual licensee in Texas and is also licensed as a Funeral Service Practitioner in the State of New Mexico

Former Clinical Embalming Instructor for the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.

Santiago is married and a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4^th Degree, and a member of the American Legion.

Ginene Trujillo

Public Relations / Funeral Service Intern

David Radman

Transfer Care Team Leader

Manuel Salas

Transfer Care Specialist

Hannah Crider

Transfer Care Specialist

Diondra Martinez

Transfer Care Specialist / Ambassador

Sonia Bertola

Transfer Care Specialist