History & Staff

Shortly after graduating from Siena College in 1982, Kristin informed her father she was interested in returning to school to earn her license in funeral directing. She would be the fourth generation of McVeigh’s to enter the family business.

Prior to graduating from Siena in 1982, Kristin attended St. Teresa of Avila School in Albany and went on to graduate from Academy of the Holy Names in 1979. She married David Parente in 1993 and he too joined the firm. They have three treasured children; Anthony, Kyla and Eva.

Kristin was an adjunct faculty member at Hudson Valley Community College’s mortuary science department. She is a past president of the Albany Lions Club and a former board member of Camary Statewide Services. She was a longtime member of the board of Living Resources, and is former president of the Capital District Funeral Directors Association.

David has extensive experience as a funeral service professional, serving Albany area families for over 41years. He has been with the McVeigh Funeral Home for the better part of those years. David is a Principal, Firm Manager, and Funeral Director at the McVeigh Funeral Home.

His curriculum vita includes Canisius College, Hudson Valley Community College, and the prestigious, internationally-renowned Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills.

David is very active in related business associations, as well as within the wider community. He currently serves as New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) Region 6 District Govenor; President Capital District Funeral Directors Association; former Trustee Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, NY; Past President and Council member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, NY; Board Member Budget and Finance Committee Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, NY; former Board Member and Vice President of The Community Hospice Foundation; Hudson Valley Community College Morturary Science Program Advisory Board Member; Chairman Albany Central Ave. Business Improvement District; Board member Capitalize Albany Corporation; Chairman Membership Committee Capitalize Albany Corporation.

David is a founding Board Member of New York State Funeral Directors (NYSFDA) Directors Choice Credit Union (DCCU); Chairman NYSFDA Funeral Directors Support Services (FDSS); Chairman NYSFDA PrePlan Trustees {a $803 Million New York Trust administered for NYSFDA by Funeral Director Support Services, Inc., .a New York Corp.}; Board Member NYSFDA Budget and Finance Committee; former chairman NYSFDA's Ethics Committee; Board Member Albany Police & Fire Foundation; and he serves on the House Committee at The Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY

"Living in the Capital Region has been a privilege for me, and especially serving New York's great Capital City.....Albany"

Born in Albany, Bill has been a lifelong resident of the city. He is a graduate of Blessed Sacrament Church School, Christian Brothers Academy, Holy Cross College and Simmons School of Funeral Directing.

He married the former Sheila Butler in 1956. Bill entered the Naval Reserve and was stationed in Norfolk, VA. He returned to Albany in 1958 and joined his father as the third generation of funeral directors at McVeigh Funeral Home.

Bill and Sheila have four children; William E. McVeigh, Jr., a resident of Living Resources; Brian J. McVeigh PhD, former professor of Anthropology at Tucson AZ; Kristin McVeigh Parente and Laurel McVeigh Gent.

Bill has moved into a more senior and advisory role in the funeral home the past few years, but remains active and plays a vital role as the funeral home moves forward.

Dawn joined the McVeigh Funeral Home in September 1997 after retiring from a 39 year career in the insurance industry. She has known the McVeigh family for a long time and was happy to join the firm when offered the opportunity. She is the proud mother of three and grandmother also of three. Her interests include traveling, gardening, reading, rooting for the Boston Red Sox and visiting casinos now and then. Dawn recently moved to part-time work in the funeral home, so she can enjoy precious time with her family.

Terry Ulion has been married to his wonderful wife, Ann for over 36 years. They have a beautiful daughter, Beth, who graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry in 2007.

Terry and Ann both retired in 1996 after 35 years with the Bethlehem Central School District. And interestingly, they began their teaching careers on the same day, and retired from those careers on the same day!

Terry was the recipient of Fulbright-Hayes Fellowships to Egypt in 1987 and Brazil in 1993. He is a part-time consultant and evaluator for College Board of Princeton, NJ. And he recently completed a distinguished career as a New York State Football Official. Over his 30 year career officiating football in Section II, Terry was selected to work numerous Super bowls, Regional games, seven State semi-finals and two NYSPHSAS Championships in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University.

Vince Perry, Sr., has been happily married for over 43 years to Bonita Lonergan, and they have six very successful children and eleven beautiful grandchildren. He graduated from Albany High School in 1951 and served his Country honorably in the US Navy during the Korean War. In fact, his son Vince, Jr continues the family's Naval tradition by having served as the Auxiliary Officer on the USS Harry S. Truman Aircraft Carrier in Norfolk, VA. Vince owned and operated Mr. Perry’s Hair Fashions in Loudonville for over 35 years. When asked about the most famous customer he took care of in the Salon over those 35 years, he is quick to say , “well of course, that would have to be a beautiful and talented actress who starred on As the World Turns for five years and is often seen on local television commercials, Yvonne Perry, my daughter!”

Sarah graduated from the Academy of the Holy Names in 1995 and received her associates degree from Mildred Elley Business School.

Sarah joined the McVeigh Funeral Home June of 2010

She currently lives in Latham with her husband Grady and their two children Jakob and Sophia.

She is a board member with North Colonie Pop Warner. She enjoys spending her time watching her children participate in their numerous activities.

At the funeral home, David and Kristin consider Sarah an invaluable and key member of their staff and consider her a joy to work with on the administrative side of the the desk.

Ed grew up in Colonie and graduated from Colonie High School in 2002. He started in Funeral Service in 2000, and realized early on this would be his life's calling.

Edward is a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College’s Mortuary Science program class of 2014. He became a Licensed New York State Funeral Director in 2015.

In addition to his work at the funeral home, he is an active board member of the Polish American Citizen’s Club and the Capital District Umpire Association. Ed is a communicant of St. Pius X Church.

He truly enjoys spending his free time with his wife Michelle (Garrow) Galka.

Jerry Forenzo is a life long resident of the Town of Colonie. He graduated from Colonie High School in 1968 and served the Army Reserves from 1969 – 1975.

Jerry worked for many years managing meat departments at the Star Supermarkets on Wolf Road and in Latham. As a result of his commitment to customer service, and friendly demeanor, Jerry developed a group of loyal customers who followed him to Hannaford Supermarket, in 1995.

In 2002, Jerry changed careers and joined the staff at St. Pius X, in Loudonville, as Superintendent of Building & Grounds. As a parishioner for many years, this position was more than a “job”. His selfless service to the St. Pius X community continues today in spite of his retirement in 2015.

Married to Diane Santandrea for 45 years, they enjoy spending time with their four children and 8 grandchildren.

When not with his family, Jerry’s favorite past time is playing golf.

Jerry joined the McVeigh staff in 2015, and he quickly became a valuable member of their staff.