Our Caring Staff in Fall River, MA | Manuel Rogers Funeral Home

Nelson and Bethany Antunes are the newest owners of Manuel Rogers Funeral Home. They have continued to provide the same compassionate service since the transfer of ownership in 2020. Bethany is a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer in both MA and RI. Her responsibilities include leading our internal team to ensure that our family’s needs are not only met but exceeded. Nelson obtained his Funeral Assistant license in 2021 and oversees the business side of the funeral home. They have been married for 15 years and share 2 daughters, Avery and Scarlett. They are parishioners of Holy Name Church in Fall River.

Bethany worked for Manuel Rogers Funeral Home for 8 years prior to taking ownership. In addition to working at her present location, Bethany gained additional experience while working at other reputable funeral homes. She has always known that her calling in life was to serve her community in its time of need. Bethany is a 2010 graduate of the Funeral Institute of New England Mortuary College with a degree in Mortuary Science. In 2002, she also graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts - Illustration/Painting from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. She is a member of the PAWA Organization (Portuguese American Women's Association). In her free time, she enjoys running, biking, walking, and hiking. Bethany also volunteers in numerous organizations and participates in the annual Fight for Air Stair Climb competition in Providence, RI.

Nelson is a 2003 graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. He went on to obtain his Master’s Degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2008 in Business/Power Systems Management. In addition to his business responsibilities at Manuel Rogers Funeral Home, Nelson serves his community as a Principal Project Manager for the utility industry. As a Project Manager and Engineer, he is responsible for managing Distribution, Transmission, and Substation projects throughout their full life cycle, as well as power restoration after major events. He enjoys watching and playing sports, especially baseball and soccer. While Bethany and Nelson love to serve in their community, nothing gives them greater joy than spending time with their children.

Staff Name

Staff Position

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Staff Name

Staff Position

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Staff Name

Staff Position

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Elit ut aliquam purus sit amet luctus venenatis lectus magna. Et ligula...

Gerald A. Sears Jr.

Funeral Director

Gerald A. Sears joined Manuel Rogers Funeral Home in December of 2001 as a Licensed Funeral Director. Due to his knowledge of the funeral business and his willingness to help families in their time of need, he has become a valuable team member within our funeral home. Prior to joining our team, Gerry also worked at Boule Funeral Home from 1995 until 2001 where he gained valuable experience. He was introduced to the industry by assisting his father, Gerald A. Sears Sr., while working for a Livery service assisting numerous funeral homes. Besides being committed to his occupation, Gerry is the husband of Pamela A. (Nestor) Sears, and the devoted father of Mia Lin. In his limited free time, Gerry also likes to ride his Harley Davidson.

Chloe Gilmore

Funeral Apprentice

Chloe Gilmore is a dedicated funeral director apprentice and embalmer with a growing passion for serving families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She is currently
furthering her education at FINE Mortuary College, where she is developing the knowledge,
technical skills, and professional experience necessary to pursue a meaningful career in funeral service.

Through her education and hands-on apprenticeship, Chloe is gaining experience in both funeral directing and embalming, with a strong emphasis on compassion, professionalism, dignity, and attention to detail. She believes that funeral service is more than a profession—it is an opportunity to provide comfort, guidance, and respectful care to families while honoring the lives of those who have passed.

Chloe is committed to continuing her education and growing as a funeral service professional. Her goal is to build a career centered around compassionate care, helping families navigate the funeral process with understanding and respect while ensuring every individual in her care is
treated with dignity.

Outside of her professional and educational pursuits, Chloe enjoys spending quality time with her husband and their two children. Her family is an important part of her life and provides her with balance, joy, and inspiration as she continues to grow both personally and professionally.

Alexis K. Gardiner

Funeral Assistant

Alexis K. Gardiner has been a part of the Manuel Rogers Funeral Home family since June 2025. She is currently studying Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, with a special
interest in grief counseling. Alexis has always had a passion for helping others, and her studies have deepened her desire to provide comfort and support to families during some of life’s most
difficult moments.

When she’s not working or studying, Alexis enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, and making memories with the people she loves. She brings her caring and compassionate nature into everything she does and is grateful for the opportunity to support the families she serves.

Pamela A. Sears

Administrative Assistant

Pamela A. Sears joined Manuel Rogers Funeral Home as an Administrative Assistant in 2010. In addition to her administrative roles, Pam assists our team with numerous tasks. She obtained her Business Administration Degree from Bristol Community College. Prior to joining our team, Pam was a preschool teacher for 8 years in Tiverton, RI. While balancing a full-time job, she is a dedicated wife to Gerald A. Sears Jr. and a mom to Mia Lin. Pam looks forward to her Disney vacations and spending as much time as she can with her family, especially their daughter Mia.

Nicole Almeida

Hairstylist

Nicole Almeida has been Manuel Rogers Funeral Home's hair stylist since 2020, aiding in the restoration of the viewing of a loved one. She began her training at BMC Durfee High School, where she graduated in 2004. She started her working career in New Bedford and later moved her services to Fall River, where she currently resides. Nicole has been a successful hairdresser for 19 years and continues to develop new skills through various certifications.

Ines Bates

Chaplain

Ines has been a part of the funeral home industry for over 16 years, beginning as an Administrative Assistant. In 2020, she completed her Clinical Pastoral Education. Since then, she has devoted her time to developing unique and valuable services for families. Ines serves all denominations of faith and works directly with families to create a beautiful tribute to a loved one who has passed. The personalization of her services assists with the mourning process and serves as a homage to the life that a loved one has lived. Many of our families are appreciative of her ability to help them express their love with personalized choices, from sharing stories to choosing certain music, as a final send-off. This type of service also allows the healing process to begin. Each service she personally designs reflects her passion. She is not only fantastic at aiding families; she is an amazing cook. Ines is the mother of three grown sons and 2 granddaughters. She enjoys hosting, but most of all, spending time with her family.