Our History
Life is about making choices. Darrel Bethany aspired to provide families with above quality service. Choosing Roswell as the preferred location, he watched as his dream of providing the community with a new facility and a dignified choice become a reality. Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory has served the community of Roswell and the surrounding areas with dignity, respect and service for over a decade, opening our doors on July 28, 2000. Doing the right thing and acting with integrity are two of the driving forces behind Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory's great success story.
The heart of Darrel Bethany is the foundation upon which the honor of Anderson Bethany is established and that honor permeates every aspect and corner of our funeral home. Our family owned funeral home and crematory holds high the commitment to you, our community. We pledge our complete service to provide your family with outstanding personal service and attention that only a locally owned "Family" funeral home can offer. The cornerstone of our service is the total attention we place on every element of your requests during your time of need. We commit to be available 24 hours a day, ensuring that every need and detail is met, helping in every way we can. One of our experienced, qualified and caring directors can explain all the options available to you and your family, answer questions and understand your needs as we offer our services to you, our families. The Bethany family seeks to ensure that our staff is compassionate and considerate and capable, ready to serve. Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory has been and continues to be blessed and is thriving due to the wonderful families committed to us. To you, our families we say a grateful thank-you.
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Darrel & Jery Bethany, Owners
Our beliefs have directed and continue to direct our lives. After the loss of both of our spouses, we were brought together in 2009, upon the passing of Jery’s mother, Faye Groseclose. Jery’s family trusted Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory with the care of her mother’s services. Numerous high recommendations on the quality and personal care were received by the family in considering this funeral home. Immediately, a higher level of commitment, integrity and personalization of the Bethany Family were obvious. Darrel and Jery were married in January of 2010. Together they have continued to improve Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory, reinvesting funds in our establishment, the community and the lives of the families we are honored to serve. As the only family owned and operated funeral home in Roswell and Chaves County, we strive to continue to give the community the newest and best funeral home in this area as a benefit in a time of need. Together we have blended 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. It is our great pleasure and honor to be of service to our team of employees and the great families of Roswell and surrounding areas.
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Jeremy Hurley, Vice President of Operations
Blessings beyond measure come in many different ways. When Jeremy made the decision to join our team, Anderson Bethany received a top executive who understands business and motivates employees. His extensive work in the field and in management has given him all the necessary talents to organize and run an operation in a structured and well thought-out manner. The forefront of Jeremy’s heart is service to families. Being born and raised in Roswell, Jeremy (the son of Darrel and Jery Bethany) and his family have returned to be a major part of our community. Jeremy is a calm and an extremely likable person. If talking business, pleasure or family needs, you will always find an open ear and a caring listener.
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Richard Ashby, Funeral Service Intern, Embalmer , Prep Room Supervisor
Rick Ashby came to reside in Roswell in 2000. He previously was in law enforcement and a paramedic before joining our team in the funeral industry. His skillful and caring hands have beautified many loved ones since he joined our family at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory in 2004. Rick loves what he does and that great love spills over into his daily work. Detail and cleanliness are both very important to him, adding a great dimension to our funeral home and the loved ones that we are blessed to serve. Rick is married to Ana Ju Dong, also of Roswell, He has two daughters, Aubrey and Rileigh, both of Roswell. Rick is an active member of the Southeastern New Mexico Senior Golf Association.
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Kathy Vegara, Office Administrator
Kathy Vegara is a native of Roswell, NM and a graduate of Goddard High School. She joined Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory in 2003, after retiring from the Roswell Independent School District. Kathy is a gracious hostess to our families and service is a major part of her heart. She handles each detail with great concern, lending complete order to our funeral home. She is married to Willie Vegara, who retired from the City of Roswell after 35 years of service to our community. They have two children, Melissa and William and have been blessed with several grandchildren. Kathy enjoys spending her time with her family and grandchildren, loving on them all. Being an active member of St. John's Catholic Church and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary keeps Kathy on the move. She is proud of her Hispanic roots and is fluent in her ancestral language being bilingual.
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Leticia Perez, Office Manager
Leticia joined the Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory family in 2016. With strong administrative skills, Leticia has naturally filled her position with creative and positive strengths. She has a passion for designing. She is a wonderful mother to three children: daughters, Crystal R Pantoja and Natalie V Mendoza; son, Luis H Mendoza; and four granddaughters, whom she dearly loves: Jozalynn, Devani, Delilah, Sophia, and Luneah. Leticia takes pride in her values which are God first, family, work and peers, always making sure her loved ones know how much they mean to her, daily. Weekly family dinners with her children and grandchildren is a family time of adoration and honor. We are blessed to have Leticia as a team member. She is loyal, compassionate and dedicated to all around her.
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Melissa A Vegara, Embalmer, Funeral Home Assistant
Melissa, born and raised in Roswell, has recently become one of our area’s leading embalmers, growing in the industry with strength and compassion. She has poured her heart into this funeral home, undertaking many aspects of working at a funeral home. Her serving heart has aided many families in their time of need. The positing, outspoken encouragement from Melissa blesses all. Any task asked of her is immediately addressed. She is always willing to answer a phone, run an errand, or jump in wherever she may be needed, taking Anderson Bethany to a new level of appearance and spotlessness. She is a woman of many talents. Melissa has one son, whom she is a wonderful mother to, and two nieces that she is very proud of.
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Andrew Valadez, Funeral Home Assistant
Born and raised in Roswell, Andrew Valadez is another home town native and resident that is part of our team at Anderson Bethany. He currently works for the City of Roswell as Supervisor of Waste Water and has been with the city for over 18 years. Andrew found his calling when he joined us in the funeral industry as a Funeral Assistant. He has a heart for people, wanting to serve families when they need us most. Currently, Andrew is part-time, doing everything he can at the funeral home, in every way he is able. His compassionate, committed and professional personality stands out as he supports our families in their difficult times. Andrew has four daughters and one son. He leads and directs youth as he coaches Little League Baseball and Football, and all the kids love him. One of his favorite past-times is golfing and let it be said, he enjoys good food. Anderson Bethany is pleased to have such a hard worker, as Andrew, to be part of our ever-expanding home town team.
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Brandon Perry, Funeral Home Assistant
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Corissa Daniels, Insurance Specialist/Funeral Service Assistant
Corissa Daniels joined our team in 2020. She moved to Roswell in 2019 from Alamosa, Colorado, where she graduated from Alamosa High School. Beginning her work experience in the hotel and dining industry, she was discovered by Darrel and Jery Bethany. It didn’t take too long for them to bring her on board at the funeral home to join our family in serving Roswell and the surrounding areas. Corissa loves people and devotes everything to serving her families, ensuring the Celebrations of Life for their loved one is superior. She has worked in many areas of the funeral home and has recently become an FSI. Her main goal is to become an FSP.
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Melaina Hernandez, Office Assistant
Mel, as she is known, was raised in Roswell from a very young age. She came to Anderson Bethany Funeral Home with full anticipation of becoming another great FSP to service our area. Graduating from Roswell High School in 2010, Mel worked in the service industry at local restaurants. Service is an important part of Mel’s heart; she definitely has a strong heart of service to our families in their time of need. She is always ready and willing to fill any part where she is needed at the funeral home with a happy smile on her face. Family is her life. Mel chooses to spend her off time with her family and friends. She loves theater, musicals and plays, and listening to audiobooks.
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Amanda Deason, Funeral Service Practitioner (FSP)
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Richard Anglada, Funeral Home Assistant
