Our History
Windsor Healdsburg Mortuary was opened in 2004 by Carmine Romano as Romano’s Windsor Mortuary. After owning and operating a funeral home in Massachusetts, Carmine made the decision to venture west and open a funeral home on the opposite coast. After visiting many cities in California, it was Windsor’s Town Square that got ahold of his heart and he began to envision his new funeral home. While originally planned for the site that is now McDonald’s, Carmine had the opportunity to purchase the building and lot where the funeral home sits today and convert it into his ideal mortuary. In 2009, he was able to add a crematory on-site and changed the name to Windsor- Healdsburg Mortuary. Carmine was well known in Windsor and Healdsburg for the comfort, care and understanding he offered to the families in his community. He was a friendly, familiar face around town and when you were in need. From the transfer into his care, arrangements, preparations, services, and final resting place, Carmine was always by the family’s side. He believed in consistency, personal service, hard work, ensuring families were comfortable and the importance of community coming together to support grieving families.
In 2016, Carmine retired and while he considered Windsor home, returned to Massachusetts to be closer to his family. Windsor-Healdsburg Mortuary was purchased and seamlessly transitioned into the funeral home you have come to know. In 2020, the doors were closed for renovations and equipment upgrades and it took longer to open than originally anticipated. In 2021, Windsor-Healdsburg Mortuary and Crematory reopened under new management and looks forward to serving the community in a meaningful way.
What makes us different is that we are a privately and locally owned mortuary, have an on-site crematory which means your loved one never leaves our care or facility. Our small, yet dedicated staff are available around the clock to personally serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are a family run operation, who will care for your family as we would our own and take pride in being able to honor your loved one in any way you may choose.
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Elvira Morales Arrangement Supervisor / Office Manager
Se Habla Espanol
Elvira Morales has dedicated herself to serving the families of Sonoma County since 1996, providing them with unparalleled support and guidance during some of life's most challenging moments. Born into a family rooted in the funeral service industry—with her father, Francisco employed at local mortuaries and cemeteries —Elvira's compassion and commitment to her community are both personal and professional.
Throughout her career, Elvira has worn numerous hats, showcasing her versatility and commitment. Her roles have ranged from Funeral Director, Crematory Manager, Cemetery Salesperson and Pre-Arrangement Counselor, with each position underlining her profound understanding of the industry. However, it is perhaps in making funeral arrangements where Elvira truly shines, offering solace and understanding to families during their greatest times of need. She also speaks Spanish and is able to assist the Latino community on a more personal level of understanding.
Beyond her professional commitments, Elvira is a woman of varied passions. A keen enthusiast of the billiard game, she and her husband, Rene, are part of a traveling billiard team, and compete annually at the National competition in Las Vegas. When not engaging in competitive play, Elvira & Rene’s further strengthen their bond through their mutual love for cooking and making delightful dishes. Most importantly, they treasure and cherish the time spent with their children and grandson.
Currently, as the Office Manager, Elvira stands as a pillar of strength and support for the community she serves. Always making herself available, her kindness is evident in every interaction. She genuinely enjoys the work she does, finding purpose in helping and guiding families. Sonoma County is truly fortunate to have such a dedicated professional in their community. -
Scott Heisenbuttel Crematory Manager
Scott was born and raised locally in Santa Rosa where he still lives with his lovely wife.
Scott has a heart for helping people and his life’s passion to help the community he’s always lived in shows in his work as a funeral professional.
Scott started out in Hospice care and spent six years as a comfort aid to those transitioning from this life, but he’s found that his work here is a direct extension of what he’d began in hospice care.
Scott began his career here at Windsor Healdsburg Mortuary & Crematory in 2021 transporting decedents with the same dignity and personal care he exhibited at the end of their lives in hospice care. He has since furthered his compassionate care to learning other aspects of this profession; including becoming our Crematory Manager, an apprentice embalmer and his commitment to learning all he can to make sure the families that we serve are happy with the care we deliver to them and their loved ones.
Scott is currently enrolled at Arapahoe Community College in their Mortuary Science program and hopes to also become a funeral director once he graduates.
Scott’s favorite quote is:
"There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow man, no greater contribution than to help the weak, and there is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well." - Walter Reuther -
John Matthews Prep Room Manager / Lead Embalmer
With nearly three decades of experience John Nolan Matthews is our lead embalmer, trauma specialist and restorative artist managing our care center, ensuring your loved one gets the best of everything. Dedicated and compassionate, John identifies and responds to our client family’s needs to ensure that quality standards are met, and the memory of the deceased individual is given the utmost importance and respect. A Cypress Mortuary College graduate, John is accredited by the National Board of Funeral Service. John is a well-seasoned funeral professional, and we are proud to have him assisting our families with second to none, first class funeral presentation celebration and service.
“Being able to take the hands of grieving families to guide them through their darkest hours, greatly fulfills my life. It is my honor to be of their service and help ease their burden in any way that I can.” John Matthews
