Staff
For 30 years our family cares for yours.
Paul is a native New Yorker, having been born and raised in Buffalo. After taking a death and dying course in college, Paul became interested in funeral service. Enrolling and graduating from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service, Paul became New York State licensed in 1989. He also attained a Bachelor of Science degree from Medaille College in New York.
In 1998, Paul moved to Fairfield County in Connecticut where he first managed the Raymond Funeral Home in Norwalk and then the Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan.
In March of 2018, Paul purchased what is now the Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home.
Paul is currently a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church, where he serves as a Lector. He is also a member of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus (Kingston Council #275) where he is a fourth degree knight, and both the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.
When Paul and his wife Jillian are not serving the community, they enjoy exploring the Hudson Valley in their classic cars. They also enjoy spending quality time with their family.
Non-Licensed
Born in the Hudson Valley and a life-long resident of Ulster County, Jillian is a true local.
Coming from a background in marketing, promotion and banking, Jillian serves as Office Manager. She also oversees marketing and promotion of the funeral home. With the ongoing demand to keep up with today’s technology, Jillian has led the technological advancements at Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home.
The Hammerl’s are also very involved with the community at large and when they are not serving the community, they enjoy their family. They also enjoy exploring the Hudson Valley in their vintage automobiles.
Rocco Is a lifelong Hudson Valley resident. Formally of New Windsor, he moved to Ulster County in 2020 and now lives in Highland. At the age of 17 Rocco became interested in funeral service and began working at one of the local funeral homes. He quickly learned that funeral service is something that he had a calling for and decided to make a career of it. Upon graduating High School Rocco went to Hudson Valley Community College and received his Associate Degree in Mortuary Science in 2020. He became licensed in August of 2022.
Service is important to Rocco and always strives to meet all the needs of the families he serves.
In his spare time, he likes to crank his amp and play on his Fender American Standard Stratocaster, or spend time with his dog, Beanie.
After a brief time living up north, James has returned to his deep roots of the Hudson Valley to continue his funeral directing career. Born in Poughkeepsie, James is a Highland High School graduate and SUNY New Paltz graduate. He earned his Mortuary degree at the American Academy McAllister Institute in Manhattan in 2002. He has been working in the funeral industry since 1997, getting his start working the parking lots and the doors during calling hours.
James and his wife Kimberly are parents to 5 daughters and one son. They spend their leisure time with family along with their herd of horses, goats, dogs and cats. A lifestyle James is very proud of and would never change.
James is proud and honored to be back at Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home and looks forward to serving the community.
