Water Cremation

Matthew R. Bailey, CFSP, CCO

President, Funeral Director & Embalmer, Certified Celebrant, Certified Crematory Operator

Matthew R. Bailey, CFSP, president of the Bailey Family Funeral Homes, is a sixth generation funeral director. He attended Holy  Trinity School in Wallingford and Xavier High School in Middletown prior to his studies at The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, DC.  From CUA, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. While in Washington, Matthew received his Third Degree with the Knights of Columbus CUA Council #9542 and was employed by CUA and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Matthew was a student at the America Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service (AAMI) in New York City where he was elected by his peers to serve as class president. He went on to join the faculty of his alma mater and currently serves on the schools Board of Directors as Treasurer.

He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a social member of the Polish National Alliance, and is a member and past president of the Wallingford Rotary Club. He has served on the boards of the Rotary Club, the Wallingford Foundation, the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, the Wallingford Family YMCA, the Wallingford Public Library, and the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association.

He has been certified by the Cremation Association of North America as a Crematory Operator and is a certified celebrant and a certified celebrant trainer through the Insight Institute. He holds the distinction of being recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. 

In 2021, American Funeral Director Magazine name him the Funeral Director of the Year.

Robert B. Bailey

President-emeritus, Funeral Director & Embalmer

Robert B. Bailey, president-emeritus, joined his father in the business in 1967; and except for a tour in the U.S. Air Force from 1970 to 1974, he has  continuously served the community. He was a graduate of Leicester College in 1966 and graduated from the American Academy MacAllister Institute  of Funeral Service in 1967. Robert and his wife, Darlene Cannata Bailey, have three grown children: Michele Bailey Chaudhry, Michael R. Bailey and  Matthew R. Bailey. Robert is active in the community as a past president of the Wallingford Rotary Club being honored as both a Paul Harris Fellow  and Rotarian of the year. He has served as the vice president of the In Memoriam Cemetery Assoc. He has also served on the boards of the Wallingford Jaycees, Wallingford Family YMCA, the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra, and the former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital. He is a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

Andrea Cappiello

Funeral Director, Embalmer & Certified Celebrant

Andrea J. Cappiello joined the B.C. Bailey Team in March of 2016.  She is a 1998 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Quinnipiac University.  In 2007, Andrea graduated with honors from Briarwood College in Southington with her degree in Mortuary Science.  After successful completion of the International Conference of Funeral Service Board Examinations National Exam, Andrea became a licensed funeral director & embalmer. 

She is a member of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce, Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Cremation Association of North America, and the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association. Andrea is a Notary Public, and in 2018 became a certified life celebrant.  Andrea resides in North Haven with her husband and two children. 

Julius (Jayson) Dahlgard IV, CFSP, CCO

Funeral Director & Embalmer, Certified Celebrant, Certified Crematory Operator

Julius (Jayson) A. Dahlgard, IV, CFSP is a native of West Haven, CT, and has been part of the B.C. Bailey team since 2013.

He is a graduate of Notre Dame High School of West Haven, and attended Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Jayson acclimated himself to the  Wallingford and Meriden area by working as a letter carrier at the United States Postal Service while attending Lincoln College of New England in  Southington where he studied mortuary science. Graduating in 2014, Jayson successfully completed the International Conference of Funeral Service Board examinations, served his residency here with us, and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer.  Jayson is a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, the Cremation Association of North America and the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association.  He is a certified celebrant through the Insight Institute, Certified Crematory Operator through the Cremation Association of North America, and holds the distinction of being recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Jayson is a member of the Wallingford Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge #1365, and enjoys golfing at the Wallingford Country Club.

Jodel Vogt

Funeral Director & Embalmer, Certified Life Celebrant, Certified Crematory Operator

Jodie grew up in Farmington and graduated from Farmington High School in 1999. She then attended Eastern Connecticut State University in Windham where she earned her B.A. in Biology in 2005. After graduating, Jodie worked as a Certified Veterinary Technician for 15 years.  Having had an uncle who was a funeral director, Jodie always had an interest in funeral service. This drove her to further her education and attend Lincoln College of New England, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned her A.A.S degree in Mortuary Science in May 2017. 

During her time at Lincoln College of New England, Jodie was on the President's list every semester for maintaining a GPA above 3.8, was President of the school’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and president of the college’s Mortuary Science Club. After graduating from Lincoln College, Jodie completed her apprenticeship at D’Esopo Funeral Chapel in Wethersfield and earned the credential of licensed funeral director and embalmer.

Jodie is a state approved Practical Examiner for the Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. She is a certified celebrant through the Insight Institute, Certified Crematory Operator through the Cremation Association of North America, and a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, currently working toward the distinction of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP).

Amanda Marie Eilis King, CFSP

Funeral Director & Embalmer

Amanda Marie Eilis King was born in New York and obtained her Bachelors of Science at Skidmore College for Studio Art & Biology, and then earned her Post-Baccalaureate degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art and AAS in Mortuary Science from Arapahoe Community College. 

Amanda is a licensed embalmer & funeral director in both Missouri and Connecticut, having completed her apprenticeship under the nationally renowned Vernie R Fountain where she received extensive reconstruction training. She has earned her designation as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner.

She also is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer who travels to promote improved embalming/restorative/cosmetic approaches for those within the mortuary field. 

Karen Sagarino

Funeral Director & Embalmer

Andrea Membrino

Funeral Director, Embalmer & Licensed Cosmetologist

David Brown

Funeral Assistant

Dave was raised in Plainville, graduating from Plainville High School in 1972. Dave spent most of his working career in manufacturing and retail management, most notably with Radio Shack. He is currently a bookkeeper at a local firm. Dave enjoys playing golf and singing with his church worship team. He also enjoys watching the Red Sox, Giants football, and UCONN basketball and is active with the local Relay For Life. Dave lives in Plainville with his wife Dorothy and has 2 daughters, Amanda and Emily. Dave first started with Bailey's in 2009.

Patrick Draper

Funeral Assistant

Gary Wachtelhausen

Funeral Assistant

Gary grew up in Wallingford and attended local schools, graduating from Lyman Hall High School in 1972.  He taught in Plainville at the elementary and middle school levels for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2017. Today Gary continues to work at Quinnipiac University as a Clinical Supervisor for student teachers.  In 2020, he began work at the Bailey Family Funeral Homes.  He resides with his wife, Kim, in Wolcott.

Tarn Granucci

Certified Celebrant

Tarn Granucci grew up in Wallingford, the son of Harold and Sara Lou Granucci. His family heritage in Wallingford goes back to 1890 when his great-grandfather moved here. Tarn grew up as a Unitarian which provided him with a wide and balanced perspective on all views and faiths, religious or non-religious. He also grew up in the family furniture business and took it over in 1979. In that business, Tarn connected with many families in the community and serviced them in their homes. He has served on the boards of many local organizations as well. Those would include: Rotary Club of Wallingford, Wallingford Family YMCA, Better Business Bureau, United Way, Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce, Wallingford Public Library, Mayor's Council for Substance Abuse, Hubcap Co-working Space, and others.

Tarn has a degree in Transpersonal Psychology, he is the author of Legendary Locals of Wallingford, he is the first Poet Laureate of Wallingford, and he is the Editor of Wallingford Magazine.

Tarn is an InSight Certified Celebrant which means he has been trained and certified as a Funeral Celebrant by InSight to meet the needs of families during their time of loss. A Funeral Celebrant serves by providing a funeral service, memorial service, or tribute that is personalized and individualized to reflect the personality and life-style of the deceased after consultation with the family and loved ones and coordination with the funeral home.

Tarn is proud and honored to have the opportunity to be in this important role and to serve those in need at such a difficult time. He selects and presents poems (some written by him for the family), other writings, music, song and family memories to enrich the services and reflect the nature of the person who has passed.