Community Involvement
LifeLine Pilots
LifeLine Pilots, founded in 1981 by Wanda Whitsitt, connects volunteer pilots with individuals facing medical and humanitarian emergencies, providing free air transportation. Starting in Illinois, they expanded their reach, separating from the state agency in 1986. Volunteer pilots, certified by the FAA, donate their time and cover all flight expenses, facilitating millions of miles flown and countless lives helped.
Richard Traunero, owner of Traunero Funeral Home, is a Lifeline Pilot.
Pilots and Paws
Pilots N Paws is an organization which seeks to connect rescued shelter pets with new adoptive homes. Animals which otherwise would be euthanized are matched with new owners who will love and care for them. Rescue volunteers arrange with volunteer pilots to transport the animals to their new homes, sometimes hundreds of miles away. Everything is done by volunteers, saving hundreds of pets each month. Rich Traunero, president of Traunero Funeral Home, is a volunteer pilot for Pilots N Paws.
Flying Funeral Directors of America
The Flying Funeral Directors of America was formed for funeral directors who are also licensed airplane pilots. It is primarily a social organization which enables us to participate in two activities which are very much a part of our lives: funeral service and aviation. There are approximately 100 members throughout the United States, with one member being from England. If you are a funeral director who is also a pilot, and you are interested in joining FFDA, please contact Richard Traunero, Past President.
For more information about General Aviation, go to The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, or GA Serving America.
If you are interested in becoming a pilot, visit: Be A Pilot
Below is an article from the August, 2019 issue of American Funeral Director:
Annual Christmas Memorial Service
Our Annual Christmas Memorial Service, is for our client families and anyone else in the community who has lost a loved one in the past year. It is held the first Saturday in December at 1:00 p.m. At this event, there is the lighting of the Candles of Remembrance. Two clergy from the community speak about Hope for the Holiday; Richard and Andrea Traunero give tips for getting through the difficult holiday times; and each person is memorialized on the Remembrance Tree with an engraved ornament of the deceased name. It is free but reservations are requested. The link is to our photos from this past service.
View Photos from last year's event below:
