Jose Manuel Portela

Managing Licensed Funeral Director
 
José Manuel, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a four-generation funeral director and has been a Florida Licensed Funeral Director since the late 80´s. He opened Funeraria Broward Funeral Home in 1987, which in 2003 became Grace Funeral Chapels after the business was sold. He received his Associate of Science in Funeral Service from the College of Boca Raton, Florida. José Manuel is Past President of the Broward County Funeral Directors Association and Past Sub-Dean of the Fort Lauderdale AGO. He currently sits on the Advisory Board for the City of Fort Lauderdale Cemetery System. José Manuel is trained as Sterile Eye Enucleation Technician for the Florida Lions Eye Bank. He is member of the National Funeral Directors Association. He lives in Davie, Florida with friend David Gant, enjoys home improvements, friends and family, his two chihuahua dogs Wooliebooger and Pepe, and his cat Dorothy.

Leroy Calhoun III

Licensed Funeral Director
 
Leroy is a graduate of the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He completed his funeral director internship with Grace Funeral Chapels at our New York location and became a New York Licensed Funeral Director in 1997. Leroy worked as Funeral Director/Embalmer at our Brooklyn, New York location for several years. When we opened our Florida establishment, Leroy relocated and obtained his Florida Funeral Directors License in 2005.

Leroy’s dual state licensing has allowed him to be a liaison between our New York and Florida offices and a great help to our families who need to coordinate funeral services between these two states.

Leroy was introduced to the funeral service profession through the ministry of music. He has served as organist and pianist for many churches in New York and for several churches since coming to Florida. He returns annually to the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service commencement exercises as a pianist. Leroy’s musical gifts are Grace Funeral Chapels’ gain.

Joanna Janvier Cadet

License Funeral Director
 
Joanna J. Cadet, was born in Miami, Florida and is the first generation Funeral Director. She completed her funeral director internship with Grace Funeral Chapels here in Lauderhill, Florida and became a Licensed Funeral Director in 2007. She received her Associate of Science Degree in Funeral Service from Miami Dade College in 2005, and she is also a proud member of the Alumni Association. She then, further her education in Criminal Justice Investigation, and earned her Bachelor's in 2008. She is also married with a child, and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and getting involve within her community.