Grace Funeral Chapel Brochure

Chamely Toro

Managing Licensed Funeral Director

 Chamely Toro also known as “Mely” was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She is of Puerto Rican descent, making her bilingual skills helpful in the Hispanic community. Mely attended Mount Ida College in Newton, MA in the summer of 1995.

The cold weather made her decide to move to South Florida in 1997. She transferred to Lynn University in Boca Raton where she graduated in 1999 with an Associate Degree in Funeral Service. Mely has worked in the Funeral Industry since her graduation in 1999. Mely joined Grace Funeral Chapels in March 2004. In March 2007 she was promoted to Managing Funeral Director.

Jose Manuel Portela

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.