Our Staff

Alfred R. Menard

Funeral Director/Registered Embalmer/Certified Cremationist/Notary Public

Born in 1964, Alfred grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He attended Mount Saint Charles Academy and graduated in 1982 before attending New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences for Funeral Directing Service. Al is a third-generation funeral director and has more than 38 years experience as a funeral director and embalmer. He is the owner of and a Licensed Funeral Director/Registered Embalmer at Rushlow-Iacoi Funeral Home. He also owns and operates the Gorton-Menard Funeral Home in Coventry, Rhode Island and recently opened the new Serenity Cremation Center, in Coventry - a crematory that offers a Family Gathering and Witness Room for those who would like to hold small memorial gatherings or participate in the process. He is also a Certified Cremationist. Al is a Member of the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, the Westerly Elks, the Calabrese Society of Westerly, and the Westerly Armory. He and his wife, Laura Wistow-Menard, have a son, Alfred Max Menard.

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David A. Poisson

Funeral Director/Registered Embalmer/Certified Cremationist/DNA Specialist/Notary Public

David A. Poisson, Rushlow-Iacoi Funeral Home and Crematory's, Managing Director, is also a graduate of the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences and a native Rhode Islander. He brings almost three decades of experience in the funeral industry and provides the latest technical aspects to the funeral home. David is a veteran of the United States Army and has served his country in the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea and served during the Gulf War. He was the recipient of the Multi-Cultural Leadership Award presented by Arthur Schlesinger, an aid to John F. Kennedy. He is a Licensed Funeral Director and Registered Embalmer in three states and is a past and present member of many New England Funeral Directors Associations. David is the Manager and a Certified Cremationist for Rushlow-Iacoi Funeral Home and Crematory and was a volunteer for the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office in the aftermath of the Station Nightclub Fire. He is a proud member of the Westerly Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amancio-Falcone-Gaccione Post #8955 and serves as their Surgeon, the Westerly Knights of Columbus, Council #21, the H.W. Merrill American Legion Post #16 of Westerly, the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, the Calabrese Society of Westerly, and the Westerly Armory. David, along with his wife Lindsay, son Theodore and daughter McKenna are all residents of Westerly, RI and are well known within the community. The Poisson family are all avid baseball fans.

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Laura Wistow

Senior Brand Manager, Marketing and Creative Director

Laura Wistow performs a wide variety of duties, such as planning and allocating the resources of the funeral home, community events and programs, and coordinating marketing and public relations.

Laura also organizes our "Celebration of the Lives We Have Loved" holiday memorial service, in which we invite all of the families we have served and supported over the past year to come back to the funeral home for a non-denominational service which offers the care and support that so many need when they are going through such a difficult time during their first holiday without their loved one. Families have found this service to be very healing and uplifting at a time when it is most needed.

Laura graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1981 and Rhode Island School of Design in 1985. She has worked in the software and engineering industries prior to her calling to join the funeral homes. 

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Al Gaccione

Funeral Attendant

Funeral Attendant, Al Gaccione was born in 1976 and is a Westerly, RI native. He is a 1994 graduate of Westerly High School and attended CCRI for law enforcement courses. Al is the head wrestling coach at Westerly High School, where he has coached since 1994. He is also employed as a landscaper for All Seasons Landscaping, and has been employed with Rushlow-Iacoi Funeral Home and Crematory since 2004. 

Gaccione became Patrolman Gaccione at the tender young age of almost forty. Patrolman Gaccione received the class leadership award for his ability to lead his peers in the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy. Patrolman Gaccione is well known throughout the community from his years of being a wrestling coach and mentor to many. Please congratulate Patrolman Gaccione if you see him for all of his hard work and dedication!