Family Service Counselors

Meet Our Certified Preplanning Consultants (CPC)

The CPC designation is assurance to our families that their counselor is a fully trained and educated funeral and cemetery preplanning professional. This national certification program was created and developed by the National Foundation of Funeral Service, a not-for-profit educational trust.

Jim Swain Family Service Counselor

Jim has served as a Counselor since joining Cedar Memorial in 1993. He assists the funeral directors with at-need families, representing the cemetery. He follows up with these families to help them in any way possible. Jim also educates the public by giving talks to various groups throughout the community as well as being a tour guide of our facilities for area schools and hospice groups.

Jim has been involved in many organizations and causes in his 27 years in Cedar Rapids. He has served on the Cedar Rapids Symphony Board, Area Chamber of Commerce Board, Chair of the Small Business Committee of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Hawkeye Area Boy Scouts Board (as well as being an Assistant Scout Master for Troop 9), American Heart Association Board, President of the Downtown Cedar Rapids Kiwanis Club, President of the Sigma Nu Fraternity at the University of Iowa, and Chair of the Cedar 6 Jazz Festival for many years.

Jim is a proud graduate of Coe College. He and his wife Susan have three wonderful children. (they're all talented beyond the norm, just like their father). When Jim isn't attending one of his children's events at Washington High School - you can find him fishing, golfing, reading, watching old movies or working on projects at home.

Nancy McQuaid Family Service Counselor

Nancy specializes in preplanning of funeral/cremation and cemetery arrangements. She believes in the benefits and peace of mind families can gain by addressing their end of life issues. She helps with decisions that reflect the life lived.

When Nancy isn't helping families make funeral plans, you might find her volunteering for St. Luke's Hospice and the American Heart Association. She also enjoys spending time with her daughter.

Brent Miller Family Service Counselor

Brent has been a Family Service Counselor for more than 10 years. When he came to Cedar Memorial, the newly created Family Service department was a new way to serve as an ambassador between families and the cemetery. His role is to help families with their cemetery and memorialization needs at the time of death, to follow up with aftercare information, and to answer any questions the families may have after their service. As a preplanning specialist, he also helps families before a death to make their funeral and cemetery arrangements. He finds that people make better financial decisions under less stress and are able to share their funeral plans with their family before the time of need.

Brent has a wonderful wife and two beautiful children. He enjoys golf, boating and working around the house.

Julie Freese Family Service Counselor

Julie is a member of our Aftercare team. Cedar Memorial's circle of service means continued care for families who have lost a loved one. Service does not end with the funeral. The Aftercare team works with families with cemetery interments, receptions, grief counseling resources and service preplanning.

Julie grew up in Iowa City but now resides in Cedar Rapids with her husband and two sons. Family activities, reading and knitting fill her spare time.