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Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one's life.
Oakwood Family Funeral Home & Crematory
Martha Praska Funeral Assistant
Martha has been in church work for over thirty years. Among the many duties she has had through those years has been assisting families as they plan for the funeral service of a loved one. Already involved in church work, it felt as if helping families grieve the loss of a loved one was a special ministry that she was called to. She has walked in their shoes many times, after losing two children of her own, her parents, and her husband. None of those are easy times to go through and if she could offer just a little more support and understanding through this time and make it a little more bearable, then that is where she wants to be.
Outside of her career and ministry work, she enjoys sewing, a little bit of crocheting, a little bit of baking (only when she has somewhere to share it - she cannot keep it at her house), and spending time with family and friends. She enjoys reading.
Martha feels as if life is an educational journey and we should never stop learning something new. Along that journey, she loves keeping up with old friends and making new friends.
Angela Gaugler Funeral Assistant
Angela has been a floral designer for most of her career, specializing in wedding flowers and event arrangements. Her garden, and now the funeral home's exterior, are full of beautiful flowers and plants. Angela was born in Naples, Italy where she attended Elena di Savoia High School. Not only is she fluent in Italian but her roots in Italy also moves into her culinary life as she is an amazing cook. She is a dedicated member of Guardian Angels Catholic Church and is part of a women's group there.
Angela has three children (Joe, Mandy, and Ashley) and three grandchildren. When she isn't working or spending time with her family, she loves to listen to classical music, especially Pavarotti, Bocelli, and Strauss. One trait which surprises people about Angela is through all her style and class, she has a very sarcastic sense of humor which always brings a smile or laugh from friends and family.
Angela is one of the welcoming faces who greet our guests as they attend gatherings at the funeral home and she is the main luncheon coordinator for families using our reception space. Throughout the spring and summer, Angela is in charge of our floral arrangements throughout the exterior of our building.
Susan Hubbard Funeral Assistant
Susan is an undergraduate student at the University of Denver studying English and Psychology. After the loss of her first pet, she took an interest in mortality and grieving. Five years later, this curiosity led her to apply for a job at Oakwood Family Funeral Home.
Susan strives to make the most out of her days and stay active. In her free time, you can find her running or dancing: her two favorite activities. She also enjoys extreme sports, ultimate frisbee, and writing poetry. Susan has been an amazing addition to the team, always keeping the staff on their feet with her zest for life and love for being adventurous. From skydiving to horseback riding through the Grand Canyon, Susan is truly living her life to the fullest.
Sue Ristow Funeral Assistant
Sue was born and raised in South Minneapolis, the youngest of 7 children. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1976 and she went on to attend the University of Minnesota and Century College. She obtained a degree in Nursing and a second degree in Interior Design.
Sue worked for over 40 years in multiple areas of nursing before she retired. She enjoys watching sports, traveling, gardening, and taking long walks with her fur baby. Sue and her husband, Marv, reside in Woodbury with their new puppy, Mocha. She is excited to be a part of the Oakwood family and serve families during their time of loss.
Jesse Starkson Owner & Funeral Director
Jesse is a 2007 graduate of Faribault Senior High School and a 2010 graduate of the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota. While attending the program, Jesse was the President of the Mortuary Science Student Association and was also the recipient of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association Past President Scholarship. He originally began working with a funeral home in Faribault in 2003 and also worked in their Waseca and Janesville funeral homes until relocating to Hastings, where he brought the Caturia Smidt and Wise Funeral Homes together to build a beautiful, state of the art facility together. The brand new collaboration is called Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel and can host over 400 people for a funeral gathering and reception.
Jesse enjoys being involved in the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science Board of Directors, the Minnesota Funeral Director's Association, hunting, fishing, and boating.
On September 15, 2017, Jesse and his wife, Katie, purchased the former Maple Oaks Funeral Home, and are honored to provide quality funeral service to the Maplewood, Oakdale, and surrounding communities for years to come. Along with that, they also own their own crematory in Hastings, meaning your loved one never leaves their professional care. "We feel it is important for families to know many other local firms do not own their own crematory, so we are proud to provide this signature service to the families we serve." Jesse and his wife, Katie, live in Hastings where they oversee the day-to-day roles for Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel as well as their additional roles at Oakwood Family Funeral Home & Crematory.
Katie Starkson Owner & Office Assistant
Katie is a 2007 graduate of Waseca High School. She attended Concordia St. Paul and studied Business Marketing. Katie started working with her husband Jesse at their Waseca Location in 2012 before moving to the Hastings area.
Katie enjoys being involved with the Rivertown Lion's Club in Hastings, volunteering at both St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, her card club, rollerblading, and boating. She plays a very integral role at their new facility in Hastings which is where they own and operate the crematory in which Oakwood Family Funeral Home uses for cremations. The new facility is a collaboration between the Caturia Smidt and Wise families to all be under one roof which can host over 400 people for a funeral gathering and reception.
On September 15, 2017, Jesse and Katie purchased the former Maple Oaks Funeral Home, and after months of renovations, reopened to the community. They are honored to provide a quality funeral service to the Maplewood, Oakdale, and surrounding communities for years to come.
Martha Praska
Funeral Assistant
Angela Gaugler
Susan Hubbard
Sue Ristow
Jesse Starkson
Owner & Funeral Director
Katie Starkson
Owner & Office Assistant
2585 Stillwater Road
2585 Stillwater Road, Maplewood, MN 55119
© Oakwood Family Funeral Home & Crematory
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