Our History
A family that is very involved in the community, Raymond and Marjorie Risher came to Montebello from Downey in 1959 and began the Risher Montebello Mortuary in its present location across from the Montebello City Park. They have also established a location in downtown Downey, on Downey Ave & 3rd Street.
Today their daughter, Barbara Risher Welch is continuing their legacy of over 50 years of longstanding community service through participation in local organizations. Raymond and Marjorie Risher were leaders in the community and were members of many organizations such as the Montebello Chamber of Commerce, Montebello Rotary, Montebello Soroptimist, YMCA, Masonic Lodge, Beverly Hospital Guild and Foundation, Montebello Women's Club, PEO and the L.A. Co. & California Funeral Directors Assoc, just to name a few.
Barbara continues on in the family tradition and is a member of the Montebello Chamber, Montebello Rotary Club, Beverly Hospital Foundation and Risher Mortuary is a member of the L.A. Co. & California Funeral Directors Association..
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Barbara Risher Welch
Barbara was raised in Montebello and lived there until 1992 when she and her husband and children moved to Seal Beach. She attended UCLA after high school, and transferred to CSULA and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1981. She worked in the Beverly Hospital Emergency Room for over 25 years, while concurrently working at her family's mortuary. Her main profession now is Corporate President and Owner of Risher Mortuary. She is a licensed Funeral Director.Barbara currently serves on the Board of Directors for Selected Independent Funeral Homes, which is an international organization. She has been a member since 2016. Barbara is also involved in her community as a member of the Montebello Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and past Chairwoman. She was also the Chairwoman of the Montebello Chamber Ambassadors. Barbara served on the Beverly Hospital Foundation Trustee Board and is a Past Chairwoman for the Board and is on the Board of Managers for the Montebello-Commerce YMCA. She was also a Beverly Hospital Guild Member, and was a charter member of the Business and Education Partnership Foundation. Barbara was President of the Montebello Rotary Club in 1996-1997 and was the first woman President in the history of the club since its charter in 1924. She joined the Montebello Rotary Club in 1991 and has had perfect attendance ever since her induction. She is very proud of the fact that her father was also a Past President of the same club in 1973-74 and reached 46 years of perfect attendance. Barbara held numerous board positions within her club. At the district level, she has served as Assistant Governor, District Community Service Chair, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Chair and RYLA committee, District Governor Selection Committee for 3 years and Chair for one year, Fundraising Committee, and finally District Governor for District 5300 in 2003-2004. Barbara served as District Membership Chair, 2010-2011. She brought the concept of the Teen Leadership Camp to District 5300, organizing the first TLC in 2000. Barbara is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Rotary Foundation Benefactor and Bequest Society member and began the Paul Harris Society in District 5300 in 2004, and has been a member since that time. Her husband and four children are also Paul Harris Fellows. She is a PRLS (Potential Rotary Leader Seminar) recipient and Rotarian of the Year for 3 years. Barbara was the Rotary International Membership Coordinator (RIMZC) for Zone 24 from 2004-2006 and the Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator (RRIMC) for Zone 26 from 2007-2010, which includes annual training at Rotary International Headquarters in Chicago. She has served on the faculty for the Governor Elect Training Seminar (GETS) for Zones 25/26 from 2005 to 2009, a trainer for the 2006, 2009 and 2011 Southern California/Nevada President Elect Training Seminar (PETS) and on the PETS committee in 2005. Barbara has been on the Zone 25/26 Institute committee for 5 years, serving as the Proceedings Chair in 2010 which posted all events on Facebook for the first time ever. She is the Vice Chair for the SIG (Special Invited Guest) program for the 2011 Institute, and had the privilege of being on the Advisory Board for RI Director, Ken Boyd. He selected Barbara to Chair his Membership Committee for Zones 25/26. Barbara was elected by the 62 clubs in her District to represent them on the Rotary Int'l Director Nominating Committee in 2009. She was a member of the Host Organizing Committee for the Rotary Int'l convention in Los Angeles. During her Governor year she led the first district-wide service project to Puerta Vallarta to deliver containers of wheelchairs through the Wheelchair Foundation. Barbara has had the distinct honor of representing Rotary Int'l President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar at the District 6600 Conference in Ohio, RI President Wilf Wilkinson at the District 5830 Conference in Texas, RI President John Kenny at the District 5080 Conference in Washington and returning to District 6600 in Ohio to represent RI President Ray Klinginsmith. She also traveled throughout Zone 26 speaking at various engagements on Rotary membership. Barbara was elected to represent her district at the 2013 Council on Legislation in Chicago.Barbara and Greg were married in 1982 and have 4 children. Barbara has attended 13 Rotary Int'l conventions and the entire family has traveled to 9 Rotary Int'l conventions. As a family they enjoy snow skiing, wakeboarding, scuba diving and dirt bike riding. In 2010 they all hiked to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite together. Barbara also enjoys playing tennis (now pickle ball), pilates and going to Disneyland with her 2 grandchildren.[email protected]
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Greg Welch, Owner
Greg joined the Risher Family when he and Barbara were married in 1982. He quickly learned all aspects of the business. Greg holds a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology. Greg is very involved in various Missions trips with Calvary Chapel Downey. He is a Chaplain for both the L.A. County Sheriff and Downey Police Department. He is a Past President of the Downey Rotary Club, board member for the Downey Chamber of Commerce and involved with GOOD (Gangs Out Of Downey). [email protected]
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Nancy Valdez, General Manager/Pre-Need Counselor
Nancy is the General Manager for Risher Mortuary and has been with the Risher family since May 2006. She has been a long time resident of our community. Nancy meets with families, directs funerals and oversees the daily operations. She loves giving her time back to the community by being involved in many civic functions and is Past President of the Montebello Soroptimist Club. St. Benedict is her Parish Church.[email protected]
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Gloria Vargas, Office Manager
Gloria has been a part of the Risher Family, working in our office since April 1983. We recently celebrated her 40th anniversary with us! She has worked her way from filing and data entry for Risher Ambulance to Office Manager at Risher Mortuary. Gloria knows every aspect of the mortuary business and can answer any question that arises. Gloria grew up in Montebello and graduated from Montebello High School Class of 1983. Her children also have attended school in Montebello. Gloria attends St. Francis Xavier as her Parish Church.[email protected]
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Bridget Jorgensen, Resident Licensed Funeral Director
Bridget is a graduate of Cypress Mortuary College and has been a Resident Funeral Assistant with Risher since August 2015. She is a licensed Funeral Director and is currently serving her embalming apprenticeship with us. She produces DVDs, memorial books and folders/holy cards for our families. Bridget arranges funerals, attends services and is our Baby Counselor, holding the parent's hands during a very difficult time. [email protected]
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Maria Robideau, Pre Need Counselor
Maria has been involved with Funeral Preneed sales for approximately 10 years and came to Risher 5 years ago. Maria attends outside events representing Risher and plans her own Preneed seminars. She works hand in hand with Risher and Forethought Life Insurance. Maria was married in March 2024 and is now Mrs. Maria Rummel.[email protected]
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Joe Mendoza, Mortuary Director
Joe has been with the Risher family since May 2017 and came to us through the limousine industry. Besides directing funerals, he also is our lead person in charge of maintaining our vehicles and premises. Joe is bilingual and is loved by everyone he comes in to contact with. He proudly served in the United States Army and leads all of our military funerals. Joe attends Calvary Chapel Montebello.
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Montcerrat Alonzo, Mortuary Assistant
Montcerrat (Montce) is a recent Cypress College graduate receiving her Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science. She previously received her A.A. Degree in Administration of Justice, but has decided to enter in to the Mortuary industry. She performs many tasks at the mortuary, and is a great addition to the Risher staff. She is also bilingual.
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Linda Gonzalez, Mortuary Attendant
Linda joined the Risher team in February 2023. She graduated from Synergy Quantum Academy in LA., then received her Bachelor of Science degree from California State University Los Angeles in Kinesiology. Now Linda has chosen to pursue her Mortuary Science degree at Cypress College. She has worked Retail and also at the Center for Autism and Related Services. Linda is performing multiple tasks for us while she attends Mortuary College, preparing herself for her future in our industry.
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Jeff Rice, Funeral Counselor
Jeff joined the Risher family in February 2024. He comes to us with 20 years of funeral industry experience, mostly for a large corporation and is now excited to work in a Family Owned Business. Jeff graduated from Arizona State University. He meets with families to arrange funerals and follows through as the funeral professional on the day of the service. He assists with data entry.
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Ricardo Mayoral, Mortuary Assistant
Ricardo "Rick" came to join the Risher Family in July 2024. He has extensive experience in logistics and transportation and grew up in the local area. We are pleased to have him join us and he will be taking on many different jobs at Risher.
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Michelle Mendez, Mortuary Assistant
Michelle joined the Risher Team in August 2024. She comes to us with close to 20 years in the funeral industry, with a wide variety of experience. She is a graduate of Schurr High School, lives locally and is bilingual. Michelle is a great addition to our Risher Team.
