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The Phaneuf Family Foundation is pleased to announce Alexandra Allen-Byam as the recipient of its 2024 scholarship. Alexandra, a student at FINE Mortuary College in Norwood, Massachusetts, lives in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to entering the funeral service industry. The $1,000 scholarship will help Alexandra as she progresses in her education, supporting her goal to provide compassionate, personalized service to grieving families.
Alexandra’s interest in funeral service started early. She grew up in East Anglia, England, an area rich in historical traditions. “The town we lived in had one of East Anglia’s oldest cemeteries, and I remember learning they had found a horse buried in full Viking armor. That sense of tradition and respect for history stuck with me,” she said. Alexandra said that entering the field has been a longstanding goal for her, and this scholarship helps make it possible.
In addition to her academic work, Alexandra brings a unique perspective to her approach in funeral service. She recently organized a memorial service for a close friend, tailoring it to reflect her friend’s love for Winnie the Pooh. This helped capture her friend’s joyful personality. “Her family wanted a celebration that honored her unique spirit. Adding subtle references to something meaningful to her made the service more personal,” she said.
“Restorative arts is the most wonderful combination of art, service to families, and science. Each part is essential in honoring those who have passed,” she said. This blend of skills and compassion is evident in her academic and hands-on work in mortuary science.
Beyond her professional goals, Alexandra lives in the Monadnock region with her three children, who are actively involved in music and reading. “We’re a very close family, and music has brought us together,” she said.
While Alexandra hopes to stay in New Hampshire to serve her local community, she is eager to continue learning. “You can never stop learning in this profession. I would love to travel and work with other funeral homes to gain different perspectives and skills,” she said.
The Phaneuf Family Foundation provides annual scholarships to mortuary students like Alexandra to support the next generation of funeral service professionals. The foundation’s application is available online, with funds awarded directly to the student’s educational institution each December. Since its establishment in 2019, the foundation has also supported over 175 families in New Hampshire and Vermont who are unable to afford funeral costs, and it continues to see increasing demand.
Arthur O. “Buddy” Phaneuf, president of Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, and chairman of the foundation’s board, emphasized the importance of bringing new professionals into the field. “We need more young professionals with Alexandra’s empathy and commitment entering the funeral service industry. Supporting her education is an investment in the quality of care for families in need,” he said.
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