Q Why did you decide to work at All Saints?
A I love working outside. I worked as a landscaper and I heard they were hiring.
Q What is your biggest day to day challenge?
A Talking to the families – it’s the hardest part. I’m an emotional person. If I’m in front of a family I’m going to do what I can for them. It was depressing at first, when you bury kids. We have 15 funerals in here in one week. Once we had seven in one day. Now we have a cut off, four a day. When it snows we operate as normal. It’s a full-time, everyday job. People always come here to visit.
| ABOUT MERRITT Name: Ron Merritt Family members: sister, two brothers What is your position and how long have you served: Assistant superintendent of All Saints Cemetery for 25 years. High School: McKean High School |
Q What are some of your everyday responsibilities?
A I mostly work outside because I like it. People think you just dig a hole. There’s a lot more to it. I’m always moving. I set the stones, do the landscaping, cut grass, plow when it snows. With the grass cutting, once we get to the end of our cycle it’s been two weeks and we have to start all over again. The whole thing has to be well taken care of. We focus on the whole cemetery. The weather doesn’t bother me. Sometimes I lead in the funerals. I help Jeff (family services) when he’s busy.
Q What is advice you would give someone who wanted to work here?
A One thing you have to do is have that “caringness” for everybody. It can be really tough. All the guys who work here are down to Earth and really care and you have to if you’re going to work here.
Q Where do you see yourself in five years?
A Where else would I want to go. I’ll be here until I retire.
Q What do you do in your spare time?
A I golf a lot when they weather is good. I’m a member at DuPont Country Club. I watch football and NASCAR on TV. I have a ton of friends I see. You can never have too many friends.
