After almost 80 years of the Buckmiller family serving the greater Naugatuck community and its surrounding cities and towns, they proudly entrusted the future of the funeral home to the Thurston and Mengacci families in July of 2014. Thurston, a 28-year licensed funeral director and embalmer, son of the late Myrna (Long) Thurston and James F. Thurston, Jr., is a former longtime Naugatuck resident. He grew up working in the family oil and ice business, D. Thurston's and Sons on Rubber Avenue in Naugatuck. For the past 8 years, Jeff, along with his wife, Melissa, have owned and operated the Rowe Funeral Home in Litchfield, where they currently reside with their daughter, Morgan. Thurston is the daughter of Steve and Mona (Jewett) Menard of Plantsville. Her kindness and compassion have been vital to the success of Rowe Funeral Home, where she has worked for the past 8 years alongside her husband, Jeff. In July of 2014, she transitioned to working in the Naugatuck office. She is honored to be serving the community where her husband grew up and grateful for the warm welcome they have received from the town. Mengacci, a licensed funeral director and embalmer for over 34 years, and the former owner of the Fitzgerald-Zembruski-Mengacci Funeral Homes, is a lifelong resident of Naugatuck and an active member of the local community. He is the son of Connie (Gallucci) Mengacci of Naugatuck and the late Adam T. Jim is the proud father of James A. Mengacci, Jr., and Michael R. Mengacci both of Naugatuck. For Jim, this transition back into town feels like coming home and he is honored to be serving the community he loves.
