A longtime funeral home director has been honored by the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce for stellar customer service and an outstanding commitment and devotion to the Northeast Kingdom. Tom Barrett, a funeral director at Guibord Funeral Home in Lyndonville since 1996, was selected for the extraordinary manner in which he treats grieving families and his service as a call firefighter and his long association with the Caledonia County Maple Sugar Makers Association and Lyndonville Rotary.
Darcie McCann, director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber, noted that she has known Barrett since she was a child, and it does not surprise her in the least that Barrett is so well regarded by families and his colleagues in the funeral home community. Noting “the position is not as much a job as it is a calling, it truly takes a special person to handle the emotional burdens and the constant stresses that are part and parcel of being a community funeral home director.”
Rodney Sayles, who owns Sayles Funeral Home and Guibord Funeral Home, noted that Barrett has done nothing short of “extraordinary work” in his long tenure at Guibord’s and described him as being “beloved in his community.”
McCann said that some of the characteristics that make Barrett special are the compassion and empathy that he gives to every single person who walks through his doors.
“Tom treats each and every family he works with as if they are a treasured family member of his own, an amazing feat of customer service considering the fact he has helped literally thousands of families in his 19 years of service at Guibord’s,” said McCann. “It is a sad and difficult climb up those stairs to his second-floor office to prepare funeral preparations, and Tom is ever present in the process, offering hugs, words of condolence and support.”
Northeast Kingdom Chamber President Cindy Robillard, in presenting the award, noted, “It is for his unbelievable commitment, his empathetic spirit, his quiet grace and, yes, even his impressive sense of humor that we not only recognize but thank Tom for his incredible service.” The award was presented at the chamber’s recent annual meeting at Lyndon State College.
Barrett, in acknowledging the award, said he was very humbled by the honor. He received a standing ovation from the audience in response to the announcement.