Licensed Staff

All of our licensed directors adhere to the highest standard of ethical & Professional practices yet compassionate and empathetic to the families we serve. We are committed to ensuring that all of your needs are attended to at all times regardless of how simple they may seem. The commitment to the families we serve, passion for our profession, are only a few of the characteristics that make them outstanding in the funeral industry. We are proud to have them on our staff.  Please know that we do background checks and only staff Licensed persons without any blemishes on their licenses of any kind and even less for any reasons we would not be proud of, Thus the reason we consider them proudly part of our family.

​Edgar Rodriguez, Licensed Funeral Director/Owner
Email: Edgar@luzdepaz.com
Office Phone:  203-330-8081 Ext. 701
Fax: 203-330-8082
Mobile Phone:  203-260-9111

Edgar Rodriguez is the Owner and Funeral Director for the Families First at Luz de Paz, (Funeraria Luz de Paz),  Bridgeport, CT;  He is a lifelong Bridgeport resident where he attended Central High School, class of 1988.  He attended the Briarwood College where he received his degree in Applied Sciences with focus on Mortuary Science.  He opened the funeral home in 1997 realizing there was a dire need to provide funeral services with the highest of standards and ethical practices the public and families deserve.  He is extrremely passionate in what he does and focuses on the needs of the families the funeral home serves.  There is nothing Edgar will not do to make the family burden easier considering the circumstances they are confronting. Although the funeral home has grown where other employees are needed to also serve families, He is always just a phone call away to make sure things run as smoothly as possible because Families ALWAYS come first! 

Colette C. LaPrade (Toni), Licensed Funeral Director
Email: Colette.Toni@luzdepaz.com
Office Phone:  203-330-8081  Ext. 703
Fax: 203-330-8082

Colette Toni is a licensed funeral director, who has been with Families First at Luz de Paz, (Funeraria Luz de Paz) since November of 2012.  Prior to her time at Families first at Luz de Paz, she worked as an intern in the funeral industry locally for three years. She graduated Cum Laude from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service where she received an Associate Degree in Occupational Studies. In addition, Colette holds a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Psychology from the University of Vermont. Most Recently as of September 2018, Colette was married to Daniel Laprade and currently lives just 10 minutes away from our home to arrive within 15 minutes in the event a family needs us.   Colette takes true pride in her work and embodies the epitome of everything Families First at Luz de Paz stands for.  Know that she will only give you the highest level of care and attention and will settle for nothing less!