Trent Nielsen

Managing Partner & Funeral Director

Trent grew up in Puyallup, Washington. While attending Pierce College in the fall of 2003, he was introduced to service in the funeral profession and began working at Curnow Funeral Home in Sumner, WA. His first work assignments for the funeral home were delivering paper death certificates to doctors offices, transporting families' loved ones, and assisting people with their pre-planning needs.

Trent served as a Spanish-speaking missionary in Guatemala for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2005-2007.

After graduating with a Business Management degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2010, Trent returned to Washington and continued his work in funeral service. In 2013, Trent was blessed with the opportunity to oversee Funeral Alternatives of Washington, a rapidly growing funeral home with multiple locations in the Puget Sound area.

In October 2018, Trent was asked to become the managing partner of Hennessey Valley Funeral Home & Crematory. Trent focuses on providing high-quality and innovative service to the families being served.

Trent and his wife Amy have five children. The Nielsens live, work, and worship in Spokane Valley and absolutely love what the beautiful area has to offer.

Trent is a licensed Funeral Director and a Certified Crematory Operator in Washington State.

Aileen Fields

Funeral Director

Serving the Spokane Catholic community since 1997, Aileen G. Fields SFO, joined Hennessey Funeral Homes as an Ambassador and licensed advanced planning specialist in 2016. Former Parish Council member at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Development Officer at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, Marketing/Sales Representative for Catholic Cemeteries, and owner of Abbas Catholic Bookstores in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

Aileen has a special love for taking care of families and their needs at the end of life and is currently working to become accredited as a funeral director.

Aileen also serves the Catholic Priesthood by fostering and promoting vocations to the Priesthood as a Serran. She previously served as Serra International's District Governor for all of Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho, the Program Chair for the Serra USA Council, and a member of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church Advisory Council.

In her free time, Aileen is an avid canner in summer, specializing in salsa and spaghetti sauce, and raises doberman pinschers.

Vince Pendergrass

Crematory Operator

Vince was born and raised in Spokane and is the oldest of three boys. He graduated from Central Valley High School in 1999. After graduation, Vince served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cincinnati, Ohio and Southeastern Kentucky from 1999 to 2001.

Vince attended Spokane Community College. He studied carpentry for one year then earned an associate degree in criminal justice in 2006. Vince works with the young men in the church and has served as an assistant scout leader.

Vince and his wife Renee have three children. They fostered their two oldest before adopting them. Vince enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, and spending time with the family.

In February 2022, Vince joined Hennessey Valley as a certified crematory operator.

Christine King

Ambassador

Kamai VanAken

Ambassador

Rick Sparrow

Ambassador

Hannah Macey

Aftercare Ambassador

Hannah works as part of our aftercare program reaching out to our families after services to check-in on their well being. Her greatest passion is to help and serve those in her community. She also enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family.

Robin Sparrow

Ambassador

Julie Kent

Ambassador

Julie was born in Paradise, California, and her Catholic family of six brothers and one sister moved to Rathdrum, Idaho in 1970. She attended Maria Regina Academy and Immaculata Convent School and later graduated from Lakeland Sr. High School in Rathdrum, ID.  She started college at North Idaho College in 1983 while she was a senior in high school; her skills have always been caring for the needs of others, and their families.

Julie received her Nursing Certificate at age 16, worked at St Joseph’s Care Center, while attending Kinmen Business University and Spokane Falls Community College, and graduated with a degree in Business, specializing in Hospital Nursing Administration. Julie has over 35 years’ experience in Medical and Business Operations Management working with families, staff and Administration.

Julie joined Hennessey Valley in 2021, supporting the funeral directors and managing the day-to-day tasks of the office and the facility. As an ambassador, she assists with memorial services and receptions.

Julie is a member of Senior Action Network of Eastern Washington (SANEWA) and is involved in various community fundraisers and community outreach events. Julie is a Notary Public for the State of Washington and is available to notarize documents for families.

In her free time, Julie enjoys her three daughters, and six grandchildren, camping, spending time with Mike, their two dogs, cooking, baking, and attending gatherings with her large family.