Jari Villanueva
Funeral Officiant/Celebrant

(443) 801-5274
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Jari Villanueva is retired from the United States Air Force where he served 23 years as a trumpeter, drum major, and staff arranger with The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C.

During his Air Force career he worked with the chaplains and honor guards at Arlington National Cemetery on thousands of military funerals.

He retired from the State of Maryland after serving 10 years as Director of the Military Funeral Honors program, overseeing the performance of military funeral honors for Maryland veterans.

He now works as a freelance bugler for funerals as well as an officiant for funerals and weddings, and is still serving our veterans as the Veterans Chair for the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention and a member of the Governor’s Commission for Military Monuments.

Jari is certified to perform funerals, weddings and other services in the State of Maryland and began officiating at funerals in May 2017.

Jari consults closely with the family in preparation for each service to provide a personalized service geared to the wishes of the deceased.

He is trained in military protocol and worked with the families of former Maryland governors William Donald Schaefer and Marvin Mandel and former Maryland Adjutant General LTG (MD) James F. Fretterd, on the planning and execution of their official funerals.

He is equally comfortable assisting any family with the planning of a small, private ceremony – either military or civilian – honoring and celebrating their loved one’s life in the most appropriate way. Much careful thought and individual attention goes into each service, whether it is a religious, spiritual, or secular ceremony.

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Jari is also available to sound Taps at funerals. Many families specifically request a live bugler and it has become increasingly difficult for the military to supply a live player. His 33 years of experience in sounding Taps makes this one less thing for a funeral director or a family to worry about.

“Thank you for providing the service for my husband. Your words
hit the right chord with our family.”

“We appreciate your playing of the hymn at the service. It meant so much to us.”

“Your Taps was very beautiful. Thank you for playing at the funeral.”

Serving all of Maryland, Delaware,

Northern Virginia and south central Pennsylvania