Kurt Nordgren Mangsen

Kurt Nordgren Mangsen, Funeral Director

Today, Kurt Nordgren Mangsen runs Nordgren Memorial Chapel much the same way as his great-grandfather, Carl E. R. Nordgren, did when the firm started back in 1910.

Kurt began working with his late father Harry R. Mangsen and his great-uncle, the late A. Rudolph "Rudy" Nordgren in 1979. He graduated from St. Peter-Marion Central Catholic High School and The New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in 1984, with a degree in mortuary science. Following his fathers death, Kurt became President of the firm in 1996.

Since taking over the leadership of the firm, Kurt has strived to carry on the tradition of honest, professional, and compassionate funeral service that has become synonymous with the Nordgren Memorial Chapel.

Kurt is also a member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, the Better Business Bureau, the North Worcester Business Association, Worcester Chamber of Commerce, The Morning Star lodge of Masons, and a 32-Degree Mason.

Kurt and his wife, Katherine(graduate Holy Cross '86), reside in Holden with their five children.

Katherine E. Mangsen

Katherine E. (Johnson) Mangsen, Funeral Director

Introducing our newest funeral director and the first female funeral director in Nordgren's history. Katherine E. (Johnson) Mangsen is a 1982 graduate of Burncoat Sr. High School in Worcester, a 1986 graduate of Holy Cross College with a degree in religious studies and political science, and a 2009 graduate, Summa Cum Laude, of Mount Ida College in Newton with a degree in embalming and funeral service. While at Mount Ida, Katherine was on the Deans List every semester and was inducted into the membership of Pi Sigma Eta, the national honor society for funeral service professionals.

Katherine resides in Holden with her husband Kurt J. Nordgren Mangsen and five children, Monika (class of 2010 Holy Cross College), Erika (class of 2011 Mount Ida College, majoring in Funeral Service), Matthew (a freshman at Wachusett Regional High School), Jenna (a 6th grade student at Mountview Middle School), and Derek, (a 4th grader at Mayo Elementary School). She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Xi Nu Chapter, the VASA Order Nordic Lodge #611, the Holy Cross Club of Worcester, The Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, The National Funeral Directors Association, The North Worcester Business Association, and serves as the Treasurer of Nordgren Memorial Chapel.

Katherine's specialty is funeral personalization.

Erika M. Nordgren Mangsen

Erika M. Nordgren Mangsen is Katherine and Kurt Nordgren Mangsen's daughter, Harry Mangsen's granddaughter, and Carl E.R. Nordgren's great-great granddaughter. Erika is currently in her second year at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA, where she is majoring in Funeral Service, is a member of the soccer team, is a member of Pi Sigma Eta, and is an honor student.  Upon graduation and completion of her requirements, she will become a 5th generation funeral director here at Nordgren.  She is currently one of our licensed apprentices.

Erika is a 2009 graduate of Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, MA, where she played on the Varsity Soccer team and played the Euphonium for the award-winning Wachusett Wind Ensemble.

We are very excited to include Erika as member of the Nordgren Team.