History & Staff

Kirk Helfenbein

Owner and Funeral Director

Kirk is President and CEO of his family funeral home. From a very young age, he knew that following in his father’s footsteps was the career path which would bring the most purpose and meaning to his life. He considers himself a homebody over a traveler because he loves caring for his community and running the family business. Willow, the grief therapy dog, lives with Kirk when she’s not greeting families at the Chestertown location. Kirk finds much happiness and serenity in the company of his four legged friend. The most enjoyable aspect of working in the funeral industry is being able to help families heal when they experience some of the most difficult times of their lives. He also enjoys seeing his staff care for others to his family’s standards.

Chad Helfenbein

Owner and Funeral Director

Chad grew up on Kent Island hoping that one day he would become a magician. While he may not be the next Houdini, taking on the family business as an undertaker certainly provides for a bit of daily magic in helping the community achieve memorable experiences. His favorite part of what he does is helping families get through life’s most difficult event. If Chad could describe his personality most effectively, he’d say “Ready, Fire, Aim,” due to his quick and expedient nature. Chad considers himself a traveler because seeing other cultures, customs, and sights is extremely intriguing. Of everywhere he’s been, his favorite spot is the West Indies. Happy Hour and Sunsets with his wife, Jennifer, and kids, Cade and Biggs, are Chad’s favorite times of day, even better when they occur at the same time! If Chad could have any artist play at his Celebration of Life party, he’d want Phish!

Ryan Helfenbein

Owner, Certified PrePlanning Counselor, and Undertaker

Ryan has been working in his family business since 1997 and became a partner in 2006. Prior to that he had thought he’d become a Marine Biologist. While that career didn’t take off, he throws himself into his fishing hobby whenever time permits. His favorite spot to travel is Atlantic Beach, NC because as a fisherman, that place has it all! Ryan’s favorite time of day is early morning when all is quiet and he has a fresh mind. He believes the best part being an “Undertaker” (as he refers to himself) is being able to help individuals plan well in advance to eliminate stress and financial burden for family in the future. He also feels good after a ceremony when family members and visitors leave his facilities with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye. This tells him that the role of creating a one of a kind final farewell was in fact achieved. Now, some of you may remember Ryan as Kaptain Blue Light at the Kent Island Kmart, but if he had the opportunity to be a real life superhero he would chose to trade lives with Captain America! Given the opportunity to be immortal, Ryan would choose to remain in his mid-30s. He described it as life before aches and pains, minimal stress, and that it was at the time when he and his wife, Sarah, were able to watch all three of their children, Luke, Chase, and Emma grow from babies into the amazing personalities they have today.

Jason Fellows

Owner, Funeral Director, and CFSP

Jason started his career with his family business in 1998 and worked his way up becoming owner and managing partner throughout his years of hard work. Making a positive impact on families that he has served in his communities is incredibly rewarding for Jason. Knowing that he has eased the burden and potentially relieved some stress during one of life’s hardest challenges bring happiness to Jason. If Jason could possess any superpower it would be to work at superspeed. Wearing so many different hats around the funeral home and his family life – husband to Dana, father and coach to twin daughters, being able to work in superspeed would allow him to accomplish so much more during his waking hours! His favorite time of day is specifically in the spring and summer around 6 pm. The daylight extends and he has time to spend with his family working on projects outside. Jason is well respected by his colleagues and is known as the trustworthy and dependable guy that will help with any situation. If he could learn any language it would be Spanish as it would be extremely beneficial to help connect with our communities.

Tom Helfenbein

Past President, Owner, and Funeral Director

Tom Helfenbein is a Baltimore native that moved to the Eastern Shore as a young man. With the backing and support of Mr. Hubbard, his funeral mentor, he opened his first funeral homes in Chester, Church Hill, and Rock Hall. As a first generation funeral director, Tom knew that it would take incredible perseverance and hard work to succeed, but he had the necessary ambition. Understanding that connecting with the community was key, he was warmly embraced by the communities stretching from Kent Island to Rock Hall. For that, he is forever grateful. He found the individuals of the Eastern Shore to be extremely welcoming, accepting, and loyal. This rapidly became home. With his wife, Bobbye, alongside him, they raised three sons together who eventually joined the family business and helped modernize the funeral home to what it is today. Tom never forgot how important humility and compassion are in life. To this day, even in retirement, he pours his heart and soul into the relationships he’s cultivated over the years.

Sue Burleson

Funeral Director

Sue has been proudly serving the FHN communities since 2007, but spent many years in the restaurant industry prior to her second act as a funeral director. Growing up as a young girl, Sue always thought she wanted to be a nurse, and while she may not have pursued that path, she has had many successful careers throughout her life. Like a nurse, she provides empathy and compassion not only to all of the grieving families she works with, but to all she encounters. She is loyal and compassionate; her personality is truly unrivaled! When asked if she is a dog or a cat person, she hesitated before saying “I guess dogs,” but we all know that Sue has become a chicken-lady in her third act as the owner of a chicken farm in Delaware. This provides her an opportunity to work alongside her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren! Her favorite part of working at the funeral home is making sure that every family has a positive memory of the funeral experience, particularly with the way their loved one appears.

Justin Britcher

Managing Funeral Director

Justin considers himself to be supportive and patient while also having an analytical mind. He has been serving FHN families since 2017 as a committed funeral director that uses those skills daily. His favorite part of what he does is being able to support families in his community during their great time of need. Justin grew up in Upstate NY watching his Godfather, who owned a funeral home, nurture grieving community members and it truly taught him what an important role a funeral director can play in other’s lives. While Justin loves having a home base in which to return, traveling and experiencing new things with his wife, Kristin, and daughters, Molly and Veda, brings much excitement to his life. The Pacific Northwest and all of the diversity its landscape had to offer is probably on the top of his list of favorite places discovered. The only way traveling could be better, is if Justin could possess a teleportation superpower! Who would be Justin’s requested musical performer at his Celebration of Life, you ask? Either The Man in Black, Johnny Cash or The King of Cool, Miles Davis!

Karen Jones

Funeral Director

Karen started with FHN as a funeral apprentice in 2020. She enjoys assisting families through a difficult time in life while making the process easier along the way. It comes as no surprise that her character is best described as compassionate, honest, and intuitive – the perfect traits to take care of her community when they need it most. If Karen could travel through time and remain immortal at any age, she would go back to her early 20s when her kids were young and holidays were magical. She values time spent with family and loves traveling when she is able to get away. In the hotly debated discussion, “is a hot dog a sandwich,” Karen firmly believes that if it’s served on a roll, then it’s a sandwich!

Cynthia Reimbold

Managing Funeral Director

At the very young age of 13, Cynthia told her parents she wanted to become a mortician. Holding true to her word, she followed her dreams and began a career in funeral service. She originally joined the Chestertown team in 2007. Broadening her horizons and experiences other places, she took a 16 year break before finding her way back to FHN in 2023. A healthy balance of world-traveler and homebody, she craves inspiration found from road trips and flights to new places only to balance out her love for daily routine and familiarity at home. Her top places she’s explored are Portland, ME and Yosemite National Park in CA. Cynthia is open-minded, empathetic and extremely organized. All qualities which make her incredibly successful as a lifelong funeral director. Don’t be surprised if you see a sparkle of joy in her eyes when she encounters a label maker! If Cynthia could have her way, Taylor Swift would be the headline performer at her funeral. Understanding T. Swift might be on a record setting tour though, Cynthia will settle for Taylor's top hits playing instead.

Cade Helfenbein

Apprentice Funeral Director

Cade is a third generation Helfenbein to be working in his family business. Cade grew up thinking he would like to be a professional hockey player in the NHL, but settled for an energetic path in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. He looks forward to the day that he turns 28, as believes that will be the peak of life – old enough to have some experience and will look old enough to be respected. His favorite part of working at the funeral home is making people happy, most recently by imparting his ability webcast a wide assortment of services, whether it’s an indoor event or an outdoor graveside service. Cade is caring, respectful, and honest which are qualities that not only his coworkers appreciate but also the client families with which he interacts. Sunsets are Cade’s favorite time of day – even better if he’s relaxing on a boat. Of everywhere Cade has traveled, the Bahamas has to be his favorite. He looks forward to life ahead and all of the cool places the world has to explore.

Audrey Helfenbein

Apprentice Funeral Director

Audrey joined the Easton team as an apprentice in 2023. Growing up, Audrey was exposed to the funeral home at a very early age. Surprisingly though, her original childhood passion wasn’t the family business. Her dream job was to be a “dog farmer.” Many may be unclear on what exactly a dog farmer does, however, she described this prestigious career as owning a large piece of property and adopting dogs of all ages, genders and disabilities and affording them the opportunity to roam freely. In between fostering this dream and joining the FHN team, Audrey completed her schooling and traveled the world. She certainly prefers traveling to being a homebody. Experiencing new people, places, and cultures brings her joy. Of everywhere she’s been, she says New Zealand is her favorite place, citing friendly and inviting people as well as beauty in nature all around.

Kolby Downes

Apprentice Funeral Director

Kolby joined the team at the Easton funeral home in 2023. She enjoys her job because every day is different depending on the needs of the day, and never just doing one thing. As a child, Kolby wanted to be a teacher, letting us know that she had wonderful teachers in her elementary years who were a huge influence on why she was drawn to that career. She’s punctual, empathetic and organized, which would have given her a good start in that field. While Kolby admits to enjoying the comforts of home, she also enjoys seeing new places. Since her favorite Disney heroine is Mulan, who showed courage and determination, paving the way for gender equality and equal opportunity, perhaps a visit to China will be in her future? Her most desired superpower, teleportation, would certainly come in handy on that trip! When asked if she’s more of a cat or a dog person, Kolby says that she’s the cat lady everyone talks about. Kolby says that if she had to pick a band to play at her funeral it would be Queen to, in her words, ‘make it a party’.

Sutton Mesko

Apprentice Funeral Director

Sutton joined the team at the Easton funeral home in 2021. As someone whose childhood ambition was to become a chef, Sutton tells us that yes, a hot dog is a sandwich because it’s two pieces of bread holding a filling. While that can often be a controversial position to take, we can probably agree with him about his favorite time of day because, as he puts it, “Right at sunset, because obviously the sunset”. Sutton admits to loving both cats and dogs equally, but when forced to choose, he notes that cats are a favorite. Something you might not know about him is that he used to play the tuba, and he wouldn’t mind being able to pick it back up. Ever practical, when asked what language he’d choose if he could magically become fluent, he notes Mandarin Chinese because it’s the most common language. Sutton says that if he could become immortal at any age, he’d select his mid-20s “….so I could keep working forever.” While that would certainly make his work family very happy, alas it cannot be. At his own funeral, Sutton stated that “the answer to this question has to be Queen, right?”

Stacey Barrow

Financial Administrator

If Stacey could possess any superpower it would be to time travel. She’d love to go back in time with her loved ones that are no longer with her and also advance forward in time to see what her kids and grandchildren are doing. Stacey loves a great trip, particularly to Hatteras, NC, where so many memories have been made, but it is home with her family that she loves the most. Celebrating life events around her kitchen island with husband, Mike, their kids and spouses, grandkids and extended family is the epitome of joy! When she’s not being the crux of her family life, she is navigating all of the tricky office roles that keep FHN operating. Her greatest asset and most underrecognized role is her ability to listen to all staff concerns while providing empathetic and meaningful feedback. This aligns with her favorite part of working at FHN – the team that exists here, as well as helping the families within our communities as they overcome one of life’s hardest challenges.

Kerry Legg

Planning Concierge

Kerry’s favorite time of the day is late afternoon – it’s winddown time during the week and on the weekends when she gathers with her husband, Josh, and kids. She has been proudly helping the FHN communities since 2007, and learning about others while helping them through a difficult time is truly what propels her every day. While she grew up thinking she’d be a soccer player or coach, she is instead coaching others through uncharted territories after a loved one is lost or by encouraging individuals to preplan services to relieve stressors on their family members. Coaching comes naturally for Kerry, as she is also extremely involved in her daughter Hayden’s, and son, Jase’s athletic pursuits. If Kerry could have any superpower it would be flying. She loves to travel but dislikes the time spent getting to a destination. Of everywhere she has traveled, Whistler, British Columbia marks the top destination on her list. If Kerry could have any band, living or dead, play at her funeral she would choose The Beatles. Thanks to her mom, she has a strong love for the British icons!

Kristal Abrams

Planning Administrator

Kristal has been helping our communities solve the tricky items our families come across after services are over, like insurance claims and Register of Wills affairs to name a couple, since 2016. Her favorite time of day is when the funeral concierge work ends and she pulls into her driveway to see her three kids, Vada, Luke, and Sawyer waiting for her with their bright smiles! Kristal considers herself a homebody over a traveler, so it’s only fitting that her and her husband, Matt, have made their beautiful family home one she adores! Though she loves her time with family, it is helping community families that brings her the most joy in her role at FHN. She describes herself as dedicated, stubborn, and kind. All of these are valuable qualities to help organize families in getting back on their feet after a loss! When ask the hotly debated question, “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” Her answer quickly was: “Not a sandwich, obviously!”

Valerie Von Den Bosch

Inventory Manager

Valerie has been a hardworking, dedicated, and nurturing employee of the FHN brands for years. She has filled so many different roles within the organization that nearly every employee turns to her for help with their projects. Her work ethic is unrivaled and her dedication to families shines through in every opportunity possible. To her, the most enjoyable part of what she does is being given the opportunity to do something useful for people when they need help the most. She knows she can’t ease their pain or erase their loss, but she sure can make the remembrance they plan for their loved one exceed their expectations. Valerie considers herself a healthy mix of a homebody and a traveler. She has a bit of wanderlust and has enjoyed trips to Charlottesville, VA. However, her favorite vacation ever was to Las Vegas where an Elvis impersonator officiated her and her husband’s (Chuck) wedding! If Valerie could befriend any celebrity, it would be Ree Drummond. She’s singlehandedly revitalized her hometown’s economy and isn’t afraid of butter, bacon, or cheese! Dave Matthews would be the performing artist at Valerie’s Celebration of Life party... and let’s be certain to emphasize party!

Lauren Hodges

Office Manager and Monument Specialist

Lauren has been fearlessly leading the Chestertown location since 2010. As a child she always wanted to be a veterinarian and when asked if she’s more of a dog or cat person, she emphatically answered “both!” While she may not have pursed her career as a vet, she brings her happy disposition to the office everyday which has only been enhanced since the addition of Willow, the location’s grief therapy dog! Honest, caring, and respectful are three words that Lauren’s coworkers use to describe her. All three of those traits help her excel in her role as Monument Specialist and Office Manager. Lauren finds the most rewarding part of her role being that when she is helping families through the most difficult time of their lives. Designing exquisite memorials and monuments to help families remember their loved one brings much reward to Lauren’s spirit. Lauren’s favorite time of day is dinner time – it’s the first opportunity she has in her day to enjoy downtime with her husband and son!

Pam Phebus

Administrative Assistant

Pam’s favorite time of day is the morning as it provides a fresh new start! Always looking for a new adventure, Pam fancies herself as a traveler with her favorite spots being San Francisco and the mountains of Colorado. If she could have any superpower it would be teleportation so she could see any part of the world, easily! While she loves the adventure travel brings, having a solid home base with her husband, Mike, children, Nick and Christie, and three cats is what makes the adventure so exciting. Honest, dependable, and caring are all qualities that make Pam fit for her role at FHN. She keeps the office running and creates unique and memorable items for families to hold onto long after services are over. Being a team player is one of her favorite parts of her job!

Jenna Farrell

Administrative Assistant

Jenna joined the team at FHN in 2020 and has been on a mission to help families find comfort ever since. If she could possess any superpower it would be to heal physical and emotional wounds because she dislikes being in pain and struggles when others are in pain around her. Considering herself more a dog person than a cat person, Jenna’s biggest caveat to this question is that she has two of the coolest cats around! Jenna loves spending time with her two dogs (a chihuahua and black lab), two cats, and turtle. Being at home in the comfort of her own space brings her the most joy – she is prone to motion sickness so traveling by boats, planes, trains, and limos are out of the question! Traveling in cars that she has total control of is her preferred method when she ventures out – Edisto Island is her favorite place! If Jenna could have any band play at her Celebration of Life it would either be Papa Roach or Sublime!

Kasey Deal

Administrative Assistant

Kasey’s favorite time of day is when the sun is setting because not only is it beautiful, but it’s when things cool off and the world seems to slow down. While she would like to one day visit Poland, she admits to being a bit of a homebody and loves to stay in her bubble. She’d love a tiny home on wheels so she could make her home anywhere, still get to be a homebody, but also see new places. You might be interested to know that when Kasey was younger, she took piano lessons, and she’d love to have the opportunity to get back into music and learn to play again. When asked if she considers a hot dog to be a sandwich, she wanted to know if a sub was considered a sandwich, pointing out that a hot dog is basically a small sub. Kasey feels that the funeral industry is the perfect fit for her. She finds it rewarding to know that she can make a difference in someone’s life. Not only does she get to help families through a hard time, she can create memorable prayer cards and tribute videos in honor of their loved one.

John Renshaw

Facilities Supervisor

Growing up as a kid, John always wanted to be a truck driver. Though he didn’t fulfil that dream, he spends quite a bit of time on the road assisting his coworkers, making operations flow smoothly. He also has the added responsibility of ensuring the company vehicles are in prime condition. Two qualities to describe John are funny and easy going which are the perfect collision of traits to keep the optimal team atmosphere. His favorite part of working at FHN is meeting people within the communities he serves. John’s favorite time of day is a 6:00 am when he starts his first cup of coffee. Describing himself as a homebody, his favorite place is home with his wife, Stacey, and kids, Harrison, Claudia, and Ada. If John could pick a musical artist to perform at his Celebration of Life service, it would be Garth Brooks.

Bob Hartnett

Facilities Supervisor

Bob has been assisting our communities since 2015. Prior to his second act with FHN, he was keeping the streets safe as a police officer in Washington, DC. As a kid he wanted to be a baseball player or astronaut, and while he didn’t become either, he still has quite a remarkable career path. Bob prefers dogs over cats because of their playful and engaging interactions. If Bob could be immortal and remain any age, he’d pick 25. It was when he felt he was in the best shape of his life and also when he got married to his wife, Peggy. In Bob’s words, “if I was good enough for my wife, then I’m good enough for everyone!” Spanish the language that he would choose in which to become fluent. With the evolving diversity in our communities today, it would be a true asset to be able to communicate effectively!

George Comegys

Funeral Assistant

George is our Chestertown handyman - always willing to build, paint, or fix anything. He likes going to church and spending time with his grandchildren.

Allan Schauber

Funeral Assistant

In Allan's free time, he enjoys carving wooden decoys and they're really good! He's community oriented. He is Chief of the Kent & Queen Anne's Rescue Squad, which he's very passionate about.

Robb Lippy

Funeral Assistant

Robb joined the FHN team in 2020. He is easy-going, friendly, and detail oriented which is what makes him the perfect fit in his role with Lasting Tributes. Being able to bring a bit of comfort to people in their time of need is what he appreciates most about his position. If Robb could pause time at any point in his life and remain immortal, he would pick his 30s. It was when he and his wife, Jackie, were well enough into their adult years to watch their daughters grow, and also still in great physical shape. Robb considers himself a traveler over a homebody. He was fortunate in his career to be able to see much of the US and Canada. However, his favorite place he’s visited is Aruba – where the beaches are fantastic!

Phil Curry

Funeral Assistant

Phil Curry joined the team in 2021 after retiring from a long and successful career as a respiratory therapist. He finds much crossover between the two positions and appreciates the ability to bring comfort to others during a difficult time. He is best described as caring, dependable, and detail oriented. Phil and his wife Tammy have six children, three grandchildren, and two dogs; so, spending time with family is something that brings him much happiness. However, he also loves traveling the world. Among his top favorite locations are San Francisco, New Orleans, St. Kitts, and Aruba. These places offer such an expansive diversity of culture and life! Phil’s love for music will follow him after life, as it soothes his soul in so many ways. If he could have anyone perform at his Celebration of Life event, he would be hard pressed to pick just one: Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Uncle Kracker are all front runners!

June Clark

Hostess

While Ms. June grew up wanting to be in the Air Force, God had other plans for her. She married the love of her life and spent nearly 68 years making a beautiful life with her husband instead. Her father was a first generation immigrant from Germany and learning the German language was something she always wished she could pick up. The skill she wishes she could magically learn would be to inherit some intuition with technology, be it a smartphone or iPad, having the ability to effortlessly master those things would make life a breeze! Ms. June is well respected by all of her coworkers. They describe her as dependable, honest, and sincere. She says her favorite part of working at FHN is interacting with all of the people, both the staff and grieving families. It makes her feel incredibly humble when families ask for her to work as a hostess, because she believes it is a little way in which she can help their grieving process. If she could have anyone perform at her funeral, it would be the Centreville United Methodist Church’s Praise Band!

Margaret Anne Gary

Hostess

She is our friendliest staff member! Margaret Anne is very outgoing and enjoys working services, where she is best known for taking people's coats and making them feel comfortable. She is also an amazing baker and an organist for her church.

Kim Ruth

Hostess

Kim’s favorite time of day is the morning. Starting every day off with a long walk sets the tone for a great day ahead! Having a wonderful home keeps Kim grounded, but being able to get away on a relaxing vacation keeps the balance she desires to thrive in life. Any beach where she can spend time with her family is the perfect place to escape from the daily grind for a healthy reset. If Kim were immortal and could stop aging at a chosen year, she would be her early 30s. Looking back, she believes those to be the best years. Her kids were old enough that her and her husband could take them places, and they traveled with many sport teams while also collecting lifelong friends in that decade of her life. Kim works part time at FHN, so to say that she is a hard worker, while also juggling her full time position and her home life, is an understatement! She is honest and loyal. Everyone who crosses her path leaves feeling more uplifted than they had prior to talking with her. Being with people and the community is what makes all of the hard work worth it to Kim!

Bob Connolly

Funeral Assistant

If Mr. Bob could be immortal and pick any age to stop aging, he would select 25 with the reasoning, “I was smart enough to know I didn’t know it all, but dumb enough to know how much I still had to learn.” As a child, Mr. Bob always wanted to be a cowboy so it’s a natural fit that his favorite place to travel is the wild west – Big Sky Country, Montana. He has been serving the FHN communities since 2012 and describes himself as “usually easy going.” There’s not a better personality trait to help families heal, which is in fact his favorite part of his job. Mr. Bob believes that George Washington would be a great person from history to befriend because it would be interesting to exchange ideas. Who would be the perfect musical performer at Mr. Bob’s funeral? Definitely, Shania Twain!

Carroll Younger

Funeral Assistant

Carroll is a life member of the Kent and Queen Anne's Rescue Squad. He is always ready and willing to help at the funeral home on the weekends. He enjoys taking trips down to Florida to visit his daughter.

Sam Tibbitt

Funeral Assistant

Sam has been proudly serving the FHN communities since 2009, and it’s his passion for helping families that keeps him going! Growing up, Sam always wanted to be a Secret Service Agent. His career with UPS and at the funeral home may not have been what childhood Sam envisioned. However, much of what he does resembles the role – delivering highly sought after packages and showing up in the middle of the night are two remarkable abilities Sam has achieved! Sam’s love for the water is evident in any question you ask him. He’d love to trade places with Aquaman; his superpower would be to breathe under water to explore the ocean; his favorite place to travel is Seabrook Island, SC; and last but not least, he’d love to learn to surf!

Jeff Morton

Funeral Assistant

Jeff loves his work at FHN because he knows the he is able to put his best foot forward, surrounded by incredible teammates, even at 3:00 am. His favorite time of day is early morning before anyone else is awake. If Jeff could be immortal and pick an age to stop aging, he would choose 35. When he was 35 he had a high end Italian road bike that he easily reached 200 miles traveled a week. He was never in better shape and felt on top of the world, traveling at high speeds for long distances! Traveling by car is his preferred way to see the world. His superpower would be to fly, since he’s afraid of heights, perhaps flying with confidence would erase that fear!

Jack Bossert

Funeral Assistant

Jack finds the most enjoyable time of day to be the early morning. Watching the sun rise is enjoyable to him. Working at the funeral home is what occupies himself in retirement, if you can even call him retired. Jack never turns down work! Whether he is fixing and building things or volunteering in the community, Jack is constantly filling his time. His favorite part of working at the funeral home is getting to talk with all of the families, many of whom he personally knows. He considers himself friendly, honest, and loyal though his coworkers would say hard-working is his number one quality! Jack enjoys being a home with his family over traveling, though he and his wife, Pat, have been on some amazing trips, among his favorite was Alaska. If Jack could possess any superpower it would be to impart peace of earth, so that everyone could get along.

Bob Wolfe

Funeral Assistant

Bob has been a dedicated employee with FHN since 2018. Interacting with the families of our communities is what he finds most enjoyable about working at the funeral home. Spending time with his wife at home supersedes any kind of excitement travel could offer him. That’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy getting out because he’d love to learn how to fly an airplane. Honesty and dependability are two strong qualities that Bob exudes in all he does. If he could befriend anyone from history it would be General Patton because of his honesty, integrity, and was a Patriot. General Patton certainly possessed qualities that align with Bob’s life. If Bob could hand pick anyone to play at his funeral, he’d ask Elton John to play a song or two!

Brian Lee

Funeral Assistant

When asked the age old question, “is a hot dog a sandwich,” Brian answered “absolutely not” with resounding gusto. His favorite time of day is the evening, when he can relax at home after a busy day with his wife, Christine, and their three kids, Abbey, Avery, and Ethan. Brian considers himself to be more of a traveler than a homebody because exploring new places brings an added element of excitement to life. Of the places he’s ventured to, Hawaii is his favorite. Compassionate, loyal, and trustworthy are the most appropriate personality traits to describe Brian. He has been using those qualities to serve FHN families since 2017 and truly loves being there for a family during their time of loss while helping celebrate their loved one’s life. If Brian could have any person perform at his Celebration of Life Service, it would be Billy Joel!

Colleen Thomas

Hostess

If Colleen could trade places with any Disney character she would pick Goofy. He’s happy, silly, and doesn’t care if anyone thinks he is goofy! While Colleen may be a little bit more conscientious of what others think of her, her colleagues describe her as reliable, dependable, and trustworthy. All of which make her a versatile player at the funeral home, The Flower Shop, and FHN Insurance. When she was a young child she had aspirations of becoming a monkey (not joking) and when she got a bit older she shifted her desires to become a nurse. The superhero she admires the most is Wonder Woman, entirely for her characteristics, many of which mirror her own: compassionate, caring, stubborn, competitive, outgoing and immortal. If she could possess Wonder Woman’s ability to be immortal, she would choose to stop aging at 30 – at which point in her life she had matured, was physically fit, had lots of energy, and had plenty of time ahead to focus on goals. When she’s not working, she is focusing her energy on her wonderful family: husband, Buddy, two sons, and three grandsons. If Colleen could ask any musician to perform at her Celebration of Life service, she would ask Keith Urban!

Debbie Dean

Hostess

Debbie Dean has been helping her communities in various roles at the funeral home since 2013. She finds that trying to make people feel a little more at ease with death and dying to be one of the most rewarding experiences she has come across. Her coworkers describer her as incredibly outgoing and easy going to she has a natural talent for connecting with people. As a child, Debbie wanted to be a clown and go to clown school. While she may not have pursued that goal, many would describe her as the life of the party. Her favorite time of day is around dinner – it’s the only time she feels the most relaxed. At her core, Debbie describes herself as a traveler. Visiting new places and experiencing different foods is the highlight of travelling for her. Of everywhere she’s ventured, London has been her favorite. If Debbie could ask any performer to play at her funeral, keeping consistent with her love for the UK, she’d want Elton John to play!

Jane Young

Hostess

Jane loves to travel the world and experience different cultures. Australia and New Zealand were her favorite destinations but there were plenty of other places close behind. The best part of working at FHN in Jane’s opinion is being able to interact with many people in various situations. She loves having the opportunity to be of service to people who need compassion and empathy as well as assisting in making a difficult situation a little easier. She describes herself as a caring, friendly, approachable and conscientious person which is why both her coworkers and client families love working with her so much! If she could possess any superpower it would be to foresee the future. Knowing what was about to happen before it occurred seems like an intriguing way to live life and make decisions. At Jane’s funeral, she would be happy if any of the three played at her service: Barbara Streisand, Elton John, or Josh Groban! No need to be picky!

Penny Reynolds

Hostess

Penny has been working with the families of FHN since 2015. She is quiet, loyal, and friendly all of which are valuable assets to the FHN communities. If Penny could trade places with any Disney Heroine, she would pick Anna from Frozen. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that she fancies herself as a traveler with her favorite spot being Yellowstone in the winter. It may not be Scandinavia, but it sure is cold and snowy! Penny’s favorite time of day is the morning, specifically the morning when she can watch the sunrise at the beach. Between the beach and the mountains, it’s obvious that Penny loves the adventures and experiences that come with traveling. If Penny could be friends with anyone from history to be her friend, she’d pick Amelia Earhart because of her fearless and adventurous spirit.

Robby Faulkner

Funeral Assistant

Robby is best described by his coworkers as honest, humble, and grateful. He brings an energetic yet calming environment to whatever service he’s working, regardless of what is going on in his life. His favorite part of his role with FHN is being able to meet new people in his community while also contributing to the team atmosphere at our Easton location. Robby considers himself a traveler over a homebody. His favorite part of traveling is meeting new people. This should come as no surprise, though, as Robby’s outgoing personality follows him wherever he goes. Of everywhere he’s been, Aruba is his favorite spot. Sunrises and the quiet mornings that follow are Robby’s favorite time of day because it’s when he has the most energy with the clearest mind. If Robby could ask anyone to perform at his funeral, it would be the soulful voices of the Temptations. Their upbeat tunes certainly exemplify Robby’s life!

Sue Gick

Hostess

Sue Gick prefers to start her day in the early morning with a delicious cup of coffee while catching up on what’s happening in the world. Staying informed in the world’s events enhances her travel-minded spirit. Of all of the places she has ventured, the beaches of Hawaii were probably at the top of her list. If Sue could befriend anyone from history it would be Mother Theresa because she was incredibly kind and loved all of humanity. Sue is a part time employee who brings her positive presence to every visitation and service she works. She is a quiet soul with such graciousness that all who encounter her leave feeling at ease. If Sue could have any superpower, it would be to give the human race peace of mine because she feels like too many people carry excessive stress these days. The ideal age Sue would could to remain forever if she could be immortal would be 50 – she was wiser then but had less wrinkles!

Todd McGinnis

Funeral Assistant

Todd has been loyally serving FHN families since 2015. As a kid he had his aspirations set on becoming a firefighter, and staying true to his goals he continues to serve his communities to this day. Acting as a servant in emergency services, a funeral assistant, and a minister, Todd strives to put his best foot forward in life by helping others. When asked who from history could be his imaginary friend, he effortlessly said “Jesus, who better to be there for you in every step of life, to guide you the right way.” He’s a traveler over homebody. Traveling with his wife and kids brings much comfort. He enjoys being on the go and seeing God’s great, big beautiful landscapes in new places. Of everywhere he has traveled, Montana is by far his favorite. When asked the age old question “Is a hot dog a sandwich,” Todd answered “if it’s on bread, yes; but I prefer them well done, hot off the grill on a fork, so no.”

Kalyn McQuay

Flower Shop Manager and Floral Designer

Kalyn has been fearlessly leading The Flower Shop since 2012. If she could possess any superpower it would be to have super speed – there are never enough hours in the day! Her favorite part of her work is being surrounded by natural beauty all day long. An ideal day at work for her looks like a quiet shop where she can turn on her favorite jams, zone out, and design floral masterpieces that ultimately brighten others’ days! Her favorite time of day would specifically be Sunday morning. It’s when she can truly enjoy the company of her husband Mac, and two wildly wonderful sons, Cash and Lane. Kalyn considers herself more of a homebody than a traveler, but only because packing for the entire family is tiresome. Her favorite spot to visit is their annual family trip to Hatteras in the Outer Banks. It’s where all of her wonderful childhood memories were establish which brings much excitement to share with her own kids. When asked the age old question, “is a hot dog a sandwich?” Kalyn emphatically answered: “No! It’s in a league of its own!”

Marissa Strunk

Floral Designer

Marissa is a key player at The Flower Shop. It is here that she finds daily joy in creating beautiful and memorable floral arrangements for people by bringing comfort to them in their time of need or celebration. Beyond designing florals for funerals and memorials, she loves the creative expression she can use in providing flowers for other big life events, like weddings! If Marissa could learn a foreign language, it would be Italian. At which point she would travel to Italy, and likely never come home... Just kidding! Wishful thinking, but Marissa does describe herself as an adventurer who loves to travel. Jamaica tops her list of favorite places she’s visited. The beach at dusk brings her the greatest calming and relaxing peace of mind. Mulan is Marissa’s favorite Disney movie, and when asked if she would like to trade places with this Disney heroine, she answered, “No doubt! I’d love to trade places with a fearless warrior princess!”

Terry Cooper

Monument Technician

Terry is described by his coworkers as outgoing and helpful. Terry wears many hats on the FHN team, but is most recognized for his knowledge and ability with the team at Shore Memorials. Terry knows all about the technical side of monument creation and installation. He is well known throughout the Greensboro community and is willing to help anyone who crosses his path. If there is any language he could quickly learn, it would be Spanish. Being able to communicate more effectively with members of his community would be a benefit in his eyes. His favorite time of day is around 5 pm – it’s when the work comes to an end and relaxation is about to begin. Terry considers himself a traveler to a homebody. Seeing new things that aren’t part of his norm are exciting to him. Alaska is top place on his list that he’s visited. If Terry could ask any musical performer to play at this funeral, it would be The Beatles!

Mike Davey

Monument Technician

Mike is a dedicated member of the Shore Memorials team. His favorite part of what he does is being able to travel to a new part of the state each day, while installing personalized memorials for families the FHN team serves. It should come as no surprise that Mike enjoys travelling over staying in place at home. Of everywhere he has ventured, Budapest, Hungary is his favorite. There is still plenty of the US he would like to visit, though. The wide open spaces of the Midwest intrigue him. Three words to describe Mike are stubborn, sarcastic, and facetious. All of these qualities bring a bit of energy and adventure to his work outdoors with whichever Shore Memorials partner may be accompanying him that day. If Mike could request any famous musical group to perform at his Celebration of Life, he’d ask the Beach Boys to play a medley of upbeat songs!

Glenn Taylor

Funeral Assistant - In Memoriam

Mr. Glenn has been serving the Easton and surrounding communities since 2002. The best part of his job are the people. He loves socializing and comforting individuals when they need it the most. He considers himself a homebody over a traveler because he finds much happiness from the peace and quiet found in his yard. Six o’clock in the morning is his favorite time of day as it signals a fresh new start. If he could befriend any person from history he would pick Methuselah. When describing why, he said “he lived to be 969 years and lived a good and happy life!” When asked the “is a hot dog a sandwich,” he jokingly answered: “It’s a dog! Wrapped in bread!”

Willow the Woodle

Grief Therapy Dog

Our newest addition to the staff is Willow. She is a Whoodle, which is a mix between a soft coated Wheaten Terrier and a Poodle. Willow will be visiting our location periodically and serving as a grief therapy dog at our Chestertown region.

Brooke .

Grief Therapy Dog

Our newest Easton Funeral Home staff member who arrived in July 2022. This grief therapy dog is a Whoodle, which is a mix between a soft coated wheaten terrier and a poodle.

The name Brooke was submitted to us by Laurie Tawney. Her reason for this name was that it is the name of the road that the funeral home is located, which is "Brookletts Avenue." Laurie has won a $100 Visa gift card and a $250 donation will be made to Talbot Humane Society, in her name. Thank you to everyone that participated in our contest. We had so many great names to choose from! A special thank you to Holly at S'Wheaten Your Life Wheatens, Whoodles & Doodles Inc., we are over the moon with this sweet pup!