Meet Our Caring Team

Bob began his career in funeral service at age 17, washing cars at the local Mechanicsburg funeral home while attending Trinity High School. Following graduation, he studied at Harrisburg Area Community College. He went on to earn degrees in management and finance from Robert Morris University and in funeral service management from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Bob is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, a Certified Pre-Need Counselor, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, a Certified Crematory Operator, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, a life insurance and annuity agent, and a mortuary school adjunct faculty member. He is an ambassador and lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and is a member of the British Institute of Embalmers.

As an active volunteer, Bob enjoys membership in numerous funeral service and community organizations, where he has held leadership positions over the years. Bob serves as a Borough Councilperson and has been appointed to serve on various authorities and committees. With a passion for serving others, Bob enjoys speaking to different audiences, presenting programs both locally and across the country on a wide variety of funeral service, end-of-life, and business-related topics.

Bob has a little-known artsy side. He is an avid music lover who played trombone and sang for many years. He even named his beloved dog Jazzy. He has performed on various theater stages in a variety of roles over the years. Bob is also a Master Scuba Diver with well over 500 logged dives. He spends as much time as he can in, on, and around the water, which is where he is happiest. A fan of all things Disney, Bob has spent many hours at Disney World, enchanted by the “magic.”

Kirk’s hometown is McAlisterville, and he is a graduate of Lock Haven University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in health science. One of his courses at Lock Haven involved visiting a funeral home and planning his own funeral. After spending time with the funeral director there, he decided to offer his services on weekends and breaks from college. Two years later, Kirk decided funeral service was the right path for him, and he earned a degree from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Kirk joined the Buhrig team in 2018 with several years of funeral director and supervisor experience.

Kirk and his wife, Renee, have three children, Carter, Nate, and Maddy, and an English Springer Spaniel named Molly. In his spare time, Kirk enjoys coaching soccer, watching high school sports, and working around their 8-acre property. He stays active outdoors by hiking and hunting. Kirk is also a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and of BSA Troop 65.

Tiana, a Detroit, MI, native and one of nine children in her family, is a 2015 graduate of Wayne State University with a bachelor’s in mortuary science. As a traveling funeral director with ten years of experience, she is licensed in multiple states such as Michigan, Ohio, and, recently, Pennsylvania.

Working in funeral service was a childhood dream of Tiana’s. Then, with the loss of her brother shortly after starting out in her career, she initially questioned her path, but what she did not know was that loss would fuel her to excel in this career. The experience helped shape Tiana into the especially compassionate and empathetic funeral director she is. Tiana has a unique ability to connect with families and understand their needs.

Outside of work, Tiana is an avid reader. She values friends and family above all else and enjoys spending time with loved ones. She hosts many game nights and likes going out to eat. 

Bradley is from York and has bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management from Penn State. He is currently working toward a degree in funeral service and is honored to provide families with support during their most difficult times. He is also an Air Force veteran.

Bradley and his wife, Leah, have a daughter named Alora and two dogs named Campbell and Cashew. In his spare time, he enjoys playing board games, gardening, building things, going on walks, and raising ducks. Bradley attends McBIC Church, where he works with the youth and children’s

ministries.

Originally from Mechanicsburg, Missy has a Business Management Certification from Messiah College. She also has her Security Fraud Expert Certification from the Credit Union National Association and is a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Fraud Examiners. She spent 30 years working in the banking industry as a loan officer, accounts receivable associate, and fraud investigator. Missy chose this position with Buhrig because she wanted to be able to help families going through the difficult time of loss. 

Missy and her husband, Andrew, have one son, Ryan, and three grandchildren, Dylan, Payton, and Maddie Grace. Outside of work, Missy likes doing a variety of crafts, antique shopping, watching sports, spending time with her grandchildren, and going to her grandson’s football games. She also especially loves bluegrass music and concerts. Missy and Andrew enjoy traveling and have been visiting Maine for over 25 years. Missy is a member of the Mechanicsburg Volunteer Fire Department.

Originally from Camp Hill, Deborah has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a certified tax preparer. She was the accountant here at the funeral home for 8 years and spent 17 years prior to that as an accountant/office manager for the Visiting Nurse Association of Central PA. She also is the owner and operator of Eckels Ice Cream Fountain—a historic downtown business.

Deborah is married to her husband, William. She has three children, Jessica, Allysia, and Nicklas, and two grandchildren, Benjamin and Nathaniel. Deborah’s community involvement includes serving as the Downtown Mechanicsburg Partnership Treasurer and the Union Church Treasurer, as well as being a part of the Turning Point Church Ministry Team. Outside of work and volunteering, Deborah enjoys doing counted cross-stitch, camping, and baking.

George is from Harrisburg. He has a B.S. in Music Education and a Master of Divinity. George is also an Insight Certified Celebrant. He was ordained by the Churches of God and has served as a pastor since 1995. George is an advocate for and volunteer with Feed My Starving Children. He is also a family camp director at Camp Yolijwa. With a passion for serving others, George is honored to help care for those on the journey through grief.

George and his wife, Rebecca, have a daughter named Hannah, a son named Noah, and a cat named Dexter. Outside of work, George enjoys playing pickleball, reading, running, and watching and coaching baseball.

Deanna has a bachelor's degree in secondary education and French. She has a master’s in secondary administration and has a Principal’s Certificate, as well as certificates in English as a Second Language and French Language and Culture. Her father was a casket salesman and licensed funeral director, and she always knew she would return to funeral service in some capacity once she retired from teaching. 

With a passion for community service, Deanna enjoys involvement in several organizations, including the Order of Eastern Star, Order of Amaranth, Daughters of the Nile, and Lions Club. She has a daughter, Chantal, and two cats.

Karen is originally from Herndon and currently lives in Mechanicsburg. She spent two years studying accounting and worked as an Assistant Business Manager for Cumberland Valley School District for fifteen years. Karen considers it an honor to help provide comfort to those during their greatest time of need.

In her spare time, Karen likes reading, traveling, and being outdoors. She and her husband, Jerry, have two children and five grandchildren. They also enjoy watching their grandchildren play sports. 

Carol is a lifelong resident of Mechanicsburg. While attending Mechanicsburg Senior High School, she played basketball and field hockey and was a drum majorette. She also taught baton and participated in competitions. Carol previously worked as a school bus driver for Mechanicsburg School District and has been with Buhrig for over a decade.

With a passion for helping others, Carol enjoys working with the wonderful team members here at the funeral home who are so dedicated to taking care of the community. Carol’s high school sweetheart, Glenn, previously worked at the funeral home as well. Carol and Glenn have three children and were together 57 years before he passed away in 2018. They have seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Carol likes to quilt and crochet, and she sews for the funeral home.

Joanne was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in psychology. She also has a master’s in teaching and worked as a middle school teacher for 35 years. Joanne is always willing to learn something new and felt that this position with Buhrig would be a great way to utilize her skills in serving the community.

Joanne is a deacon at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church. She has a daughter named Madison and a Golden Retriever named Jordy. Outside of work, Joanne enjoys participating in water fitness classes, gardening, traveling with her daughter, agility training her dog, and attending Broadway shows. She is an avid Pittsburgh Pirates fan.

Elsa is originally from Peru. She is married to Russell Schwalm and enjoys traveling in her spare time.

Stu is from Mechanicsburg. He spent 43 years working in wholesale building supplies management. He attends Vibrant Church. Stu and his wife, Cathy, have a son named Ryan, a daughter named Nicole, and a dog named Tia.

Karl’s hometown is Sinking Spring. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and social studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Karl also earned a master’s in sports management and several related certifications. Karl spent 38 years in education, serving as a social studies teacher, varsity soccer coach, and athletic director. During that time, he received several professional awards.

Karl is Vice President of the Mechanicsburg Lions Club and attends Trindle Springs Lutheran Church Mechanicsburg, serving as an usher. In addition to exercising, he enjoys traveling. Karl lived in England and Germany as a child, and he has visited over 40 countries. 

Wende is from Reading, PA, and has an associate degree in education. She and her husband, Shane, have a dog named Bolink. Wende would describe herself as creative and kind. She is passionate about living a life of service. Outside of work, Wende enjoys painting and doing ceramics and paper mâché. She also likes camping, kayaking, and fishing.

Cody is originally from Enola. He earned high academic honors and served in leadership positions in FFA and Builder’s Club during his time at East Pennsboro Area School District. He has experience working in customer service. Cody is also a volunteer firefighter. He has medical tech, firefighter, and water search and rescue certifications. As a very caring individual, Cody chose this position to help the community and provide support to families during such a difficult time. 

Cody’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. His favorite activity in the summer is going trap shooting. Cody has one cat named Frankie.

Mary Beth is from Mechanicsburg. She has an associate degree in legal studies and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a talented artist, Mary Beth has exhibited and sold her paintings in fine art galleries and public spaces across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. She created an organization called the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania, which included approximately 50 juried fine artists and had many followers of their online blog. The group also exhibited for five consecutive years in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda and owned a gallery on Main Street in Mechanicsburg for three years. At the funeral home, Mary Beth enjoys using her artistic background to help families create a memorial to honor loved ones.

In her spare time, Mary Beth enjoys traveling, bird watching, kayaking, and listening to live music. She has participated in Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, and Camp Hill downtown revitalization/economic development organizations and is a past board member of the Downtown Mechanicsburg Partnership. Mary Beth and her husband, Phillip, have four boys, Peter, John, Matt, and Andy, and a black Pomeranian named Simon.

Christina is from the Mechanicsburg/Duncannon area and graduated from Cumberland Valley High School. She spent nearly 25 years at the Boy Scouts of America Scout Shop in Mechanicsburg and is currently working with the Boys Scouts of America New Birth of Freedom Council. She is honored to help care for families here at the funeral home.

Christina and her husband, Norman, have two children, Christopher and Samantha, and three grandchildren, Chantal, Gabrielle, and Draven. They love spending time with all of them. Christina also enjoys roller skating and collecting angels and foxes.

Gary is from Summerdale and was part of the first graduating class from Harrisburg High. He has been self-employed as the owner of Munchies Market in Harrisburg and Main Street Market in Bressler. Gary and his wife, Connie, have two children and four grandchildren. Outside of work, he enjoys gardening, fishing, and hunting.

Noah graduated from Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School and is looking to pursue music education. Noah’s father, George, also works at Buhrig as a Celebrant. His mother works at the high school and his sister is currently pursuing an apprenticeship in theater. Noah chose this position because of the great opportunity to learn a variety of skills, particularly how to help support others during difficult times. 

As an amateur disc golfer, Noah enjoys playing for fun but also competes in tournaments. He is a jazz saxophonist with his own quartet. Noah also attends Turning Point Church of Mechanicsburg, where his father is the pastor. He has an orange cat named Dexter.

Marie is from the village of Allen. She has worked at Giant Foods Store. Marie chose this role because she enjoys being involved with the public, meeting new people, and helping others however she can.

Outside of work, Marie is a member of the Lions Club and is President of the Auxiliary to the Mechanicsburg Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6704. She has three sons and a German Shepherd.

From Mechanicsburg, Patti has a bachelor's degree from Grove City College and a master’s degree from Temple University. She is a licensed social worker and has certification as a Grief Specialist. Patti has seventeen years of experience working in hospice care, the last ten of which were in management. She currently owns Timeless Connections, a life coaching and counseling practice specializing in grief and loss, depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. 

Patti and her husband, Brian, have a son named Ben, a daughter-in-law named Brittany, and a dog named Chaz. Patti and Brian’s son, Nick, died in an accident in 2017. Their positive experience with Buhrig during such a tragic time eventually led Patti down the path of becoming a Celebrant. She is honored to be a part of a team that goes above and beyond in supporting families during a time of loss.

Outside of work, Patti enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, playing piano, reading, and writing. She is on the Cumberland County Aging Advisory Board and is a member of First United Methodist Church, serving on various committees.