We have made this page to introduce our caring team of people that will be working with you and your family. Driven by a passion to serve families, our team is comprised of compassionate and dedicated people who are always willing to go above and beyond to support each family during a difficult time.

Click on the pictures to find out more about our team.

Gina DeSana

John S. Molnar
Licensed Funeral Director | Owner

John has been involved with operating the John Molnar Funeral Homes as President since 1969. John's leadership qualities have served him well as 1969 Class President of Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science, former President of the Delwood Kiwanis Club, past officer and member of the Southgate Knights of Columbus, and Past President of The Hungarian Heritage Club. Civically, John has served as Chairman of the Southgate Public Safety Commission, and he is also a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Southgate. John acknowledges his success in business would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment of his wife, Helen. They have one daughter, Angela, who has proudly continued the Molnar tradition of being a licensed funeral director. John and Helen have entered into semi-retirement but he still continues to be a fixture within the funeral homes. In their free time, John and Helen enjoy spending time with their family and traveling.

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Angela M. Molnar-Ferguson
Licensed Funeral Director | Owner
Angela@molnarfuneralhome.com

Angela graduated from Wayne State University in the fall of 1993 as the Vice President of her Mortuary Science Class. After graduation, she began to assist her father in operating the John Molnar Funeral Homes. Today, Angela runs the day to day operation of the funeral home. Community service is also an important part of her life. She is a member of Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church, and has been a past board member of the Brownstown Downtown Development Authority, and was the past secretary, past president, and charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Brownstown. When she is not hard at work, Angela enjoys spending time with her family and visiting her parents in Florida. With the acquisition of the Nixon and Thon Funeral Homes in 2016, Angela has been intimately involved with making the funeral homes operate as efficiently as possible. She has never been so humbled and proud to work with such an amazing group of people who truly enjoy what they do. Angela is known to be the driving force to keep the funeral home up to date (a quality she definitely inherited from her father.)  Angela loves continuing the Molnar family tradition by being able to work with an amazing staff to care for all the families the Molnar Funeral Homes serve.  

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Larry A. Ferguson
Licensed Funeral Director
Larry@molnarfuneralhome.com

Larry joined the funeral home after graduating from high school. He soon enrolled in to the Mortuary Science Program at Wayne State University. After receiving his degree in the fall of 1997, he became involved in the daily operations of the John Molnar Funeral Home. Larry is a member of the Brownstown Downtown Development Authority, Knights of Columbus – Trenton Chapter, and a past member of the Woodhaven - Brownstown Kiwanis Club and the Downriver and Detroit Business Association. He is an active member and usher at Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church. Larry and his wife Angela have four daughters. Larry is known for being able to multi-task and he assists in overseeing many aspects of the funeral home alongside his wife. With the acquisition of the Nixon and Thon funeral homes, he has been an asset with assisting his father-in-law with the renovations that have been done, as well as still continuing to see families and maintaining all four of the funeral homes. Larry is known for his patience and always willing to help anyone in need. He has enjoyed working for the Molnar family because for him, it truly is a family environment. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, or just relaxing around his home.

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Peter L. Heggie
Licensed Funeral Director
Pete@molnarfuneralhome.com

Pete was born and raised in Southgate where he graduated from Southgate High School in 1977. After completing high school, he went on to Wayne State University and obtained his degree in Mortuary Science in 1981. He began his career with the Molnar’s in January of 1990 and now serves as the General Manager, as well as a Licensed Funeral Director. Pete currently lives in Riverview with his wife, Cindy. They have been happily married for over 30 years. They had two daughters – Amanda, who passed in 2013, and Katie. Outside of being a Funeral Director, Pete is involved with the Southgate Kiwanis Club where he has served as Secretary for 25 years. He is a past board member of Southgate Parks and Recreation Commission. Other roles he currently holds include being a current member of the Southgate TIFA board, and a member of Saint Pius X Catholic Church, where he has served on the finance board, and as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. On his days off, Pete loves nothing more than enjoying quiet time with his wife and trying new restaurants. His favorite activity with his family is to go on cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. Pete is best known for always trying to be there to support others when they need him. He enjoys being a part of the Molnar Team because all of the employees are treated as family and he couldn’t ask for a better working relationship and environment. “Every employee’s opinion counts and everyone works together as a team.”

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Michael D. Mientkiewicz
Licensed Funeral Director
MikeM@MolnarFuneralHome.com

Mike, wanting the opportunity to help families in need; whether that was through offering guidance, ideas or helping them to remember their loved one, attended Wayne State University where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science in 1992. He is a lifelong resident of Taylor, and is a member of the Taylor Rotary as well as St. Constance Catholic Church. Mike has been married to his wife, Tonia, for 9 years. He has two kids -- Katie, and Adam. He also has two step children named Cody and David. His favorite things to do with his family is traveling, going to the movies, and going out to dinner. While not at work, Mike enjoys chasing a golf ball around a course. When on vacation, he loves to go on cruises, visit Disney or historical towns. His best friend would say his best quality is his sense of humor and ability to fit in. He enjoys being a part of the Molnar Team because of the feeling of family.

Christopher T. Stieler
Licensed Funeral Director
Chris@MolnarFuneralHome.com

Christopher was born to Thomas and Pansy (Thon) and raised in Wyandotte. In 1973, he graduated from Roosevelt High School. His passion for mortuary science began as early as the 7th grade, when he developed an interest in his great-great grandfather John F.W. Thon, who was the founder of the funeral home in 1857. It was in 1972 that Chris began to work for the funeral home. He went on to attend Wayne State University and graduated from the Department of Mortuary Science in 1980.  Additionally, Chris was a certified eye enucleator through the Wayne State School of Medicine and held this position in the 1980’s-1990’s where he helped many people who suffered from eye problems and diseases. For the past 20+ years, he has served on the District 1 Board of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. He is also a member of the Trenton/Wyandotte Masonic Lodge and Christ the King Lutheran Church in Southgate.  Chris serves on the Board of the Wyandotte Historical Society. In the late 1980-1990’s he served on the Wyandotte Historical Commision. He enjoys working with wood and building furniture. Back in his youth, he found a passion and talent for painting with oil and water colors. Chris currently resides in Southgate with his wife, Melanie. He has 2 children, Melissa and Kevin, and 6 grandchildren. In 2016 the Donald Burd Family sold the Nixon and Thon Funeral home to the Molnar Funeral Home. Proudly he was asked to stay on with the Molnar family as a Funeral Director. Like the Burd family, he feels the Molnar family will continue to lead the funeral homes into the future. He has always been proud to work with both families.

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Michael J. Raudio
Licensed Funeral Director
Mike@molnarfuneralhome.com

Mike graduated from John Glenn High School in 1980 and while attending high school held a part-time job with a funeral home. It was at this job that Mike first became interested in making it into a lifelong career. After graduation, he went on to Wayne State University where he obtained his degree in Mortuary Science in 1984. It was in 1998 that Mike joined the Molnar Team.  He was born in Detroit but grew up in Westland. Currently Mike resides in Brownstown with his wife Kristine. They have been married for over 25 years and have a daughter named Lori. In addition to being a Funeral Director, Mike is an active member of the Woodhaven Kiwanis Club, Saint John’s Lutheran Church of Waltz and is a part of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. In the past, he was the president of District 2 Michigan Funeral Directors Association, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Wayne, and a past board member of the Brownstown Downtown Development Authority. During his free time, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, reading and watching movies. His ideal vacations are to the Upper Peninsula, the Northern Lower Peninsula, and Nashville, Tennessee. Some of his talents include drawing and writing. Mike is best known for his patience. He enjoys being a part of the Molnar team because “everyone supports each other in order to provide the best service possible to the families we serve.”

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Adrienne M. Marcath
Licensed Funeral Director
Adrienne@molnarfuneralhome.com

Adrienne grew up in Southgate where she graduated from Southgate Anderson. Afterwards, she attended Wayne State University and obtained her degree in Mortuary Science in 1999. She joined the Nixon Chapel that very same year. In addition to being a Funeral Director, Adrienne is also the Treasurer of the Wyandotte 1000 Kiwanis Club. She currently resides in Dearborn with her husband, Jason, whom she has been married to for over 5 years. Adrienne loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with her family going on walks, hiking and camping. On her days off, you can find her gardening, doing house work or visiting family and friends. Her ideal vacation spot is anywhere Up North but her favorite vacation took place in Alaska. Adrienne is best known for being a good listener, having a caring heart and also a great sense of humor. She enjoys being a part of the Molnar team because she is able to work with a group of sincere and compassionate people who all have the same goal of offering funeral services that are professional and respectful.

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Deborah L. Schoen
Licensed Funeral Director
Debbie@molnarfuneralhome.com

Debbie was born and raised in Detroit, but lived in Denver, Colorado for many years before ultimately returning to her hometown. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcasting from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But it was her passion to serve people that inspired her to further her education and change career paths, so she attended Arapahoe Community College where she obtained a degree in Mortuary Science. Being committed to excel as a funeral director, she was involved in continuing education opportunities which included membership in the Denver Metro Funeral Directors Association where she served for two terms as the elected president in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, she was a Certified Mortuary Science Practitioner with the State of Colorado. Upon returning to Metro Detroit, Debbie obtained her Michigan Funeral Director’s license.  While not hard at work, Debbie is involved with her church, Brightmoor Christian Church in Novi participating in women’s Bible studies and “Temple Keepers.” She has one fur baby, a kitty named Gretchen Brooke, who will be 20 years old this year! Some of her favorite things to do with her family are going out to eat, watching movies, playing games and completing puzzles. In Debbie’s free time, she can be found getting together with friends, Bible study, receiving massages or shopping. Her ideal vacation spot is anywhere tropical where she can relax on the beach or by the pool, and SCUBA dive; although she also enjoys skiing in the Rockies. Debbie is a talented singer and her friends would best describe her as caring, compassionate and encouraging. She enjoys being a part of the Molnar Team because she is able to use her strengths to serve families.

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Amy E. Buhay
Licensed Funeral Director
Amy@MolnarFuneralHome.com

Amy grew up in the Rockwood area and attended Carlson High School. After experiencing the consecutive loss of 3 grandparents, Amy had a strong desire to help grieving families navigate through one of the most difficult and vulnerable times they will ever experience. It was this strong desire to help that led her to attend Wayne State University where she studied Mortuary Science. Amy currently resides in Lincoln Park with her husband, Dennis. They have been married since 2014 and together had two daughters -- Beatrice whom was born in 2016, and Alexis who was born in 2018 but sadly passed away at 3 months old. Outside of work, Amy is actively involved with the Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit. She and her family are huge baseball fans so her favorite thing to do with family is take road trips to visit MLB stadiums, explore the city and seek out local breweries. Their goal is to visit every ballpark. Additionally, they enjoy going on walks in the park or just having a quiet day at home relaxing. On her days off, Amy can be found spending time with family and friends, attending play dates with Beatrice, grocery shop (one of Bea’s favorite things to do) or kayaking. While on vacation, she and her family enjoy visiting their friends in Southern California, Colorado and Wisconsin. They also love to go Up North. A talent that Amy is known for is being a great cook -- in particular, she makes great soups. Her best friends would say that her best quality is her sense of humor, laugh and quick wit. When asked why she enjoys being a part of the Molnar Team, she says “I enjoy being a part of a great group of people who all work together to make sure that the families we serve are receiving professional, compassionate service in their time of need.”

Troy D. Shaffer
Licensed Funeral Director

Troy is originally from Traverse City, Michigan and has worked in the funeral industry since 2005. With his drive to help people, he attended Wayne State University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science in 2009. While attending school, he was asked by a professor to become an Embalming Team Leader, where he assisted class groups in the embalming lab. Troy currently resides in Riverview with his wife, Renee and his 3 year old son, Griffin. He is involved with the Freemason’s as a Master Mason. During his free time, he enjoys doing home projects, playing music, watching movies, traveling, and spending time outdoors with his family. His favorite place to take a vacation is Mexico. Troy is also a talented musician and plays the drums. What we like most about Troy is his great sense of humor. Troy likes being a part of the Molnar team because he likes working for the best!

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Dane B. Galvin
Pre-Need Specialist | Aftercare Specialist
Licensed Funeral Director
​PreNeed@molnarfuneralhome.com

Dane started working in funeral service as a Director’s Assistant near his hometown of Saint Clair. From a very young age, he knew that he wanted to be in this line of work and it became a dream of his. With this dream, Dane attended Wayne State University and earned his degree in Mortuary Science in 2015. As a pre-need specialist, he has a passion for educating families about the importance of advanced planning. He currently resides in Ann Arbor with his girlfriend Maddy and mini potbelly pig named Kevin Bacon. Dane’s favorite things to do in his free time is being with family, any activity on the water, or traveling to new places. Dane is known for his kindness and compassion towards his families and co-workers. He enjoys being a part of the Molnar team because “I have never met a group of people that are so dedicated to their jobs.”

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Kevin Snyder
Family Coordinator 

Kevin grew up in Toledo, Ohio. After High School, he pursued a degree in Law Enforcement and Marketing at University of Toledo. He currently resides in Sylvania, Ohio with his wife, Sharon. They have been married for over 30 years and have two children together – Jessica and Eric. He is a grandfather to Hudson, Elaina and has a third grandchild due in August. Outside of work, he is an infield and hitting coach for the Whitmer High School softball team in Toledo. On Kevin’s days off, he is most likely to be found with his grandkids, coaching softball, playing golf or watching Ohio State Football. His favorite place to travel is anywhere tropical and he and his family have enjoyed Cabo and Aruba the most. Kevin has the ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds and is best known for his dedication and being reliable. When asked why he likes being a part of the Molnar Team he says, “The people that are a part of the team are second to none.  They are dedicated and willing to work together to accomplish tasks.”

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Renee M. Palermo
Director of Personnel
Renee@molnarfuneralhome.com

Born in Connecticut, Renee moved to Michigan when she was about 2, she has lived in beautiful Michigan ever since. Renee went to college at Monroe County Community College where she studied Electronic Office Technologies and graduated in 1997. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 21 years, Chris and her two teenage girls. Her favorite things to do is have family game night and hang out near the pool. When she is not at work she catches up on some reading and attends her kids activities she also loves to vacation in new places and go to Disney. Renee is involved in her daughters gymnastic boosters and Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church. The Molnar team is proud to have such a caring and compassionate person who always tries to see the best in situations. “I like the work environment at Molnar Funeral Homes, I think of the Molnar team as an extension of my family. It is so rewarding helping families in need and working with such wonderful people.”

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Jo Anne Coopland
Administrative Assistant
JoAnne@molnarfuneralhome.com

Jo Anne grew up in Garden City. Having a love for science, she attended Schoolcraft College where she studied it and graduated in 2012. She wears many hats and is active in several different organizations. She is the planner, facilitator and leader of a group affectionately known as P.M.S. (Prayer Mug Swap), she is a Care Leader for Victorious Women’s studies for Northridge Church Care Team, and she is a New Member Officer at the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC). Jo Anne currently resides in Grosse Ile with her husband. They have been married for 6 years and together make up a blended family that consists of 7 children. Having game night with tons of board games and food with her family is her favorite! On her days off, Jo Anne enjoys fishing, kayaking, traveling and playing euchre. When on vacation, she likes to travel to places she has never been before. Currently, Maui and Alaska are tied for her favorite. Jo Anne loves people and is best known for her love for the Lord, her family and her friends. Jo Anne is best known to always be there when you need her with a positive attitude. To her, being a part of the Molnar team is enjoyable because everyone helps and she has never heard a co-worker say, “That’s not my job.”

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Jennifer St. Charles
Creative Director
Jenn@molnarfuneralhome.com

Jenn grew up in Gibraltar and currently resides in Flat Rock. While still in High School, she fell in love with art and the idea of making someone’s thought or idea come to life for others to see. This passion for art led her to pursue a degree at Spring Arbor University where she studied art with a concentration in Graphic Design and a minor in advertising. While attending college, she was the Relay for Life advertising chair. In 2013, she earned her degree. Outside of work, Jenn is a part of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) as well as the Girl’s Ministry Coordinator at Wyandotte Family Church. Although she doesn’t have any kids of her own, Jenn is very close to her niece who tells her that she is one of her parents. Her favorite thing to do with her family is go on vacation, hang out at barbeques and play games. Speaking of vacations, her favorite place that she has visited is Greece but she is planning on going to many other places in the future. She also loves to visit Southern California for the beaches. Jenn is an incredibly talented designer. She is known for caring deeply and always being honest. When asked what she likes best about being a part of the Molnar team, she says “The people I work with are great, talented and really care about each other and their jobs.”

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Sarah Schultz
Graphic Designer
Graphics@molnarfuneralhome.com

Sarah grew up in Garden City and Belleville. She went to college first at Sanford-Brown to study Veterinary Technology and after earning her associates degree, she decided that she wasn’t finished and attended Full Sail University for her Bachelors in Graphic Design. She currently resides in Taylor with her cat Kahlua, dog Keiani, fiance David and two sugar gliders. On her days off, Sarah loves to hang out with her furbabies, draw, play video games and read. Her favorite place to vacation is Alaska. We love having Sarah as a part of our Graphic Design team. She has a big heart and a great sense of humor. Sarah likes being a member of our team because “we feel more like a family than just a team.”

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Timothy Merkel
Graphic Designer
Graphics@molnarfuneralhome.com

Tim attended Central Michigan University where he majored in 2D design and minored in media design, production and technology. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2016. In order to strengthen his skills in his area of study, he was a part of a print club where he did printmaking. Tim grew up and currently resides in Plymouth. He is actively involved with his church, Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, where he sets up the audio and video for masses and other various events. Additionally, he is a part of a basketball group that plays every Wednesday night. When he isn’t working, he enjoys playing video games, golfing and partaking in woodworking. Tim’s favorite thing to do with family is going to Buffalo to visit his grandma and cousins or going to family reunions to see extended family. To him, the best place to vacation is Charleston/Folly Beach in South Carolina. Tim is talented in that he is mechanically inclined and he enjoys working with his hands on cars or woodworking. He likes being a part of the Molnar Team because of the great people that work here.

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Gina DeSana
Secretary

Gina graduated from Schafer High School in 1982. She grew up in Southgate and currently resides in Wyandotte with her husband. She has two children – Brent, 26, and Rachel, 24. During her free time, Gina enjoys sitting on her porch to unwind. Having an affinity for travel, she is up for a vacation to just about anywhere and her favorite family activity is to go camping. Gina is a good listener and supportive. She likes being a part of the Molnar team because she finds it a very enjoyable place to work.

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Former Owners