Pre-Arrangement Staff
When you decide to make your funeral arrangements in advance we have Family Services Counselors to guide you through that process. These are highly trained, licensed professionals, people who know the benefits of prearranging. We have pre-planning counselors in Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Karin Angius
Director of Pre-Arrangement/ Funeral Planning
Karin Johnson Angius has been inducted into the highly prestigious Circle of Excellence in 1996 and 1998, an award presented to only 55 eligible counselors since 1990 by Forethought Life, Batesville, IN. Angius earned this honor in her role as a pre-arrangement counselor for the Altmeyer Funeral Home. Forethought Life is the largest pre-arrangement funeral insurance provider in the world. Altmeyer Funeral Home has the most active pre-arrangement program in the State of West Virginia.
Mrs. Angius, a Pittsburgh business graduate, began with the Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory in 1991. In 1993 she joined the Family Services Division of Altmeyer Funeral Home. Jim Altmeyer says, "I'm very proud of Karin's accomplishments and am pleased to have her representing our funeral home. Karin is excellent in helping people make difficult decisions about their arrangements in advance. Mrs. Angius, who is married to John Angius, says, "I just love coming to work. I believe we can help families in a way no one else can. It is truly a labor of love when I work with a family." Angius' close work with families who have experienced the death of a loved one has given her an understanding of the real benefits of prearranging one's funeral.
OHIO STAFF
Tess Vees-Morando
Pre-Arrangement Specialist
Tess is a Family Services Counselor for the Bauknecht-Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory in Bellaire, Powhatan and Shadyside, Ohio and also for the Beck-Altmeyer Funeral Home & Crematory in St. Clairsville, Ohio. A native of the Elm Grove area, Tess has been associated with the Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory since 1994. Among her achievements as a Family Services Counselor, Tess has been awarded the 500 Club Pursuit of Excellence Award from Forethought Life, the industry leader in pre-planned funeral financing.
According to Jim Altmeyer, Sr., "Tess is an excellent addition to our Family Service Division, and she possesses the compassion and knowledge to be a great comfort to the family we serve. I am extremely proud to have Tess as a member of our professional staff."
Tess and her husband Tom live in the Wheeling area with their two sons, and are very active members of their church and community.
"Helping families make decisions with pre-planning gives me great satisfaction. I know we offer our families the peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of in advance. This is truly a valuable gift that a person can give to their loved ones," Tess stated.
VIRGINIA STAFF
J. Tracy Bradshaw
Pre-Arrangement Specialist
J. Tracy Bradshaw, funeral director, started at the Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory in December 2000. Tracy was the manager of a local funeral home for two years before joining the Altmeyer Staff. Tracy has been in the funeral service profession for 11 years and is also an associate pastor with the Family Worship Center in Chesapeake, VA.
Tracy attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur, Georgia where he served as the chaplain of the PI SIGMA ETA funeral directors fraternity and graduated in March 1994 with honors.
Tracy was born in Norfolk, VA. and resides in Chesapeake with his wife, April, and their son, Joshua.
Chris Sisler
Pre-Arrangement Specialist
Chris Sisler, a Virginia Licensed Funeral Director, joined the Altmeyer Funeral Homes in December of 2002. A native of Hampton Roads, Chris brings to the organization over 8 years of experience, and was a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science.
Raised in Virginia Beach, Chris now resides in Norfolk with his wife, Lisa, and their two children Joshua and Blake. Chris and his family attend the Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk.
WEST VIRGINIA STAFF
Mary Ellen Rich
Pre-Arrangement Specialist
Mary Ellen serves as Family Services Counselor for the Altmeyer Funeral Home in Moundsville and McMechen, WV. A life long resident of the Moundsville area, she is the daughter of Jack and Mary McKee. She graduated from John Marshall High School and West Liberty State College. She stays very active as the mother of 3 children, as well as serving others in her church and community.
She says, "It is my privilege to assist families with difficult decisions. It gives me great pleasure to help people plan ahead and relieve their loved ones of the emotional burden of arranging a funeral during what would be a highly stressful time."
Mary Ellen served as a substitute teacher in the Marshall County School System before beginning her career with the Altmeyer Funeral Home in 1994. She joined the Family Services Division in 1996. Jim Altmeyer says, "I am so pleased that Mary Ellen has joined our Family Services Division. For the past four years she has helped so many of the area families in a compassionate and empathetic manner."
Frank Johnson
Pre-Arrangement Specialist
Frank is a 1983 graduate of Brooke High School and a graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology Columbus, OH. During his career in the hospitality industry, the sudden loss of his father brought him to the Altmeyer Family in 1996. He has been serving families in the Northern Ohio Valley with advanced funeral planning prior to his transfer to the Wheeling area in 2005.
He has attended several seminars on advanced funeral planning and was awarded the prestigious 900-club pursuit of excellence presented by Forethought Life Ins. Co. in 2000.
The former Beech Bottom native has two children, Kayla and Kyle.
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