Our Staff

WAYNE T. BROPHY

Owner/Funeral Director

Wayne has been practicing as a licensed funeral director for over 30 years.  A 1987 graduate of Utica College of Syracuse University and a 1988 graduate of the Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Wayne holds a degree in business administration and a diploma in mortuary science.  Wayne is married to Darcy.   Together they have three children; Matt is attending Rocky Vista School of Osteopathic Medicine in Ivins, Utah; Alex is a musician and works for Guitar Center; and Mary is studying Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. Wayne is on the board with the Pines of Peace Comfort Care Home. 

Telephone: 1-315-524-4621

Email: 

ERIC VAN ZEILEN

Owner/Funeral Director

Eric has been a licensed funeral director since 2008 and earned the distinction of Funeral Service Celebrant in June of 2017.   A graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School in 2002, where he played football and helped start the rugby club. Eric attended Lemoyne College in Syracuse, earning at B.A. in Psychology, where he also played rugby.  While attending Lemoyne, Eric was inspired to study mortuary science and pursue a career in funeral service.  He attended Simmons Institute where he obtained a Mortuary Science degree in 2007.  In 2011, Eric married Amanda and together they have twin children, Emma and Ford and daughter Allie. Outside of work, Eric belongs to the Palmyra-Macedon Rotary Club, is on the board with the Palmyra Community Center and is past President of the Rochester Genesee Valley Funeral Directors Association.  When he is not working, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, children and friends.  He also enjoys watching and studying movies, watching football, baseball and playing golf.

Telephone: 1-315-524-4621

Email: 

ROBERT RASMUSSEN

Funeral Director/Licensed Manager of Ontario Chapel

Robert "Bob" Rasmussen is a 3rd generation funeral director.  Bob grew up in Sullivan County and graduated from Narrowsburg High School, attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and is a graduate of the Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY.  Bob holds a license in both the State of NY and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Bob is the former licensed manager of his families funeral home in Barryville, NY, the former Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home.  Bob, and his wife Helen, moved to the Rochester area to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.  Bob's daughter, Melissa, is also a licensed funeral director and graduated from Simmons with the late Michael P. Murphy.

STEPHEN G. MURPHY

Former Owner/Funeral Director

1942-2017

Stephen (Steve) was licensed as a  funeral director in 1964.  He served his country as a member of the United States Army.  Steve graduated from Wayne Central High School and the Simmons School of Mortuary Science.  He completed his residency in Queens, NY and returned home to work along side his father Del.  Steve continued to be a part of our operations until his passing on January 30, 2017.  He was a great visionary and had helped develop Finger Lakes Cremation LLC with Wayne and Eric, prior to his death, into one of the leading funeral establishments in Wayne County.  

MICHAEL PATRICK MURPHY

Owner/Funeral Director

1970-2012 

Michael (Mike) Murphy was a third generation funeral director.  Sadly, Mike passed away, in 2012, at the young age of 41.  Mike was married to Kris and together they had two boys; Colin and Shaun.  Mike was a graduate of Wayne Central High School and Simmons Institute of Funeral Service.  He was an active member of the Select Independent Funeral Directors Association, The National Funeral Directors Association, the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the Genesee Valley Funeral Directors Association.  Mike was involved in numerous local civic organizations.  He was a Paul Harris Fellow. 

DAWN MEHSERLE

Office Administration

Dawn began her career in the funeral industry back in 1996.  Previously, she had been employed within the financial industry.  Dawn oversees the day to day business operations of the funeral home.  She also oversees the monument needs for the families we serve; assisting in the selection of a  monument, securing  needed inscription work on existing monuments and veterans monuments.Dawn is a graduate of Maple Grove  Junior, and Senior High School in Bemus Point (Chautaugua County), NY.  Dawn attended Jamestown Community College, Jamestown, NY and is a graduate of the Wilma Boyd Career School, Pittsburgh, PA where she earned a certificate in Travel Planning and Airline Hostessing.  Dawn has been married to her husband Eric since 1974. Together, they moved to the Rochester area in 1975 and established their home.  As the daughter of a Methodist minister, Dawn always new she wanted to work in a field where she could help others. Dawn enjoys spending time with family and friends.  She  sings in her church choir and also plays in the bell choir.  Dawn enjoys reading.

Email: 

RICHARD MURPHY

Funeral Assistant

Richard " Dick" Murphy

  Dick is married to Shirley who was raised in Brockport, NY and was a teacher in the Wayne Central School district.  They have two sons and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and the people in their community.  Dick is a veteran and is active with the Ontario American Legion and the Ontario Fire Company.  He and Shirley are active members of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, at St. Mary's of the Lake, Catholic Church.

GLORIA REEVES

Funeral Assistant

Gloria is a greeter and has come to know many of the families of Wayne County over her years of service.  Gloria continues to work to this day and finds a great deal of satisfaction being a part of the community through her service with the funeral home.

CHARLES ZIEGLER

Funeral Assistant

Charles "Charlie" Ziegler is a lifelong resident of Palmyra, NY where he attended, and graduated, from the Palmyra-Macedon Central schools and would later serve on the school board.  He and his wife raised their two daughters in Palmyra where Charlie owned, and operated, his automobile service business.  Charlie is very active within the community and spends a lot of his time helping out with events associated with the Palmyra Community Center.  Charlie can usually be found helping out with the funeral homes administration duties, working services, or caring for the properties.  .  Charlie knows a lot of the people in the community and finds it to be rewarding to try and help those who have suffered the loss of someone they have loved.

Sherman Yates

Funeral Assistant

Sherman "Sherm" Yates is a retired Police Chief of the Palmyra Village Police Department.  He has recently joined the funeral staff and is considering funeral service as a second career.

ROBERT HAAK

Funeral Assistant

"Bob" was born and raised on a farm in Ontario, NY.  He graduated from Wayne Central High School and served in the United States Army.  On June 20, 1959, Bob married Cheryl Greene.  Together they have two daughters and three grandchildren.  Bob retired from the Eastman Kodak Company after 34 years of employment.  He founded the Lakeshore Lawn and Garden Company, assisted in the establishment of the Pines of Peace Comfort Care Home for the terminally ill; where he served as both a board member and a volunteer. 

DARCY LYNN BROPHY

Office Assistant

Darcy is  the assistant to Dawn Mehserle.  Darcy is married to Wayne and together they have three children. Darcy was raised in Macedon and is a 1984 graduate of Penfield High School and a 1988 graduate of St. John Fisher College where she earned her degree in accounting. She and Wayne spent eight years working in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region where Darcy was initially employed by the Washington Board of Trade and then later became a stay at home mom with their sons Matt and Alex.  Upon returning home to NY, Mary came into their family and she has continued to be a stay at home mom while working as an independent contractor with local businesses and as an employee of the funeral home.

DAVID DREXLER

Funeral Assistant

Dave was born in Rochester, NY and grew up in the Town of Ontario, NY.  He is a graduate of Wayne Central Schools class of 1961.  He retired after 35 years of service with the Thomson Professional Publishing Company (formerly Lawyers Co-Op).  After retirement, Dave began driving school bus for the Williamson Central School District.  Dave is married to Sandi, together they have two sons, Mark and Scott, along with a granddaughter, Amanda, and grandson, Brandon.  Dave is an active member of  the Webster Assembly of God Church where he is involved with music along with other ministries.

JON DREXLER

Funeral Assistant

"Drex"...started working with Finger Lakes Cremation LLC in March of 2014.  He joined his brother Dave and sister-in-law, Dawn Mehserle who are also a part of the funeral home family.  Jon graduated from Wayne Central Schools in 1969 and started working at Thomson Publishing Company (formerly known as the Lawyer's Co-op Publishing Company) where he would work for 29 years before going to work for 16 years at Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (formerly Mott's) in Williamson, NY.  On October 18, 1975 Jon married Vicki Peterson and together they have two sons, Adam and Jared.  Jon and Vicki are  active members at Living Word Assembly of God Church,  in Ontario where Jon has a variety of responsibilities.  Jon has a large network of friends in the Ontario-Williamson community and enjoys interacting with them in their time of need. 

JUDI CARROLL

Funeral Assistant

Judi is a native of Macedon and a graduate of Penfield High School and a retiree of the Penfield Central School District.  Judi has been active in the Penfield, Macedon and Palmyra commuties.  She and her husband Kevin live in Palmyra.  Judi can be found assisting the funeral homes with calling hours and services.  Judi knows so many people in the community and finds it rewarding to be available during their greatest time of need.

Margaret Yates

Funeral Assistant

Margaret works as a funeral assistant and can be found assisting families at visitations and services.  

Richard Doyle

Funeral Assistant/monuments

Dick helps out the funeral home with visitations and funeral services.  He holds an important role with St. Maxilian Kolbe Parish of Ontario and Sodus, NY.  Dick also helps area families who have burials at Calvary Cemetery in Ontario, NY.  He sets foundations for monuments as well as offering cleaning services.

JOHN AGNELLO

Funeral Assistant