Our funeral directors and support staff

Matthew J. Stitzel

Funeral Director

Matthew,  Third Generation Funeral Director, was born and raised in Berks County. He was a Lincoln Park resident for 21 years until getting married. Along with his wife, Rebecca J.(A former physical therapist assistant with St. Joseph Medical Center), Matthew also has four children: Sarah J., Jacob T., Ethan M., and Matthew. Matthew is a 1988 graduate of Holy Name High School, Rdg., 1992 Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and 1993 Simmons Institute, Syracuse, NY. Along with being a full time funeral director and father, Matthew takes an active roll in his community; he has coached Little League Baseball for Spring Township for a number of years and was an active firefighter and engineer for Spring Township and the Goodwill (Muhlenberg Township) Fire Companies. Matthew was also the past Vice-President of the Lincoln Park Lions Club, a member of St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Whitfield, and a board member of the Berks County End-Of-Life Care Coalition. 

Matt is co-owner, with his wife, Rebecca, of Stitzel Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., in Reading and Oley. His father, Richard Stitzel, is the president of the company. 

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Email: 

Jacob Stitzel

Funeral Intern

Jacob, born and raised in Sinking Spring. He was a 2018 graduate of Wilson High School. After high school he attended Penn State University Park Campus where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management. Jacob is currently attending Northampton Community College in Bethlehem and is enrolled in their funeral service program. He has grown up and worked at the Stitzel Family Funeral Home his entire life and is looking forward to becoming a licensed funeral director so he can help serve the families that are in need. When not working he enjoys exercising, watching his beloved Philadelphia sports teams, and spending time with friends and family. He is also a parishioner of St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Whitfield.

Elizabeth K. (Gilbert) Candelori

Funeral Director - Supervisor of Reading Location

Elizabeth, born and raised in Muhlenberg Township, resides in Wyomissing Park with her husband Luigi, and son, Gianni. 

A 2005 graduate of Muhlenberg High School,  Elizabeth earned her degree in Funeral Services from Northampton Community College in 2007. While in college, Elizabeth was employed with Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem, for 3 years.  

Upon returning to Berks County, Elizabeth completed her internship with Walter R. Christ Funeral Home, Inc., Reading and was hired as a funeral director in 2008.  Named Supervisor of the Reading location in 2015, Elizabeth also serves families at the Oley facility.  She works primarily with at-need families.

Elizabeth and Luigi are both life members of Holy Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church, Hyde Park.  She is also a member of the Muhlenberg Lion's Club and serves on the board of the Muhlenberg Ambulance Association.   

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Email: 

Melissa A. Sommers

Funeral Director

Melissa was born and raised in Summit Hill, Carbon County.  She is a 1996 graduate of Marian Catholic High School, Tamaqua, Schuylkill County.  After high school, she attended Alvernia College for two years. Subsequently, she earned her associates degree in funeral services from Northampton Community College, having graduated in 2000. She also obtained her degree as a Registered Nurse from the Schuylkill Health School of Nursing.

Melissa served her internship at the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home in Weatherly, Carbon County, where she was then hired as a funeral director.  Melissa worked for various funeral homes in the Carbon/Schuylkill County area for a number of years until getting hired at Stitzel Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc. in 2014.  A full-time funeral director, Melissa serves at-need families in both Reading and Oley. 

Melissa and her husband Robert Breslin have two daughters, Caroline and Kathryn. They reside in Summit Hill, Carbon County.

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Email: 

Lee Reiniger

Funeral Attendant

Lee retired from teaching music in the Muhlenberg School District in 2001 and has been working as a funeral assistant since that time.

As a lifelong resident of Muhlenberg Township, Lee has remained active in the community, as a schoolboard member, past President and active member of the Muhlenberg Lions Club, Vice President of the board of directors of the Muhlenberg Ambulance Association and teaching private music lessons.

He is married to PeggyAnn (Oxenreider) for 48 years and they have three children: Matthew, Jeffrey and Cara, and six grandchildren.

Lee's full-time job is currently attending the many activities of the grandchildren and keeping the grounds of the funeral home beautiful.

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Edward Unger

Funeral Attendant

Eddie serves as a funeral attendant.  He is the friendly face you're more than likely to see when entering the funeral home, as he is our main greeter.  Eddie was employed with The Crystal Palace, Reading for 45 years.  Since retiring, he continued his work as sexton at Good Shepherd U.C.C., Tuckerton.  Edward enjoys working with the public and working at the funeral home enables him to do just that.  

Edward is the widower of Joanne who died in 2007.  He is the father of two children and currently resides in Muhlenberg Township with his fiancée, Christina.  They have been fortunate enough to successfully merge their two families into one large family.  When Eddie is not working, he enjoys traveling, especially cruising the world.  

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Mariano “Sonny” Gaspari

Funeral Attendant

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

William Mahon

Funeral Attendant

Bill is the husband of Cookie (Tarantino) Mahon. They have two children; Tim, husband of Michele Mahon and Melanie, wife of Bill Appler. Bill also has four grandchildren:  Scott and Kay Mahon and Sophie and Emma Appler.  

Bill was the former owner of the Guard House Restaurant and Tavern in Reading.

He has been on staff with the Stitzel Funeral Home since 2010. 

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Kenneth Frye

Funeral Attendant/Clergy

Gary Reinert

Funeral Attendant

Gary L. Reinert husband to Linda Reinert for 48 years. Resides in Alsace Township, graduate of Oley Valley HighSchool and McCann School of Business. Two sons, four grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren. Vietnam era veteran of the United States Army, PA Army National Guard 1970-1976, Armored Tank Unit. Corporal, Oley Township Police Department, 1971-1977.  Retired after 44 years of service Conestoga D&E Telephone Company,  14 years as a lineman, 30 years as construction manager, outside plant.  Baseball coach for 27 years in the Oley area, 17 years in the American Legion program, 10 of those years as head coach of Senior Legion Team, 5 years as Assistant Varsity Coach at Oley Vally High School.  Gary was an Assistant Schoolmaster of Troop 508, Zion Spies Lutheran Church, ALsace Township.  For 10 years he also was Adult Training Chairman for the Frontier District, BSA for 5 years and an Adult Member of the Order of the Arrow.

Gary also was the boys baseball commissioner and property chairman for the Oley Valley Youth League for 10 years. Is a member of American Legion Post 878 and a member of the Oley Fire Company. 

Gary mostly enjoys spending time with his family, attending grandkids school and sports events.  Gary is a big fan of the Phillies, Eagles and Penn State.

John McHale

Funeral Attendant

Telephone: 1-610-929-3693

Jim Coker

Funeral Attendant

Mark Hoch

Funeral Attendant

Dennis Snoke

Funeral Attendant

Eric Reinhart

Funeral Attendant

Ethan Stitzel

Funeral Attendant

Larry Conrad

Funeral Attendant

Todd Boughter

Funeral Attendant

Kevin Neiswender

Funeral Attendant

Brody Heckman

Funeral Attendant