As it begins its 41st year in funeral service, the Thomas M. Steighner Funeral Home in Chicora thanks all of the families it has been privileged to serve.

It also eagerly looks to the future.

The Steighners’ story began on Oct. 13, 1972, when Thomas and Rose Steighner purchased the Clarence W. Vensel Funeral Home in Chicora upon the retirement of Mr. Vensel. Clarence W. Vensel was the last member of his family to own and operate the funeral home, which was established in 1900.

Tom Steighner, the owner and operator of Steighner Funeral Home, entered the funeral profession in 1963 following his graduation from Butler High School. He continued his education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh and went on to the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he graduated in 1966, and became licensed 1967.

As a licensed, professional funeral director, he was employed for several years at a Pittsburgh funeral home. He then returned to Butler County to become the first chief deputy coroner for William F. Young Jr. prior to buying the funeral home in Chicora.

Active in the Chicora community, Tom Steighner served on Chicora Borough Council as mayor for 30 years. Tom is a longtime member of the Chicora Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Chicora Moose, and a member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, where he currently serves on the church council.

Tom and Rose’s daughter, Tammy Rose Steighner, is also a licensed funeral director and plans one day to carry on the family business.

A 1986 graduate of Carlow University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Tammy went on to study Mortuary Science at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. She received her diploma in 1989 and her Pennsylvania Funeral Director’s License in 1990.

Over the years, Tammy has continued her studies in nursing and in funeral service. In 2003, she attended the Wicks Educational Associates in Harrisburg to become a wound, ostomy, and continence nurse and is certified as a wound, ostomy, continence nurse (CWOCN). She obtained a Master of Science Degree in Nursing, Nursing and Healthcare Education in 2010 from the University of Phoenix.

She is currently a doctoral candidate for a doctorate in Nursing Education at Capella University.

Tammy is a member of the National Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society; the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Omicron Delta Chapter; Cambridge Who’s Who; the National League of Nursing; the University of Phoenix Alumni Association and the Carlow University Alumni Association. In addition, she holds leadership positions with the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, Northeast Region.

Both Tammy and Tom Steighner are members of the Butler County Funeral Directors Association, the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, and the Western Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association. Tom is a past president of the Butler County Funeral Directors Association, and Tammy currently is a delegate to the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association Legislative Committee.

To keep up with the latest laws and trends in their profession, the Steighners regularly attend and complete continuing education courses in Funeral Service.

In addition to his professional designation as a licensed funeral director, Tom Steighner holds a Pennsylvania Life Insurance License, giving added protection to the funeral home’s paid pre-need funeral contracts.

Steighner Funeral Home’s compassionate, professional service helps families to honor and remember their loved ones.

As professional funeral directors, the Steighners are specially trained to help families design funerals that are meaningful and truly representative of the life that was lived.

Recognizing that it operates in an industry that is becoming more and more complex, the Steighner Funeral Home strives to provide to families a homey, not-overly-commercial environment, along with the kindness, courtesy and respect they truly deserve.

This article was submitted by the Steighner Funeral Home.