Marcus Jaeger
Founder & Funeral Director
A proud graduate of St. Patrick High School in Chicago and the Mortuary Science and Funeral Service program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Mark is the founder of the Countryside Funeral Homes and Crematory. The title that he most prefers is Funeral Director, for that has been his life's work. Mark is the fifth generation of his family to serve others as a funeral director. The Jaeger family began modestly on Canal Street in Chicago in 1858. Today the family funeral home is located on Cicero Avenue, where it has stood since 1938, in the steady hands of brother Douglas.
After graduation, Mark worked for his dad, Otto, at the family firm, along with assisting other Chicago area funeral homes as a fill-in funeral director. This gave Mark a unique perspective of funeral service, working at many varied funeral homes. It also planted the seed in his mind of how he would run his own business. He saw that how the best firms (including his family's) treated others as you would want to be treated.
Mark has served as the President of the Funeral Directors Services Association of Greater Chicago, President of the Streamwood Chamber of Commerce, President of the Bartlett Rotary Club (and a Paul Harris Fellow) along with numerous positions civically, fraternally and socially. Most importantly, he is the husband to Leeandra and proud father to Emmett and Quinn.
Marcus Jaeger
Founder & Funeral Director
A proud graduate of St. Patrick High School in Chicago and the Mortuary Science and Funeral Service program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Mark is the founder of the Countryside Funeral Homes and Crematory. The title that he most prefers is Funeral Director, for that has been his life's work. Mark is the fifth generation of his family to serve others as a funeral director. The Jaeger family began modestly on Canal Street in Chicago in 1858. Today the family funeral home is located on Cicero Avenue, where it has stood since 1938, in the steady hands of brother Douglas.
After graduation, Mark worked for his dad, Otto, at the family firm, along with assisting other Chicago area funeral homes as a fill-in funeral director. This gave Mark a unique perspective of funeral service, working at many varied funeral homes. It also planted the seed in his mind of how he would run his own business. He saw that how the best firms (including his family's) treated others as you would want to be treated.
Mark has served as the President of the Funeral Directors Services Association of Greater Chicago, President of the Streamwood Chamber of Commerce, President of the Bartlett Rotary Club (and a Paul Harris Fellow) along with numerous positions civically, fraternally and socially. Most importantly, he is the husband to Leeandra and proud father to Emmett and Quinn.
John Leadroot
Funeral Director
John joined the Countryside in 2013 after a storied career in funeral service. A lifelong resident of Itasca, John is a 1986 graduate of Lake Park High School in Roselle, and he completed his education and training at Worsham College of Mortuary Science. John served in various roles for a corporate funeral organization (including funeral director, embalmer, location manager and general manager) and is pleased to be working for a family-owned funeral home where he can now focus on serving others at their hardest time. He is a three-time life member of the National Museum of Funeral Service History in Houston, TX. John is the vice president of the Chicago Bulldog Club and a member of the Harley Owners Group. In his spare time he is an avid motorcyclist, snowmobiler, jet skier, disc jockeying on the weekends and fisherman.
John Leadroot
Funeral Director
John joined the Countryside in 2013 after a storied career in funeral service. A lifelong resident of Itasca, John is a 1986 graduate of Lake Park High School in Roselle, and he completed his education and training at Worsham College of Mortuary Science. John served in various roles for a corporate funeral organization (including funeral director, embalmer, location manager and general manager) and is pleased to be working for a family-owned funeral home where he can now focus on serving others at their hardest time. He is a three-time life member of the National Museum of Funeral Service History in Houston, TX. John is the vice president of the Chicago Bulldog Club and a member of the Harley Owners Group. In his spare time he is an avid motorcyclist, snowmobiler, jet skier, disc jockeying on the weekends and fisherman.
Timothy Moulton
Funeral Director
Tim is a graduate of Worsham College and has been a licensed funeral director/embalmer since 2001. He has been with Countryside since 2007. He belongs to the Roselle Lions Club and enjoys synchronized swimming. Tim lives in Hoffman Estates with his wife Colleen and their two daughters.
Timothy Moulton
Funeral Director
Tim is a graduate of Worsham College and has been a licensed funeral director/embalmer since 2001. He has been with Countryside since 2007. He belongs to the Roselle Lions Club and enjoys synchronized swimming. Tim lives in Hoffman Estates with his wife Colleen and their two daughters.
Benjamin Determan
Funeral Director
Ben has been a licensed funeral director since 2002 and joined the staff at Countryside in 2007. Ben is the father of two children. Ben volunteers at the Anderson Animal Shelter and is a board member of the South Elgin Lions Club. His hobbies include going to all of his children's extracurricular activities and participating in cheese rolling.
Benjamin Determan
Funeral Director
Ben has been a licensed funeral director since 2002 and joined the staff at Countryside in 2007. Ben is the father of two children. Ben volunteers at the Anderson Animal Shelter and is a board member of the South Elgin Lions Club. His hobbies include going to all of his children's extracurricular activities and participating in cheese rolling.
Tami Roy
Funeral Director
Tami is a 2010 graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science. After serving her apprenticeship at Countryside, Tami worked for a large corporation. It wasn't long before the Countryside team realized how much they missed her professionalism and special skill set. As a Spanish speaker, Tami offers Hispanic families a level of comfort not found in other area funeral homes. In her spare time, Tami enjoys hiking.
Tami Roy
Funeral Director
Tami is a 2010 graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science. After serving her apprenticeship at Countryside, Tami worked for a large corporation. It wasn't long before the Countryside team realized how much they missed her professionalism and special skill set. As a Spanish speaker, Tami offers Hispanic families a level of comfort not found in other area funeral homes. In her spare time, Tami enjoys hiking.
Sarah Ryan
Funeral Director
Sarah graduated from Western Illinois University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry, and she is also a 2014 graduate of Worsham College. After Worsham, she worked for a family-owned funeral home on the Northshore before joining our Countryside team in 2022. She enjoys spending time with her large extended family and friends while exploring different restaurants. She lives in Buffalo Grove with her husband and two sons.
Sarah Ryan
Funeral Director
Sarah graduated from Western Illinois University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry, and she is also a 2014 graduate of Worsham College. After Worsham, she worked for a family-owned funeral home on the Northshore before joining our Countryside team in 2022. She enjoys spending time with her large extended family and friends while exploring different restaurants. She lives in Buffalo Grove with her husband and two sons.
Philomena Tancredi
Funeral Director, Retired
"Phil" has worked at Countryside since 1995. She has been a licensed funeral director/ embalmer since her graduation from Worsham College in 1996. She is the past president of the DuPage County Funeral Directors Association and an enthusiastic supporter of Boxer Rebound, a dog rescue for Boxers, having volunteered and adopted many dogs over the years. She lives with her husband, Paul, in La Grange and has dedicated her career to proudly serving and assisting our families through difficult times.
Philomena Tancredi
Funeral Director, Retired
"Phil" has worked at Countryside since 1995. She has been a licensed funeral director/ embalmer since her graduation from Worsham College in 1996. She is the past president of the DuPage County Funeral Directors Association and an enthusiastic supporter of Boxer Rebound, a dog rescue for Boxers, having volunteered and adopted many dogs over the years. She lives with her husband, Paul, in La Grange and has dedicated her career to proudly serving and assisting our families through difficult times.
Kris Kassmier
Preneed/Aftercare Advisor
Kris was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management and minoring in Business Administration. After nearly 30 years in hospitality, Kris' passion for serving, and an encouraging referral, landed her with the incredible team at Countryside: "I know personally how helpful it was to my mother and family to have everything pre-planned when my father passed away." Kris lives in Saint Charles, IIlinois with her husband, son, dog, and numerous fish, in addition, to other wildlife that join them along the Fox River.
Kris Kassmier
Preneed/Aftercare Advisor
Kris was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management and minoring in Business Administration. After nearly 30 years in hospitality, Kris' passion for serving, and an encouraging referral, landed her with the incredible team at Countryside: "I know personally how helpful it was to my mother and family to have everything pre-planned when my father passed away." Kris lives in Saint Charles, IIlinois with her husband, son, dog, and numerous fish, in addition, to other wildlife that join them along the Fox River.
Dennis Ehlers
Livery
Dennis has been a licensed funeral director since 1995… and serves Countryside in a variety of essential ways. Dennis is in charge of livery operations, which include three hearses, a limousine, and five transport/support vehicles. He volunteers at the Brookfield Zoo and the Treehouse Animal Shelter.
Dennis Ehlers
Livery
Dennis has been a licensed funeral director since 1995… and serves Countryside in a variety of essential ways. Dennis is in charge of livery operations, which include three hearses, a limousine, and five transport/support vehicles. He volunteers at the Brookfield Zoo and the Treehouse Animal Shelter.
Judy Johansen
Manager of Office Administration
Judy is the office manager for our Bartlett location, where she has worked since 2000. A member of Living Lord Lutheran Church, Judy lives in Bartlett with her husband, Ludvig, and is the mother of two grown children.
Judy Johansen
Manager of Office Administration
Judy is the office manager for our Bartlett location, where she has worked since 2000. A member of Living Lord Lutheran Church, Judy lives in Bartlett with her husband, Ludvig, and is the mother of two grown children.
