Our Staff

Duane A. Romanski

Owner and Funeral Director

A proud American, Duane was born in Warren, MI, and grew up in Dearborn, MI, where he graduated from Divine Child High School. Duane continued his education at Wayne State University, where he attended the School of Mortuary Science, earning his bachelor's degree in 1997.

He is a funeral director and embalmer, licensed and able to help families in need in Michigan and Ohio. For twenty-plus years, Duane served the metro Detroit area as a funeral director, manager, and service embalmer before joining the Stark Funeral Service staff in April of 2018.

He is married to his lovely wife, Gina, and they have two children, Olivia and Alexis, and a dog, Rosie. In addition to meeting the needs of the funeral families he serves, Duane's hobbies include spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, home-remodeling projects, going to the gym, telling dumb dad jokes, cooking, and wrenching on his hot rod.

Michael R. Andryc

Owner and Funeral Director

Mike was born in Oregon, Ohio and raised in Saline, Michigan. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Funeral Director. Mike graduated Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2006. He joined the staff at Ochalek-Stark Funeral Services in December of 2011.

Mike married his wife Nicci on September 5, 2009, and has two children, daughter Charlotte and son Owen. He is a member of Keystone Church in Saline and a committee member of the Foundation for Saline Area Schools.

In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and especially watching U of M football.

Katherine Peery

Office Manager

Katherine grew up in Saline, Michigan, graduating from Saline High School. She continued her education at Washtenaw Community College, where she earned an Associate of Liberal Arts degree. She has a strong professional background in administration and customer service. Katherine joined the staff of Stark Funeral Professionals in July 2021.

Katherine resides in Ann Arbor with her partner Tony, dogs Benji, Max, and Tora & kittens Oliver and Dottie. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, snuggling her fur babies, watching movies and U-M football, playing board/card games, and going to stand-up comedy shows.

Liz Kedzior

Funeral Director

Liz grew up in Ferndale, MI. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Oakland University and later attended American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services, graduating in 2013. Liz married her husband Matt in October 2014 and they moved to Livonia the following year. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, camping and watching backyard wildlife, especially squirrels. Liz joined the Stark staff in June 2023.

Brianna Sullivan

Funeral Director

Brianna Sullivan rejoined the Stark team in July 2025 after graduating Cum Laude from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in April 2025. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her 11 fish tanks, hiking, and spending time with family. Brianna and her fiancé Shane travel frequently. In 2025, they visited 13 states. One of Brianna’s personal goals is to visit every major aquarium in the country. In the last year, she has been to four. Just like a fish, she loves to spend as much time in the water as she can. She is very passionate about kayaking, snorkeling, and tubing. Beyond her love of animals, she is a gardener and has many houseplants. As a first-time homeowner, she spends a great amount of time with Shane doing all types of projects. Her yard is her pride and joy. In 2022, she was a funeral director assistant at Stark Funeral Professionals in Ypsilanti, Michigan. While in mortuary school in Ohio, she worked at Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home.

Kimberly Briffa

Funeral Attendant

Kimberly was raised in Dearborn, MI and graduated from Fordson High School. She shares a home in Belleville with her fiancé Sam and works as a cosmetologist in Canton. In her free time, Kim enjoys reading, cooking, gardening and working on a craft or project.

Susan Bunton

Funeral Attendant, Grief Group Facilitator

Susan was born in Detroit and grew up in rural Ypsilanti, where she graduated from Lincoln Consolidated High School. Susan continued her education, attending Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology at Arizona State University. Susan received her Master of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University in the field of Child and Family Development.

Susan retired from the state of Michigan in the department of human services as a child welfare administrator, assisting many children and families for over 30 years. Susan joined the Stark Funeral Professionals staff in 2023.

Susan married her high school sweetheart in 1979. They have two children and two grandchildren. Susan’s hobbies include crossword puzzles and watching her grandchildren play collegiate softball, high school football, basketball as well as track and field.

John Cosner

Funeral Attendant

John was born in Ann Arbor, MI, but has resided in Milan, MI, most of his life. He lives on a property that has been in his family for over 100 years, which was a dairy farm for many years.

He and his wife Eileen have been married for 41 years and have three daughters, three sons-in-law, and 11 grandchildren. John attends Keystone Church in Saline. Family and faith are truly what bring joy to his life, along with University of Michigan football.

Vernon Garrett

Funeral Attendant

A lifelong resident of Ypsilanti, Vernon Garrett first joined Stark Funeral Service in 1989/90, inspired by his father’s 30+ year career at the funeral home. After retiring from Ford Motor Company, he returned to Stark in 2024, continuing a long-standing family connection to the profession.

Vernon is married to Angela, and together they have four adult children. They enjoy spending time with their eight grandchildren. In his free time, Vernon enjoys camping and watching the Detroit Lions.

Jim Hoeft

Funeral Attendant

Jim is a lifelong resident of Saline, Michigan. He graduated from Saline High School and continued his education at Michigan State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He has worked in management most of his career, is currently an operations manager for a local landscape company, and joined Stark in 2024.

He and his wife Kathy have a combination of five children ranging from ages 16 to 25, and they enjoy spending as much time with them as they can. Besides spending time with his family, he enjoys watching the Spartans, hunting, fishing, and cooking. Jim attends Keystone Church in Saline.

Roberta Riggins

Funeral Attendant

Roberta was born in Detroit and raised in Ypsilanti, graduating from Willow Run High School. She continued her education at Washtenaw Community College, where she earned an Associate Degree in criminal justice. Roberta works at a law firm as a legal assistant. She joined the staff of Stark Funeral Professionals in October 2024.

Roberta resides in Ypsilanti with her mother and best friend, Vera. She has three daughters, Komaria, Kayla, and Royalty; one sister and one brother. Her free time is spent with her family, watching movies, and going to concerts.

Barb Rister

Funeral Attendant

John White

Funeral Attendant/Pastor

Pastor John was born in Lansing, MI, and grew up in Grass Lake, MI. After graduating from high school, he worked for Walker Manufacturing (now Teneco). After sensing a call to full-time ministry, he attended Jackson Community College and graduated from Spring Arbor University. He married the love of his life, Karen, in 1976. John then graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL, in 1979 with a Master of Divinity degree and began his ministry in Minnesota. He would go on to serve churches in Wisconsin and Illinois before moving back to Michigan to become the pastor of Milan Free Methodist Church.

Arlo Andryc

Grief Therapy Dog in Training