Our Staff

WAYNE T. BROPHY

Owner/Funeral Director

Wayne has been practicing as a licensed funeral director for over 35 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 (Stephanie) is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and is a resident surgeon at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY.   Alex is a musician and operates an instrument repair business and Mary is a graduate of Clemson University where she obtained her degree in mechanical engineering and is employed by ALTEC.   Wayne has been associated with the Murphy family since the late 1980's when Mike Murphy went to Simmons in Syracuse where Wayne was the Dean of Students. Wayne is a former member of the Board of Directors with the Pines of Peace Comfort Care Home in Ontario, NY.

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, Eric played football and helped start the rugby club. He attended LeMoyne College in Syracuse, earning at B.A. in Psychology.  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 have three children, Emma and Ford, who are twins and a daughter Allie. Eric serves on the Palmyra Community Center board.  When he is not working, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, children, friends, watching and studying movies, watching football, baseball and playing golf.

Telephone: 1-315-524-4621

Email: 

Melissa Rasmussen Campbell

Licensed Funeral Director/Manager Finger Lakes Cremation, LLC

Melissa A. Campbell is a fourth-generation funeral director.  She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in 1990 from Misrecordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania; and then earned her Mortuary Science Degree in Funeral Service in 1991 from Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in Syracuse, New York.   In 1996, Melissa married the Rev. Keith Campbell, Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY; and together they have three sons – Colin is employed with the St. Louis Cardinals, and twins – Logan, a landscaper and Ryan is a sophomore at St. John Fisher University.  When she’s not at work, Melissa enjoys spending time with friends and family, and visiting Amish country in Holmes Country, Ohio, where she has many dear friends.  

Telephone: 1-315-524-4621

Email: 

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 Murphy Funeral & Cremation Chapels into one of the leading funeral establishments in Wayne County.  

MICHAEL PATRICK MURPHY

Former 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.  The community misses Mike and each day the staff of the Murphy Funeral & Cremation Chapels  try to honor his legacy by doing a good job for the families they serve.

DAVID DREXLER

Former Funeral Assistant

1943-2021

Dave was born in Rochester, NY and grew up in the Town of Ontario, NY.  He was 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.  He has been associated with Murphy Funeral Services since 1998.  Dave is survived by his wife Sandi; two sons, Mark and Scott, along with a granddaughter, Amanda, and grandson, Brandon.  Dave was an active member of the Webster Assembly of God Church where he was involved with music along with other ministries.

Valerie Burba

New York Registered Funeral Resident

Valerie grew up in Fairport, NY and now resides in Macedon, NY. She has been married for 20 years to John and they have a daughter, Alyssa, and two sons, Brody and Gavin, who are all the lights of her life. Valerie became interested in working in the funeral service profession because she enjoys being there in a time of need for others and providing comfort to families. She is currently a registered resident of funeral directing in New York, working towards being a licensed funeral director. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in tourism management and an Associate of Specialized Technology in funeral service. In her free time, she enjoys reading, camping, fishing, watching football, listening to music, spending time with her four cats and two dogs, and playing board games.

Telephone: 1-315-524-4621

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.  He spends most of his days at the Palmyra and Macedon locations.  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 can be found working calling hours, and services, as well as doing facility maintenance and repairs.  He resides above the Palmyra location with his wife Margaret.

DARCY LYNN BROPHY

Office Assistant

Darcy handles the bookkeeping for the funeral homes.  She oversees business details along with the aftercare programs. 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.

DAWN MEHSERLE

Funeral Assistant/ Monument Selections/Retired Office Administration

Dawn began her career in the funeral industry with Murphy Funeral Services back in 1996.  Previously, she had been employed within the financial industry. In April of 2021, Dawn retired from her day-to-day responsibilities. She will continue to oversee 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 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.  Dick is on the Board with the Pines of Peace Comfort Care Home located in Ontario, NY.

Donna Ludington

Funeral Assistant

Donna (Fisher) grew up in Ontario graduating from Wayne Central in 1970.  After graduation from SUNY Potsdam, Massena became home while teaching at St. Regis Mohawk School in Hogansburg, NY.  A few years later the call of family and home as well as a love of boating on the Finger Lakes prompted a move back to Ontario.  Throughout her life Donna has been active in church, community and school music programs.  Upon retirement from Federated Clover Investment Advisors in 2020, she is happy to now be a part of the Murphy family assisting with calling hours and services.  Donna and her husband Jim have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

ROBERT RASMUSSEN

Retired Funeral Director/ Retired Licensed Manager of Ontario Chapel

Robert "Bob" Rasmussen is a 3rd generation funeral director who is the licensed manager of our Ontario Chapel.  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.

RICHARD MURPHY

Funeral Assistant

Richard " Dick" Murphy

Dick has been closely associated with the funeral home since he was a young man.  He is retired from active service with funeral home but maintains close ties. His uncles were funeral directors having funeral homes in Rochester and Ontario.  Dick worked along side of his cousin, Steve, through the years and watched the business that Steve owned grow from a small rural funeral establishment to one of the leading providers in Wayne County.  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 was 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

Retired Funeral Assistant

Gloria Reeves has been associated with Murphy Funeral Services since around 1980. Gloria retired in 2020 as a greeter. 

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.  Bob is now retired from day-to-day activities associated directly with the funeral home.  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.  Bob has been with the Murphy family since 2004 and is a member of the Webster Baptist Church.  He has volunteered at the Lipson Cancer Center at Rochester General Hospital since the early 2000's.  Bob is currently associated with St. Ann's Care Center at Cherry Ridge as a volunteer.

JON DREXLER

Funeral Assistant

"Drex"...started working with Murphy's 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. 

JOHN AGNELLO

Funeral Assistant

John is a retired fireman and continues to be active in the community and will assist the funeral home with calling hours and services.

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 assist the funeral home as a substitute; assisting with calling hours and funerals.  

Margaret Yates

Funeral Assistant

Margaret is originally from Livingston County.  She is married to Sherman Yates, and they reside above our funeral chapel in Palmyra and maintain a strong presence in the community.