History & Staff

Our History

In 1897, Lawrenceville was a new, growing neighborhood. Otto J. Goetz, a barber, decided to try his hand at "undertaking". He converted his barbershop at 3509 Penn Ave. into an "undertaker's office", which later was converted into a funeral home as home funerals became a thing of the past.

In 1951, the practice was passed on to Anthony J. Sufak, who operated the funeral home until forming the Sufak-D'Alessandro Funeral Home Inc. with Daniel T. D'Alessandro in 1980.

In 1983, Sufak-D'Alessandro merged with the Gilbert McInnes Funeral Home (founded 1917) at 4522 Butler St., also in Lawrenceville.

In 2022, we were honored by the Pennsylvania Funeral Director's Association, and given a plaque celebrating our "125 Years Of Continuous Service To The Community".

Since we've touched on THREE CENTURIES of funeral service, we are very aware of what is expected of us professionally.

After all, our motto is "Always A Higher Standard"! We proudly look forward to the future of modern funeral service, as we incorporate the traditions, values, and ethics of the past!

Our Valued Staff

  • Dustin A.  D'Alessandro

    Dustin A. D'Alessandro, Supervisor

    Dustin, a second-generation funeral director, began working with his father at a young age. From pulling weeds, cutting grass, and washing cars, he was often found at the funeral home doing whatever he could to help out. While a high-school student, Dustin was given the opportunity to go to the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA, to help with the recovery efforts alongside his father, other funeral directors, coroners, medical examiners, police, and FBI. After graduating from Canevin Catholic High School in 2002, he was able to work full-time at the funeral home and began taking on new roles. While working full-time, he enrolled in the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he earned his degree in Funeral Service. Dustin lives in the North Hills with his wife, Nicki and their three boys: Domenic, Gianni and Luca. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and watching the kids play their sports.

  • Daniel T.  D'Alessandro

    Daniel T. D'Alessandro, Owner, Funeral Director

    Born and raised in Brookline, Daniel T. D’Alessandro has devoted his life to serving families with compassion, professionalism, and respect. His career in funeral service began at the age of 14 when he started working in a local Brookline funeral home, developing a lifelong commitment to helping families during their most difficult times.Daniel became a licensed funeral director in 1977 and has spent nearly 60 years guiding families through the funeral planning process with care and understanding. Throughout his distinguished career, he became the successor to the Anthony J. Sufak Funeral Home in 1980 and the Gilbert McInnes Jr. Funeral Home in 1983, continuing their traditions of service to the community.

  • Jean M. D'Alessandro

    Jean M. D'Alessandro, Co-Owner, Vice President

    Born and raised in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, Jean M. D’Alessandro has spent her life dedicated to both her family and her community. Following a distinguished career of 35 years with the City of Pittsburgh, she retired as a Building Inspector, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to public service.As Co-Owner and Vice President, Jean plays an important role in supporting the funeral home’s mission of providing compassionate care to families. Her strong values, attention to detail, and dedication to helping others continue to be an integral part of the funeral home’s success.Above all, Jean treasures her role as a mother and grandmother and brings that same sense of care, warmth, and family-centered compassion to the families served by the funeral home.

  • Lathon Kenyon

    Lathon Kenyon, Funeral Director

  • Sarah C. Balistreri

    Sarah C. Balistreri, Funeral Director, Embalmer

    Sarah joined the funeral home staff in 2023. She earned her Associate degree in Funeral Service from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and her Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science from Gannon University, passing both her national and Pennsylvania board examinations on her first attempt.From a young age, Sarah felt a calling to help others, which naturally led her to a career in funeral service. She began her work with a strong focus on embalming and restorative art, where her attention to detail and gentle approach help provide families with comfort and peace during difficult times. Over the years, she has expanded her role to guide families through every step of the funeral process, creating meaningful and personalized services that truly honor each life.Sarah believes that every family deserves compassion, patience, and understanding, and she takes great care in building genuine connections with those she serves.Originally from Buffalo, New York, Sarah now lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with her husband, their two cats, and their Jack Russell, Hope. In her free time, she enjoys attending live music events, traveling on cruises, and spending time camping.

  • Morgan H. Applegate

    Morgan H. Applegate, Funeral Director, Certified Celebrant

    Morgan joined the funeral home staff in 2024. She lives in the Brentwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh with her fiancé and their two cats, Rex and Obi. Morgan received her Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science and a Minor in Theology from Gannon University in Erie, PA where she received the Academic Award of Excellence in Mortuary Science. She is a 2024 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS). In her free time, you can find her with her nose stuck in a book or working on one of her many crafts.

  • James K. Murray

    James K. Murray, Funeral Director

    Jim joined our staff in 2020, after a distinguished career as owner of John F. Murray Funeral Home in Lawrenceville. As a second-generation funeral director, he brings decades of experience and understanding of the traditions and responsibilities of funeral service. Jim is honored to continue helping families create meaningful tributes for their loved ones.

  • Edward Eckenrode

    Edward Eckenrode, Funeral Director, Embalmer

  • Robert Straus

    Robert Straus, Funeral Assistant

    Bob joined the funeral home staff in 2024 following his retirement from the Allegheny County Government after 42 years of public service. Throughout his career, he built a reputation for professionalism, dependability, and strong commitment to serving others. Wanting to remain active in the community, Bob has brought his experience and caring nature to funeral service. As a funeral assistant, he takes pride in helping families and supporting the funeral home's mission of providing compassionate and respectful care during life's most difficult moments.