Our People  

It is our outstanding people who deliver our exceptional service. Each of us knows the importance of compassionate service. We know that each death is difficult, and each is unique. We believe special relationships are to be honored. We know how to take care of all the details. And we all know how to listen.

Through the efforts of our entire staff, we are the leading funeral service provider in Southeast Michigan and one of the few firms annually recognized by the National Funeral Directors Association. We offer funeral, cremation and burial services. We provide grief and bereavement counseling. We are available all day and night, every day.

Our dedication and diligence enable us to continue the over 95 year old tradition of serving each and every family with the utmost quality and care. Our ongoing training means we will always serve you with dignity, value and compassion.  

Licensed Staff Directory

Terence B. Desmond
Licensed Funeral Director, President and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner 

Terry has served families for over 49 years. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1959, the University of Notre Dame in 1963, and the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1964. As part of his on-going education, Terry is recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals designates him as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is a member of the Advisory Board at the Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science. In addition, Terry is a co-founder and past president of Michigan Trust 100 and a past State Director of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. 

Terry has always been very active in the community. He is a former board member of the the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, a past Chairman of the Board of Angels' Place (Christian homes for developmentally disabled adults) and a member of the Oakland County Senior Planning Coalition. Past community leadership includes vice-president of the Troy Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Troy, co-founder and former board member of Troy Boys/Girls Club, co-founder of Troy Medi-Go, past president of the Notre Dame Club of Detroit, former member of the Board of Directors of Marian High School, and past president of the Brother Rice and Marian High School Dads Club. His community involvement has been recognized by receiving the Distinguished Citizen Award for City of Troy in 1982, the Award of the Year from the Notre Dame Club of Detroit in 1980, the Italian Study Group's 2000 Italian-American of the Year, 2003 Marian High School Volunteer of the Year, and the 2006 Alumnus of the Year Award from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. Terry and his wife Betty received special recognition for their continuing service to Marian High School. Terry has long been involved with both St. Thomas More and St. Hugo of the Hills parishes. 

Growing up in the St. Benedict parish (Highland Park), Terry is a lifelong resident of the Detroit area. He and Betty live currently in Bloomfield Township. They have six children, three of whom are a valuable part of the leadership team at the funeral home, and 15 grandchildren.    

Paul S. Connell
Licensed Funeral Director and Executive Vice President 

Paul has been serving families at the Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel of A.J. Desmond & Sons for almost 40 years. He graduated from Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School in 1970 and remains active with their alumni association. He graduated from Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1974. Paul is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and past president of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, District 6. A long time member of the board of directors and a past president of the Birmingham Lions Club, Paul has recently been relected president. His dedicated service to Lions Club International was recognized in 2007 when he received their prestigious Melvin Jones Award.

Paul is an active member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church where he serves as an usher and is a past president of the Ushers Club. A lifelong resident of the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, Paul currently lives in Birmingham with his two teenage children. In memory of his late wife, Cheryl, Paul serves on the board of directors of  Sharing & Caring, a breast cancer education and support group at Beaumont Hospital. 

Kathleen Desmond Barr
Licensed Funeral Director, Treasurer and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner 

Kathy has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1990. She graduated from Marian High School in 1986, the University of Notre Dame in 1990, and the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1995. She has completed all the requirements to be recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals also designates her as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. A parishioner of St. Hugo of the Hills, Kathy serves as an Eucharistic minster and is a member of the St. Hugo Networking Group. She is also involved at St. Hugo Grade School, East Hills Middle School and University of Detroit Jesuit High School, where her children attend. A lifelong area resident, Kathy currently lives in Troy with her husband, Scott Barr, and their children. 

Kevin B. Desmond
Licensed Funeral Director, Vice-President and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner

Kevin has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 2008. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University in 2009 where he was the class vice president. Kevin also graduated from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business in 2008, majoring in Marketing, and from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 2004. He has completed all the requirements to be recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals also designates him as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association, and the Michigan Embalmers Society. Kevin currently coaches the 5th and 6th grade boys lacrosse team at St. Hugo grade school. Previously, he coached the Junior Varsity lacrosse team at U of D Jesuit. Kevin is also active with Angels' Place and is a member of the Notre Dame Club of Detroit Board of Directors and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. He is a lifelong member of St. Hugo of the Hills parish. Kevin and his wife, Katrina Piligian Desmond, live in Birmingham.

Suzanne Seitz Behan, CPC
Licensed Funeral Director, Director of Pre-Planning Services and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner

Suzanne has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1996 and has directed pre-planning services since 1997. She graduated from the Academy of Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, St. Petersburg College, Mortuary Science in 1996, and Sienna Heights College in 1997. Since 1999, the National Funeral Director Association has designated Suzanne as a Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC). She has completed all the requirements to be recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals also designates her as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. Suzanne is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. She is also a member of Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, Royal Oak Business Women's Association and the Berkley Chamber of Commerce.  Born and raised in the metro Detroit area, Suzanne lives with her husband in Royal Oak. 

Gary V. Borg
Licensed Funeral Director

Gary started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in 2000. After spending three years in Naples, Florida, he returned north to A.J. Desmond & Sons in 2006. Gary possesses extensive knowledge in cremation options and personalized funeral services. He grew up in Marquette and has been working in funeral service since 1992. Gary earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Embalmers Society and the Woodward Avenue Action Association. He is also an active member of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham where he is involved in the Men's Ministries and the Men's Bible Study Group. In his spare time, Gary enjoys playing hockey and spending time with his family. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Berkley.

Thomas Domlovil
Licensed Funeral Director

Tom has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1998. He received his license to practice mortuary science in 1974 and graduated from Wayne State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Tom is  a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association and its Member Services Committee, and the Michigan Embalmers Society and is past-President of MFDA District #6. He is President of the Board of Directors of the Leo XIII KC Federal Credit Union and also a member and treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Troy.

Tom grew up in the Detroit area and currently lives with his wife in Sterling Heights where he is a member of St. Blasé Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife are the parents of one daughter and one son, and proud grandparents of three granddaughters and one grandson.

Michael E. Flannery
Licensed Funeral Director

Mike has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 2001 and in funeral service since 1977. He graduated from Harper Woods Notre Dame High School in 1972, the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Science in 1976 and the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1977. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals has designated Mike as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner.  

Mike is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Embalmers Association, and serves on the Michigan Funeral Directors Association Disaster Committee. He is the a past president of MFDA District #6. Mike is the Past-president of the Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club where he recently received a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his work for the Rotary Foundation. He was born and raised in the Detroit area and has lived many years in Royal Oak with his family. Mike is a member and a Eucharistic Minister of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church. 

David Frade
Licensed Funeral Director

After serving families for decades at William R. Hamilton Company Bell Chapel, Dave started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in August, 2007. We are pleased Dave continues to assist the families he has served for so long. Dave is a lifelong resident of the Detroit area. He graduated from Pershing High School in Detroit, attended Highland Park Junior College, and graduated from Wayne State School of Mortuary Science in 1957. Licensed since 1958, he is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.

Dave and his wife Marilyn are long time residents of Birmingham and members of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church. They have four daughters and five grandchildren. A veteran of the Korean War, Dave enjoys classical music, old movies and photography.

Scott Hurrell
Licensed Funeral Director

Scott started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in 2007. Growing up in Marquette, he began working in funeral service in 2004. Scott earned a Bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University in 2008 where he was awarded the Gerald Cavalier Excellence in Embalming Award. Scott graduated from Marquette Senior High School where his athletic and academic accomplishments were recognized by the National Guard with the National Scholar-Athlete Award. Scott was also recognized for his service to the Marquette Rotary Club through the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2006 with a Bachelor's of Science, majoring in physiology and chemistry. 

More recently, the Michigan Institute of Funeral Professional has recognized Scott as a Certified Michigan Funeral Pracititioner. He is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and the Birmingham Rotary Club where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the National Ski Patrol and enjoys numerous outdoor sports. Scott and his wife live in downtown Detroit.

Mary E. Jamerino, LMSW
Director of Bereavement Services

Mary joined A.J. Desmond & Sons in 2009 to coordinate the aftercare and bereavement program. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work, having received her Masters of Social Work from Wayne State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has worked for over fifteen years as a social worker and bereavement program coordinator, assisting families and the community facilitate multidimensional grief. Mary has published a memory workbook/journal, Treasured Memories of a Special Person, for children and adolescents who have experienced the death of someone special. She belongs to the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a past vice-president of Kids in Crisis response team. Mary lives with her family in Clinton Township where she is a member of St. Thecla parish.

William J. Oldani, III
Licensed Funeral Director

Bill has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1995, joining his father Bill on the staff. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1995 and from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science in 2004. 

Bill is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the Young Funeral Directors Association. A member of Holy Name Catholic Church, Bill and his wife, Rachael, live in Berkley.

Louis Rodgers
Licensed Funeral Director

Lou has been serving families at the Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel for almost 50 years and previously was at the McInnes-Desmond Funeral Home in Highland Park. Lou has retired from full-time work as a funeral director, but is still very available and involved with the many families that have depended on him through the years.

Lou graduated from the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1952. He is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, US Marine Corps Reserve, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Knights of Columbus. Lou and his wife have resided in the area for over 50 years.  

Michael D. Withun
Licensed Funeral Director and Manager 

Mike started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in 1992. He received his Bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals has designated Mike a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is a member of the Michigan Embalmers Society, Michigan Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. He also belongs to the Troy-Clawson Elks, the Troy Chamber of Commerce, and the Lutheran Church of the Master. Mike is a long-time resident of Troy.