History & Staff

John Sullivan Owner/Funeral Director & Embalmer

John is a 2006 graduate of Providence Catholic High School. He completed his prerequisites at Moraine Valley Community College and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2009. He became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2010 and is also a Certified Crematory Operator. John is married to Shanoah, and they have 4 children: Charley, Lachlan, Magnolia and Georgia. John is a member of NFDA, IFDA, and CANA. John takes great pride in comforting family’s in their time of need and believes that fulfilling family’s wishes are most important.

Shanoah Sullivan Owner/ Funeral Director & Embalmer

Shanoah was born and raised in Iowa. She completed her prerequisites at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she received an Associate of Arts Degree. Shanoah moved to Chicago to attend Worsham College of Mortuary Science, which is where she met her husband John, and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in 2009. Shanoah is a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer and a Certified Crematory Operator. When Shanoah is not at the Funeral Home she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and 4 kids.

Michael Palacz Funeral Director/Embalmer

Mike is a 5th generation, licensed funeral director, embalmer, and Certified Crematory Operator in the state of Illinois. He is a graduate from Reavis High School and then attended Moraine Valley Community College where he received my Associate’s Degree. Furthermore, Mike received the Distinguished Scholar award and received a full tuition scholarship. Afterwards, Mike graduated from Illinois State University with a double major in Financial Accounting and Organizational Leadership in 2010. Later that fall, he attended and graduated from the historic Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2012. During his apprenticeship, Mike studied and received his MBA from Concordia. Mike recently joined the McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home and is ready to embark on another chapter in his profession.

Carla Lara Bilingual Funeral Director/Embalmer

Carla was born and raised in Chicago and is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, certified crematory operator, and cremation arranger in the state of Illinois. She graduated from Malcolm X College in 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she proudly serves the Latino community by assisting them during their most difficult times.

Mark O'Meara Precious Pets Manager/Certified Crematory Operator

Ed Sullivan Driver/Funeral Assistant

Aurora Delgado Bi-lingual Wake & Funeral Assistant

Tim Sullivan Visitation Attendant

Geoff Zikas Visitation Attendant

Kelly Unruh Family Service Counselor, Pre-Need Specialist

Kelly is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the States of
Kansas and Illinois and has been involved in funeral service for the
past 40 years. Previous to joining the staff of the McCauley-Sullivan
Funeral Home & Crematorium, he was affiliated with Wilbert Funeral
Services, Inc. of Broadview, IL. During his tenure with Wilbert, Kelly
was involved numerous times with the interment of deceased veterans
at Arlington National Cemetery. He was also instrumental in arranging
the donation, construction and personalization of The Wilbert Bronze ®
burial vault for the interment of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack on
the Pentagon at a special memorial service held on September 12,
2002 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Building upon his passion for funeral service, knowledge of the
profession and his deep desire to help families Kelly joined the staff of
the McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home & Crematorium as the Aftercare
and Family Service Counselor. Kelly and his wife Laura currently
reside in Plainfield, IL.