OUR STAFF

James, a.k.a. Jamie, finished the mortuary program at Northampton Area Community College in 2002, attaining his Associate Degree in Funeral Sciences. After completing his internship and passing his boards he became licensed in November of 2003. Jamie is a graduate of Wilkes University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science/Business Administration. He played as a Free Safety for the Wilkes football team prior to being an Assistant Defensive Coach for the University. He also played 2nd base for the Wilkes baseball team. Jamie has volunteered and held positions in local organizations including, The St. Luke's University Health Network VNA Board, Foundation Board of Northampton Community College, St. Anne's School Endowment Board, North Central Little League Board of Directors, Knights of Columbus, and the ArtsQuest Performing Arts Board to name a few. Jamie is married to Angela Connell and they have three boys, Evan, Caden, and James.

Matt finished the mortuary science program at Northampton Area Community College in 2004, attaining his Associate Degree in Funeral Sciences. And attained his funeral director license in 2005. Matt is also a graduate of Moravian College with a Bachelor Degree in Business Management. Matt has one son, Daniel and one daughter, Samantha. Matt is an avid sports fan, especially the University of Notre Dame.

John Connell completed the mortuary science program at Northampton County Community College and became a licensed funeral director in 2015. Prior to graduating from Northampton Community College, John graduated from Arcadia University with a degree in History. In 2016, John was inducted into the Arcadia University Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2017 he was named to the CSAC 25th Anniversary Team. John is currently on the Bethlehem Catholic High School Board of Directors. He and his wife, Mary (Reichard) live in Bethlehem and have two children, Avery and Jack and two rescue dogs, Chase and Kaya.

Frank J. Falk, F.D., Co-Owner, Funeral Director, Supervisor- Pennsburg

Frank is a 1981 graduate of Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, with a degree in Funeral Service. He also attended DeSales University, Center Valley and Moravian College, Bethlehem with an emphasis in Psychology. He has been a Pennsylvania funeral director and co-owner of the Falk Funeral Home in Pennsburg since October of 1982. As part of his profession, he is a licensed insurance agent and a certified crematory operator. He is a former member of the former Upper Perkiomen Jaycees where he chaired many community projects. Frank is a member of the Upper Perk Kiwanis Club where his is a past president (1988-and 1989), a former member of the board of directors of Upper Perkiomen Chapter of the American Cancer Society where he served as secretary for several years. He served as a board member and several times as board president for the former Open Line. He also served on the board of directors of the Open Link (the former Open Line) and as the board secretary there from 2018 to 2022. He is currently serving on the Open Link Governance Committee and the Building Committee. He served on the board of directors of the Upper Perkiomen Chamber of Commerce for 25 years from 1997 to 2022 where he was active on many committees. He is an associate member of the Upper Perkiomen Lions Club. Frank is a member of Perkiomen Lodge #595, F.&A.M. and a 32 Degree Mason in the Scottish Rite, Valley of Allentown. He is a past Board Member of the Hellertown Area Library and the Board of Directors of the Hellertown – Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce. Frank is a member of Pennsburg United Church of Christ, where he served on the Consistory and was chairman of the Stewardship Committee. He currently serves on the Investment Committee, the Property Committee, and the Cemetery Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of Frieden’s Union Cemetery in Sumneytown. He is also currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Upper Perk Homeless Coalition. He was a long-time avid tennis player, is a current pickleball player, and a former league bowler at the East Greenville Fire Company lanes. He also enjoys the outdoors and is a fisherman and a hunter. However, he is most proud of his two beautiful daughters, Sandra and her husband Brandon of Charlotte, NC, and Kristen and her husband Preston of Sanatoga, PA, and his grandson, Stanley Bastuba.

Donna is a graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem with a degree in Social Work. She worked at the Good Shepherd Home in Allentown as a caseworker for 6 years before receiving her certificate in Funeral Services from Northampton Community College. She has been a licensed Pennsylvania funeral director since 1989. Donna is a past president of the Upper Perkiomen Business and Professional Woman's Club where she was voted Woman of the Year in ____. She is a past-president of the Board of Directors of the Upper Perkiomen Senior Citizens Center, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce, and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Perkiomen Valley Library. She is a member of Pennsburg United Church of Christ, where she is a past Consistory president. Donna & Frank have two daughters and a grandson. Donna is a published author with excerpts of her work appearing in such prestigious publications as The Wall Street Journal. She also earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do, a Korean Martial Art, in 2005. Currently, she enjoys running, pickleball, and spending time with her family and friends.

Chadd A. Hamman was born and raised in Hellertown. He is a 1997 graduate from the Saucon Valley School District where he was very active in athletics. After finishing high school, he entered the funeral service education program at Northampton Area Community College and graduated in 2000 as Class President. Chadd later returned to Northampton as the adjunct embalming teacher for a few years. He is a Certified Crematory Operator. Chadd coaches baseball for the Hellertown/Lower Saucon Little League. His wife Stephanie M. (Schoch) is a teacher for the Saucon Valley School District which their two children, Ellie and Drew attend as well. They reside in Lower Saucon Township.

Peter Campagna has been with the Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory since 2011. He graduated from Northampton Community College in 2014 and became a licensed Funeral Director shortly after. He was a member of the Hellertown Lions from 2014-2018. He and his wife, Chantal have two beautiful daughters and are proud to live in Hellertown and be a part of the Saucon Valley. He enjoys spending time with his family, being outside in nature, and loves music.

Scott graduated with honors from Northampton Community College Funeral Service Education in 1992 and attained his PA Funeral Director's license in 1993. Scott's focus and responsibility is the sacred, dignified preparation and presentation of the deceased, along with ethical care and service to bereaved families. His main role is an expert embalmer, reconstructive specialist, and talented restorative artist. Scott and his wife, Jodie, reside in Forks Township (Easton), PA.

A licensed funeral director since 1982, Jay has been with Connell Funeral Home since 1994. He graduated with a B.S. degree from East Stroudsburg University in 1979, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1980. Originally from Lehighton, PA, Jay and his wife Nancy live in the Bethlehem area. Jay enjoys golf, tennis, and traveling.

Klarissa attained her Associate Degree in Funeral Service Education from Northampton Community College in May of 2020. After completing her internship and passing her state boards, she became licensed in August of 2021. An avid gym goer, she believes everyone needs to find something to take their mind off of reality even if it’s just for an hour a day. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, her boyfriend, Jarett and her fur child, Xander. She currently resides in Bethlehem.

Jess came to Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory in April of 2023 after earning a degree in Funeral Service from Northampton Community College in 2021. A 2006 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School, she spent many years working in and around the community as a hairdresser. Wanting to have more of an impact helping those in the community, Jess took the steps to change careers. She is a member of the Upper Perkiomen Rotary Club and serves as secretary for the Poor Bastards Car Club. In her spare time, Jess enjoys reading, crafting, having too many houseplants, and spending time with her husband, two kids, and pets.

Michelle was raised in Hanover Twp. and attended Catasauqua High School. Pursuing a college degree, she went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

In search of a more fulfilling career, Michelle attended Northampton Community College's Mortuary Science Program, graduating in 2012. Following an internship in Harrisburg and successfully completing her state board testing, she obtained her Funeral Director/Embalmer license in June of 2013. After years of assisting families in all aspects of the death of a loved one, Michelle began to focus on helping folks pre-plan and has found her true calling.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling the world, cooking, walking with her dog named Pickle, and caring for her many varieties of houseplants. She resides in Washington Township with her husband Sean, and their children, Shoshanna, Magnus, Emma, and Harper.

A Hellertown native, Ashley has always felt a strong connection to her community. Growing up in the quiet charm of this close-knit Lehigh Valley town, she learned early the importance of compassion, dignity, and being there for others. These core values have guided her personally and professionally ever since. After graduating from Saucon Valley High School in 2021, she continued her education at Northampton Area Community College and earned her degree in Mortuary Science in 2024. Along with receiving her degree, she obtained her Crematory Operator Certification and was awarded the Eastern Pennsylvania State Funeral Director Award. Over the past year, she had lived in Montoursville PA, and completed all national and state requirements to receive her licensure. After securing her Funeral Director License, Ashley knew she wanted to return home to serve the community who shaped her. For her, being a funeral director isn't just a career, it's a calling tied deeply to her hometown roots. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys antiquing at local vintage shops, crafting various projects, and spending time outdoors. She currently resides in Steel City, a small village nestled in between Bethlehem and Hellertown.

Michael A. Ebeling has been with the Connell Funeral Home as support staff since 2006. In January of 2022 he joined the funeral home full time as a funeral attendant. Michael is a Bethlehem native and graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School in 1999. Michael resides in Bethlehem with his wife, McKenna and their mini schnauzer, Pocahontas. In his free time, Michael enjoys working on his Jeep and loves to spend time outside hiking and attending rock concerts.

John serves as our day to day manager. He makes sure we are properly staffed for all services, that the funeral home has the right vehicles in the right places at the right times, and ensures that everything is in order and running smoothly. John oversees our support staff, which numbers about 15 people, and has been affiliated with Connell Funeral Home for over 20 years as a member of our support staff. He retired after a distinguished career as a Bethlehem Fire Fighter for 29 years, and in 2005 joined us full time in his current capacity. John and his wife Ellie live in Bethlehem and have two children, Greg and Marisa. Greg and his wife, Jen are both teachers in the Bethlehem area School District. Marisa is an assistant softball coach at Lehigh University. John and Ellie have 2 wonderful grandsons, Ethan and Caleb.

Chantal Campagna started with Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory in 2018. She and her husband, Peter have two daughters who are their world. They live in Hellertown and enjoy being a part of the Saucon Valley. She enjoys reading books, doing puzzles and spending time outside in nature.

Nancy has been at Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory since 2010. She came to us when her youngest son was ready to start preschool. Before Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory she worked at The Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

Nancy served four years in the Navy where she met her husband, Chris who was serving in the Marine Corps. They moved to her husband's roots in the Bally area after her husband's enlistment from the Marine Corps in 2002. They have one daughter and two sons and enjoy spending their free time with them.