Bill Doherty II

Chairman; Licensed Funeral Director

Bill, a lifelong resident of Wilmington, is a graduate of John Dickinson High School, Delaware Technical and Community College and Catonsville Community College Department of Mortuary Science. Bill began working at the funeral home with his father, Bill Sr., at a young age and became a licensed funeral director in 1986. He has served on the boards of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, Mid-County Senior Center and Saint Mark’s High School. He is past president of the Christiana Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He is past president of the State of Delaware Board of Funeral Service, having been appointed as a professional member, by Governor Tom Carper. He is a member of the Delaware State Funeral Directors Association and served as the state’s National Policy Board Representative. He is a member of St. John the Beloved Parish and is a charter member of St. John the Beloved Council #11796 Knights of Columbus. Bill lives in Pike Creek with his wife Dana; they have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

Bill Doherty III

President; Licensed Funeral Director; Certified Crematory Operator

Bill is a 2003 graduate of Saint Mark’s High School, a 2007 graduate of Gettysburg College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management; and a 2013 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has been involved in the family business since 2000, and began working full-time in 2010. He represents the third generation at Doherty Funeral Homes, and takes great pride in following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Bill currently serves as President of the Delaware State Funeral Directors Association, and is a member of St. John the Beloved Parish. Bill lives in Hockessin with his wife, Kelly, and their three children.

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Melissa Doherty

Licensed Funeral Pre-Planning Consultant, Bereavement Coordinator

Melissa is a proud graduate of St. John the Beloved School, Saint Mark’s High School, and the University of Delaware, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She serves as the firm’s Licensed Funeral Pre-Planning Consultant and Bereavement Coordinator, guiding families through the planning process and offering continued support and care.

Outside of her professional role, Melissa is a dedicated mother of two daughters. She also enjoys instructing fitness classes and maintaining an active lifestyle, which she finds rewarding both personally and within her community.

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Chris Gillis

Vice President; Licensed Funeral Director

A Wilmington native, Chris is a graduate of St. Anthony of Padua Grade School, Salesianum School and earned his degree from Catonsville Community College of Mortuary Science.  He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Pius X Council.  Chris began his career in funeral service in 1990 and received his funeral director’s license from the State of Delaware in 1994. He has been privileged to serve families at Doherty Funeral Homes since 2006.  Chris enjoys spending his leisure time with family and friends, especially his niece and nephew.

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Martha Swanson

Licensed Funeral Director; Certified Crematory Operator

Martha Swanson is a licensed funeral director in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, recently celebrating her 10-year anniversary in the profession. Originally from Chester County, Pennsylvania, Martha is a 2008 graduate of Avon Grove High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Millersville University in 2012, followed by completing the Funeral Service Education program at Northampton Community College in 2014.

Before joining Doherty Funeral Home in the fall of 2019, Martha gained valuable experience working with another funeral firm in New Castle County. She takes great pride in guiding families through some of life’s most difficult moments with compassion, professionalism, and care.

Martha currently resides in Pike Creek, Delaware, with her dog, Oscar. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and also appreciates quiet time relaxing at home.  

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John F. Yasik III

Licensed Funeral Director

John F. Yasik, III is a native Delawarean.   A fourth generation Funeral Director of John F. Yasik Funeral Home.  John became  licensed in the State of Delaware in 1975 and joined his father, John F. Yasik, Jr., in the family business which was founded by his great grandfather. John is a lifelong member of St. Hedwig Parish, a graduate of St. Hedwig Elementary School and Salesianum School ‘71. He is a graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Sciences, where he received the Award for Excellence in embalming. John is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Delaware Funeral Directors Association, where he currently is serving his fourth term as Treasurer of the association. John is an active volunteer in the community. John is a 3rd degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus – St.  John Paul II Council.  He presently serves as their Chancellor and is a past Treasurer of the organization. He is a long time member of the Polish Festival Committee, where he can be seen annually entertaining the thirsty festival patrons as a bartender. He faithfully serves as Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for St. Hedwig Church and a member of St. Hedwig Finance Council.  He is also a member of the Polish Kitchen who prepares and serves the Polish dinner for International Night every January benefitting The Ministry of Caring.  He was past Treasurer of 12 years for St. Elizabeth Cub Scout Pack 285.  John was also an Umpire and member of the Delaware Amateur Softball Association for over 20 years. John lives in Newark with his wife, Dianne; They have two sons and four grandsons. In May 2014, John made a decision to join with the Doherty Funeral Homes and continues to serve his families as John F. Yasik Funeral Services through the facilities at 1900 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington and 3200 Limestone Road in Pike Creek.

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Sandy Jones

Family Care Consultant

Sandy graduated from St. Elizabeth High School and was hired directly by Wilmington Trust Company. She worked at Wilmington Trust Company for 17 years in Human Resources and held various administrative/managerial positions within Human Resources. She received an American Institute of Banking Diploma while employed at the bank. Sandy joined Doherty Funeral Home in 1995 as an administrative assistant & in 1998 became the Office Manager, retiring from this role in June 2025.  In addition, Sandy was formally trained as a Family Care Consultant to implement the Family Care Program in 2003. This “extra service after the service” has helped many of our Doherty families and has been very well received over the years. Sandy has been a lifelong member of St. Elizabeth Church; previous Pastoral Council Member, Parish Lector; Athletic Association Secretary; Junior Achievement Volunteer; and volunteer for church functions. Sandy is married & has 3 children.

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Suzanne Smith

Office Manager

Suzanne graduated from Padua Academy and then The University of Dayton with a BS in Dietetics and Nutrition. She began her career as a clinical dietitian and progressed through the roles of Chief Clinical Dietitian, Assistant Director for Patient Services, and Food Service Director at several area hospitals.

Becoming a stay at home mom, she became actively engaged in school and sports activities for her 5 kids in addition to participating in St. Elizabeth’s parish life by serving on Parish Council, the Parent-Teacher Association, in the parish choir, and volunteering as a cantor.

Suzanne rejoined the workforce with Sodexo as an office manager, and then as an Information Systems Analyst before joining Doherty Funeral Homes in May 2025 as the office manager.

She resides in Hockessin and enjoys spending time with her growing family including 8 grandkids, playing the piano, and cooking for family.

Kate Morgan

Pike Creek Office Administrator

Kate was born and raised in the Forty Acres area of Wilmington and is a graduate of St. Elizabeth’s High School and York College.  She began her customer service career at Pathmark, where she worked for 23 years.  Kate joined the staff of Doherty Funeral Homes in 2013 and currently serves as the Office Administrator at the Pike Creek location, where she values helping families during their time of need.  Coming from a large, close knit family, she is one of eleven children and enjoys their many gatherings.  Kate is married with four children and three grandchildren.

Dianne Yasik

Administrative Specialist

Dianne Yasik is a South Jersey native.  She is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing.  She was a Registered Nurse working for over 20 years at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in the Medical Oncology department and later in a private practice for Asthma, Allergy and Pulmonology Associates.  She served as the School Nurse at St Hedwig’s Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware before joining her husband, John F. Yasik, III, full time at the John F. Yasik Funeral Home as the Office Manager. As an active member of St. Hedwig Church, Dianne currently serves as a Eucharistic Minister, is past President of the Holy Rosary Society, and past co- chairman of St. Hedwig’s Annual Polish Festival.  She has also served as Treasurer of St. Hedwig Home and School Association and has been chairman of the school Auction Committee.  She was active for many years in the St. Hedwig CYM Sports program where she coached both the 4th Grade girls and Senior boys basketball teams.  Dianne also served for many years as a co-leader of Cub Scout Pack 285. Dianne lives in Newark with her husband John; they have 2 sons and 4 grandsons.   In May of 2014, Dianne joined the staff of Doherty Funeral Homes. 

Lynne Immediato

Administrative Specialist

Lynne graduated from Goldey-Beacom College with an A.S. degree in Legal Secretary Studies.  She then received her Paralegal Certificate from Widener University School of Law.  Lynne worked in the corporate law field for 13 years. After the birth of twin boys in 2000, she became a stay-at-home mom to her four children. In 2006, once her children were in school full time, Lynne returned to work in a part-time Administrative Assistant position with Doherty.  Lynne is a member of the Delaware Paralegal Association and a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Church.  She lives in Wilmington with her husband and four children. 

Larry Parrish

Funeral Director's Assistant; Certified Crematory Operator

Larry was born and raised in Wilmington and is a 1969 graduate of Conrad High School. Upon retiring from DuPont after 24 years of service, he began his second career in funeral service in 1996. Larry lives in North Wilmington with his wife, Martha; they have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Paul Mullin

Funeral Director's Assistant; Certified Crematory Operator

Paul began his career in funeral service in 1991. Raised in the Pike Creek area, he is a 1981 graduate of Christiana High School. He recently joined the staff of Doherty Funeral Home where he proudly serves families in their time of need. He currently lives in Newark with his wife, Bettyann. They have four grown children and one grandchild. In his leisure time he and Bettyann like to take road trips or simply stroll the town of Chesapeake City with their Great Dane, Luna.

Cody Reynolds

Funeral Director's Assistant; Certified Crematory Operator

Cody Reynolds, a native Delawarean, is a funeral service professional who began working in the industry in 2019. He graduated from Caravel Academy in 2015 and has since built his career serving families and supporting funeral operations in New Castle Co.

Outside of his work, Cody is an avid traveler with an impressive record of having visited all 50 U.S. states and 31 countries. His travels have given him a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives, enriching both his personal life and his professional approach to serving families with empathy and understanding.

He continues to develop his expertise in the funeral profession and remains committed to the families of Doherty Funeral Home.