Please Call Us For Assistance, We Are Available 24/7
Ducro Funeral Services & Crematory, (440) 992-2191
Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home, (440) 998-1234
Childs-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home, (440) 577-1311
Our Staff
J.P. Ducro IV
~President/Owner/Funeral Director
J.P. Ducro is a fifth-generation funeral director/embalmer with his family business. A Certified Pre-Planning Consultant and member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, he is the President of Ducro Services and co-owner along with his mother, Sue. A 1992 graduate of Miami University, Oxford, OH, he then earned his degree in Mortuary Science from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1994.
Devoted to the community and the families of Ashtabula County, he has been honored to help in their time of need. J.P. has served as Ashtabula City Council President and is currently serving Ashtabula County as one of its three Ashtabula County Commissioners, while assisting at the funeral home as time allows. His service to the community has included the Ashtabula Elks, Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Ashtabula County, and the Ashtabula/Harbor/Lakeside Alumni Association to name a few.
He is grateful for his wonderful and professional staff that allows him the freedom and flexibility to do so, as well as for the support of his mother, wife Peggy, and daughters, MaryCate, Lizzie, Sara, and Anna.
Sue Curtis Ducro
~Vice President/Owner/Funeral Director
Sue Curtis Ducro, psychologist and funeral director, having focused on educational and developmental issues, has worked with the court, schools, and as a lecturer at several Kent State University campuses in addition to bereavement and grief support programs and issues.
She and her late husband, J. Peter, have a long history of community service, including coordinating the original county-wide Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine Program. Other board memberships and support include: Organizing the first Earth Day Program locally, Board of Mental Health Association, United Appeal, Ashtabula Arts Center, Ashtabula County District Library, and a founder of the Women’s Service League and Crisis Intervention Teams.
Conservation is of special interest to Sue, as well as writing professional articles and poetry. As a conservationist, Sue has encouraged her family and friends to understand the value of our Planet Earth. She believes our environment should be protected and cultivated for future generations in which to live and work. Her dedication to our planet is to be admired and emulated. Sue has also over the years developed the funeral home's bereavement library, many of the books having been donated to the public libraries, hoping to provide resources to a wider range of readers.
Sue is also a Life Member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and a Certified Grief Management Specialist.
Jennifer Blanchette
~CFO of Ducro Services / GM of Greenlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery
Jennifer is a lifelong Ashtabula county resident and graduate of Edgewood High School.
She began her career with Ducro Services in 1999 as an Administrative Assistant. After receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting with a minor in Business from Lake Erie College, Jennifer was promoted to CFO.
Jennifer is a graduate of Leadership Ashtabula, Class of 2002 and grateful for the experience. During her year of learning about Ashtabula County, she met many wonderful people both as fellow students and as presenters to the class.
In 2010, Jennifer was asked to be General Manager of Greenlawn Memory Gardens, and she has done a remarkable job in effecting positive change and progressive ideas for Greenlawn. Her willingness to learn and pass that information to other staff members is commendable. She also assists with families when they have questions or concerns.
Jennifer has two sons, Owen and Lucas and when she is not busy with their many activities she likes to work in her garden and enjoy the sunshine.
Jennifer enjoys being a daughter, sister, and mom and views her family as her greatest accomplishment.
Eric A. Nesbitt
~General Manager/ Funeral Director/ Embalmer
Eric graduated from Springfield High School in Akron, Ohio in 1997. He attended Walsh University in Canton, Ohio and graduated in 2000 from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where he was awarded his Bachelors Degree in Mortuary Science. Eric has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the State of Ohio since 2002.
At the age of 16, Eric began his career in funeral service, as a grounds-keeper, courier and funeral director’s assistant at the Hopkins-Lawver Funeral Home. His passion for the funeral profession has led him to creating a funeral service that is meaningful and personalized. Eric will often be heard saying, “I want to help ease the burden in some small way.” He has assisted the Ducro Family since 2004, serving in a PRN role and providing support to the funeral home as a funeral director and embalmer. In June of 2017, he and his wife, Stephanie Hall-Nesbitt, stepped up into a full-time role to assist with managing the day-to-day operations for Ducro Services.
In addition to their duties at Ducro Funeral Home, Stephanie and Eric fulfilled a long-time dream of funeral home ownership in 2012 with the purchase of the Thompson-Smith Funeral Home in Conneaut, Ohio. He serves as the President of the now Thompson-Smith-Nesbitt Funeral Home in addition to his duties as the managing funeral director and embalmer.
Eric and Stephanie M. Hall-Nesbitt, have been married since 2005, together they have two sons, Gavin and Zadyn. Eric is a very active member of the Conneaut Lions Club, chairing the eye-glass collection and sight-saving committees. He is also the past-president and former member of the Conneaut Library Board of Trustees and past member of the Conneaut Port Authority. The Nesbitt's are members of New LEAF United Methodist Church in Conneaut. In his spare time, you can find him out at his camp or on the shores of Lake Erie, where he loves spending time riding jet-skis and walking the beach.
Stephanie M. Hall-Nesbitt
~Director of Operations/Funeral Director/Embalmer
Stephanie was born and raised in Conneaut, the daughter of Ernest and Sheila (Mosier) Hall. She graduated from Conneaut High School Class of 1999. At the age of 12, she felt the calling of becoming a funeral director.
After graduation from high school, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati, and then went on the graduate with her Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2003.
She and her husband Eric, have owned and operated Thompson-Smith-Nesbitt Funeral Home in Conneaut since 2012. Stephanie is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, pre-arrangement counselor, crematory operator and is currently managing the day to day operations for Ducro Services.
Stephanie has two children, Gavin and Zadyn. She is a member of the New LEAF United Methodist Church in Conneaut, The Conneaut Lions Club, former President of the Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce and the Leadership Ashtabula Class of 2018. In her spare time she enjoys bowling, camping and spending time with her family.
Kathleen Shaffer, CFSP
~Funeral Director/Embalmer/Celebrant- Retired
Kathleen has been with Ducro Services since 2008. She is a graduate of ITT Technical Institute, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration. While attending ITT, she was nominated and accepted into the National Technical Honor Society. Kathleen is a graduate Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where she served as treasurer for the Delta Gamma Pi Sorority. She has certifications in Crematory Management and as a Certified Pre-Planning Consulatant and Certified Celebrant.
Kathleen has worked in the health care profession for many years, first as a nurse's aide and then Business Office Manager for Senior Living Communities. It was a natural transition from healthcare to becoming a funeral director.
She and her husband, Mike and granddaughter, Athena are residents of Ashtabula Township and enjoy all that this area has to offer. They are the parents of six children and six grandchildren. Athena is a freshman at Lakeside High School and participates in a number of activities. Mike drives bus for Buckeye School District and they are active members of Messiah Lutheran Church.
Kathleen currently serves as President of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where she serves on the Scholarship Assistance Committee and Marketing and Membership Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees and Secretary for the Foundation of her alma mater, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
She feels truly privileged to meet and care for families in Ashtabula County and the surrounding areas. The people have become more like family and she considers them her friends. Many things have been said about being a funeral director in today’s world, but there is one thing she knows: that for her there is no more honorable profession than that of a funeral director.
Scott Orahood
~Manager – Childs- Williams-Ducro Funeral Home, Pierpont
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Scott Orahood joined the Ducro Services Staff in June of 2018.
Scott was born and raised in Andover, Ohio and graduated in 1985 from Pymatuning Valley High School.
Scott received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science from Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science in 1989. He began his career in Virginia; working for three years before returning to Ohio and obtaining his Ohio Funeral Director’s License and Embalmer's License in 1994.
Scott and wife, Sonia (Tear) married in 1990 in Virginia and are the proud parents of Cassandra, who is a Clinical Pharmacist with the Cleveland Clinic, and Isaac, who is a 5th grade teacher with the Bristol School System.
Scott and his family are members of Andover United Methodist Church; where he serves on various Leadership Boards and is a Worship Team member. He is also a Board Member for the Pymatuning Area Chamber of Commerce.
Scott is pleased to be a part of the Ducro Staff and we are honored to have his expertise.
Megan Riley
~Funeral Director/Embalmer/ Certified Celebrant
Megan joined Ducro Funeral Services in August 2020. In 2015, she graduated Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthrophony and Psychology. In 2016, she went on to earn her degree in Mortuary Science from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS). A licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Megan is honored to help assist families of Ashtabula County and the surrounding areas.
Through Bella Care Hospice, she volunteers her time to help comfort patients and family members during one of life’s most difficult transitions with her corgi, Otis, who is a Certified Grief Therapy Dog through Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Ashtabula County Child Services-Rooms to Grow Program has also welcomed Megan and Otis as volunteers.
When time allows, Megan loves being outside, traveling with her husband, Lucas, and helps maintain their hobby farm.
OTIS RILEY
~Therapy Dog
Otis is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and was born on September 17, 2017 in Lancaster Pennsylvania. His owner Megan Riley, is one of the Funeral Directors at Ducro Funeral Services.
At the end of 2020, Megan and Otis became a certified Pet Therapy Team through Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Otis really enjoys coming to work with Megan and helps bring another level of comfort to families who have lost their loved ones and their fur babies.
Otis also volunteers his time visiting local hospice patients and their families and provides support to parents and children who participate in Ashtabula County Child Services-Rooms to Grow Program. He loves belly rubs, scratches behind his ears and rolling around in the snow. His favorite toys are his squeaky toys. You can also find Otis on the family farm running around the fields chasing chickens and goats.
Sandra Reed, CPLP
~ Office Manager/Certified Pet Loss Professional
Sandy has been with Ducro Services since 2007 and is the Office Manager and Certified Pet Loss Professional.
In 2013, she obtained her Certified Pet Loss Professional (CPLP) designation by completing a twelve-hour management education program. In order to maintain her certification, she is required to have five hours of continuing education each year. To assist our pet families at a higher level in 2014, Sandy obtained her Pet Loss and Grief Companioning Certification. Both of these certifications allow Sandy to help our pet families during their time of loss.
Our pets are family members and their passing is a difficult time for everyone. Sandy has attended the Pet Loss Professional Alliance (PLPA) Pet College and is a member of the Pet Loss Professional Alliance (PLPA) and a member of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.
Her continued education in the area of Pet Loss allows Sandy to keep up with the latest trends in Pet Loss and share them with our pet families and our staff.
In 2016, Sandy was privileged to be a member of the enlightening and informative Leadership Ashtabula program and she enjoyed learning about Ashtabula County and the surrounding areas.
Sandy is married to Bill Reed. They have six children and twelve grandchildren who keep them very active. When they are not spending time with them, Bill and Sandy enjoy fishing on Lake Erie on their boat, “The Local Hookers”. They have recently purchased a motorcycle and enjoy taking weekend trips.
Sherri Wood
~Administrative Secretary
Sherri began her position with Ducro Funeral Services in April of 2018. She and her family are active members of the Ashtabula community.
Sherri and her husband, Bryan Wood are a blended family of five children, Robert, Lauren, Emily, Zack and Logan; proud grandparents of five beautiful girls, Rylee, Carlye, Bayleigh, Grace and Lakelyn with another sweet little granddaughter to join the them soon.
Sherri is a graduate of Ashtabula High School and has served on many parent committees while her children were in high school. She believes in Ashtabula County and volunteers as a member of Ashtabula Lighthouse Preservation Society.
When you walk in the front door of Ducro Funeral Home it is Sherri’s smile that will greet you and answer your questions. She is also one of the persons who will help you when your pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge.
Ducro Services is pleased that Sherri has joined our staff and look forward to a long relationship.
Greenlawn Memory Gardens Staff
Linda Nerad
~ Administrative Assistant
Linda has been a member of our staff since 2013. Her knowledge of payroll and H.R. is invaluable.
Not only does Linda work at our Elm Avenue location, but she also lends her expertise to Greenlawn Memory Garden Cemetery in North Kingsville. At Greenlawn, Linda is a Family Service Coordinator, meeting with families and helping them with their many questions and concerns.
Linda and her husband, Ed, who works at Cristal are residents of North Kingsville. They have two children, Christopher and Emily, and a grandson, Jax.
Ed and Linda enjoy cooking and gardening in their free time. Linda enjoys crafting for her family and friends and is already busy for her new granddaughter. She is also the secretary for the Ashtabula Lighthouse Preservation Society and was the C.C.D. Coordinator for St. Andrews Church in Sheffield Township.
Jessica M. Masirovits
~Family Service Coordinator
Jessica has joined Greenlawn Memory Gardens’ staff in October of 2017. As a Family Service Coordinator, Jessica assists families in arranging the burial of their loved ones, as well as maintaining files and assisting with day to day office activities.
Prior to joining the staff of Greenlawn Memory Gardens , Jessica advocated for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her patience, compassion and concern for her clients make her a perfect choice to be a Family Services Coordinator. During the time of loss of their loved ones, families need those skills that Jessica possesses to assist them with their decisions.
Jessica is the proud mother of Emily Anne and Lauren Elizabeth who are both active in band and sports through Buckeye Local Schools and other various community programs.
When not working, Jessica enjoys reading, baking, and working with essential oils to create her own household products and natural remedies.
Jeff Cottom
~ Greenlawn Cemetery Grounds Superintendent
Jeff has been with Greenlawn Memory Gardens for thirteen years and has done an excellent job of grounds-keeping.
He understands that keeping the grounds in order is critical to our families. They want the location of their loved ones maintained, and Jeff and his crew are always busy caring for the cemetery.
When people come to visit their loved ones and are not sure of the location, Jeff can usually pinpoint the grave for them.
His pride in dressing the grounds for Memorial Day and Flag Day can be seen when you drive along Route 20 or are coming to place flowers.
Jeff graduated from St. John High School. He and his wife Kelly live in Saybrook and they have two sons, Jeffrey and Casey.
Jeff enjoys baseball and cheers for the Indians.
Michael Gregory
~ Cemetery Caretaker
Mike has been employed with Greenlawn Memory Gardens since 2016. His eagerness to learn is an asset to Greenlawn.
Mike is married to Amber and they have a son, Michael, and are expecting the next member of the Gregory family in the near future. Mike also spends a great amount of time on the mowers and caring for the grounds.
Ducro Staff
