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STAFF

Meet Our Caring Staff

Meet our staff, members of the local community who make everything that happens possible.

Richard Traunero

Richard Traunero

Owner / Funeral Director

Rich is a fourth-generation Tiffinite, his great-grandfather having emigrated here from Italy in 1882. Rich is a graduate of Tiffin Columbian High School, attended Bowling Green State University, and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a licensed embalmer and funeral director, a licensed life insurance agent, and a licensed airplane pilot. Rich is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Tiffin Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus Third and Fourth Degrees, and serves on several area community boards of directors, including the Kiwanis Manor Board, former board member of Tiffin Kiwanis Foundation, is a Past Chair of the Mercy Tiffin Health Foundation, a charter member of the St. Francis Spirituality Center Development Committee, a long time member/advisor on the Finance Committee for the Tiffin City Schools Board of Education, and also is an Advisory Board member for the Willows at Tiffin. He is also a Past President of the Flying Funeral Directors of America. Rich is also involved as an Angel Flight Pilot, as well as a volunteer pilot for Pilots N Paws and Lifeline Pilots.

Andrea Traunero

Andrea Traunero

Owner / Funeral Director

Andrea Traunero is a native of Columbus Grove, Ohio, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from B.G.S.U., and a Master's Degree in Administration from the University of Dayton. She was an elementary school teacher for twelve years before obtaining her funeral director license and joining her husband full time at the funeral home. Andrea is a member of Faith United Methodist Church, St. Francis Auxiliary, formerly a Substitute Teacher for Tiffin City Schools, she served on the Tiffin City Schools Building Facility Study Task Force, Parent Volunteer for Krout School and was an assistant Den Leader for the Bascom Bear Cub Scouts.   Most recently Andrea helped lead an effort to make more than 50,000 face masks to combat the Covid 19 pandemic, along with many other sewists and volunteers throughout Seneca County.  This resulted in many awards, including the City of Tiffin Mayor's Award.

Teresa Traxler

Teresa Traxler

Office/Reception/Assistant

Teresa is a native of Tiffin. She is a Columbian High School graduate, a member of Family of Faith Lutheran Church, and the Tiffin Art Guild. She has a grown daughter Sarah. Teresa enjoys cooking, sewing, art of all kinds and spending time with family and friends.

Matt Plessner

Matt Plessner

Advanced Planning Expert

Matt is our Pre-need Planning Expert and helps families and individuals plan their funerals ahead of time.  Matt is licensed to provide pre-need life insurance, enabling families to secure their funeral arrangements for the future.  Matt visits with families in their homes or at our office to answer their questions and assist them with their needs.

Michael Benner

Michael Benner

Assistant

Mike is retired from Ameriwood and resides in Tiffin with his wife, Barbara.  He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and is active with the T-Squares Dancing Club.  Mike and Barb enjoy relaxing in their camper and visiting their kids.

Delbert Schank

Delbert Schank

Assistant

Delbert is retired from American Standard and also helps on his family's farm.  He is active at St. Mary Catholic Church and at the Knights of Columbus in Tiffin.  Delbert is married to Christine, a retired teacher for Tiffin City Schools.

Robert Sigler

Robert Sigler

Assistant

Rob is a native of Seneca County. He graduated from Columbian High School in 1987. He is a devoted family man with two children, Mariah and Brady Sigler. He is a  member of First Presbyterian Church, Tiffin. Rob is retired from the Seneca County Sheriff's office and the United States military. He is a veteran of Panama and also Iraq. Rob attended Terra Community College and graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Social work. Rob works as a social worker in Seneca County and helps part-time at the funeral home.

Steve Rau

Steve Rau

Assistant

Steve works in maintenance at Tiffin University and helps part-time at Traunero Funeral Home. He has three children, Alex, Samantha, and Noah. Steve umpires youth league baseball and also officiates middle school and junior varsity basketball games.

Terry Nusbaum

Terry Nusbaum

Assistant

Terry is retired from Tiffin Developmental Center.  He enjoys golf, his grandchildren, and is active as a Trustee at the Knights of Columbus.

Mataya Moore

Mataya Moore

Student Assistant

Mataya is a 2023 graduate Columbian High School and desires to pursue a career as a funeral director/embalmer.  She attends Terra State Community College and then plans to attend the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

Rob Traunero

Rob Traunero

Assistant

Rob is Rich and Andrea's son and is a 2012 graduate of Columbian High School.  Rob has participated in basketball and track at Columbian.  He has also played drums in the marching and pep bands.  He works as the  Parts Manager for Findlay Chrysler.  Rob lives in Findlay but helps out at the funeral home when needed.

Cassandra Traunero

Cassandra Traunero

Musician

Cassandra is a 2014 Columbian High School graduate.  She attends Tiffin University studying Psychology and is pursuing her degree in addiction counseling and music therapy. She is a valued employee at Forte Music in Tiffin.  Cassi is a flautist and provides special music as the occasion is needed.

Odis

Odis

Comfort Dog in Training

Odis is a two-year-old Labradoodle who was recently rescued from the Seneca County Humane Society.  He is a friendly dog, and he is learning about the funeral home environment.  It is our hope that someday he will be a comfort to those seeking a furry friend during a sad time.  Odis follows our previous comfort dogs, Shaggy and Lilly.

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