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, Tiffin Kiwanis Foundation, is a Past Chair of the Mercy Tiffin Health Foundation, St. Francis Spirituality Center Development Committee, and the Finance Committee for the Tiffin City Schools Board of Education. 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.

Telephone: 1-419-447-3113

Email: tfh@traunerofuneralhome.com

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, 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. 

Telephone: 1-419-447-3113

Email: tfh@traunerofuneralhome.com

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 and husband Burnie have a grown daughter Sarah. Teresa enjoys cooking, sewing, art of kinds and spending time with family and friends.

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

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

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

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

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.

Sean Durocher

Assistant

Sean is originally from Allen Park, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan and is a recent graduate of Tiffin University, where he majored in homeland security and terrorism.  Sean also earned his Masters Degree at Tiffin University and is the Interim Director of Campus Security at Tiffin University.  He and his wife, Allison, reside in Tiffin.

Cassie Wheeler

Assistant

Cassie Wheeler is from Miamisburg, Ohio and is a senior at Heidelberg University, where she has played volleyball and is active in other student affairs.  She has been helping at Traunero's for since 2016.  Cassie plans to enter mortuary training at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in the fall of 2019 and continue her studies to become a funeral director/embalmer.

Email: cwheele1@heidelberg.edu

Robbie Traunero

Assistant

Robbie is Rich and Andrea's son and is a 2012 graduate of Columbian High School.  Robbie has participated in basketball and track at Columbian.  He has also played drums in the marching and pep bands.  In addition to helping at the funeral home, he also works as an automobile sales representative at Schaffer-Danhoff Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep in Willard.

Nancy Forbes

Assistant

Nancy Forbes is Andrea's mother and is a native of Lima, Ohio. She is a retired registered nurse and was on the Boards of Directors of F.A.C.T., the YMCA, and Y-wives. She is currently a member of the Herb Society, and Keenagers.  She is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ.

Email: lnforbes@bright.net

Lowell Forbes

Assistant

Lowell Forbes is Andrea Traunero's father, and is a native of Columbus Grove, Ohio. He and his wife Nancy moved to Tiffin in 1997. Lowell is a retired school treasurer and was with the United Way and is a member of the Tiffin Kiwanis Club, Keenagers and Seneca County Wood Carvers.  He is also a retired professional magician.  He is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ.

Email: lnforbes@bright.net

Robert Traunero

Assistant

Bob Traunero is Richard's father and is a Tiffin native. He is retired from Whirlpool Corp. in Clyde and is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Lois Traunero (1924-2008)

Assistant

Lois Traunero (1924 - 2008) was Richard's mother and was raised in the Fremont/Clyde area. She was retired from the Tiffin City Schools and was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. She is missed by her family and many friends.

Lilly

Everyone's Friend

Lilly was our resident comfort dog.  For five years she comforted many families in grief just by being their friend.  She loved to have people hold her as long as they wanted.  She wanted to be everyone's friend.  Lilly crossed the Rainbow Bridge November 26, 2018, and we miss her terribly.