(513) 521-7003 – AVAILABLE 24/7
The Arlington Memorial Gardens team members are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of the utmost importance to our entire team.
General Manager, Funeral Director, Embalmer
Bill Hoelscher brings over 30 years of experience in funeral home and cemetery management to Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. He is known for his compassionate care and unwavering commitment to the families he serves. As a licensed funeral director, Bill is a respected leader in the funeral service industry, recognized for his operational excellence and community involvement.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Tipton, Indiana, Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He started his career as an Area Manager for the Loewen Group, overseeing five funeral homes and two cemeteries. His career later progressed to managing various funeral home locations and cemetery operations for different firms, including Service Corporation International. Bill’s extensive experience in daily funeral home operations and long-term strategic management makes him an asset to Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. His approach is founded on service, empathy, and effective leadership.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bill dedicated 20 years to the Springfield Township Fire Department in Clark County, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant and Safety Officer. His leadership and commitment to service extend into every area of his life.
Bill has been married for 28 years and has triplet sons. In his personal life, Bill remains actively involved in his community and is deeply committed to his family.
Email Bill: bill.h@amgfuneralhome.com
General Manager, Funeral Director, Embalmer
Funeral Director, Celebrant & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Alecia joined the Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in September 2019. Although she worked in the City of Cincinnati assisting low-income families to become self-sufficient through job readiness, financial, and trade training, Alecia admits her passion has always been in the funeral industry. She often tells others that, “the greatest gift a person can give is the gift of pre-planning their final services.”
Alecia has recently served as a Cincinnati Certified Tourism Ambassador for many years as a Volunteer Usher for The Aronoff Center and Music Hall. She enjoys assisting others in obtaining comfort and pleasure in their day-to-day living. Alecia has a Bachelor of Psychology from Ashford University and an Associate of Applied Science from the Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science, class of 2014.
Alecia’s background as an ordained Elder and licensed minister in the State of Ohio has allowed her to be called upon by area churches and funeral homes to do eulogies for families without a eulogist. Her many years of experience in administrative and event planning will allow her to prepare logistics for families that are grieving a loss.
In July 2024, Alecia graduated from an intensive 4-year program at the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) University. Her dedication and hard work have earned her multiple certifications, such as Certified Celebrant, Certified Cremator Operator, Certification Cremation Arranger, and Certified Cremation Administrator.
Email Alecia: alecia.b@amgfuneralhome.com.
Funeral Director, Celebrant & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Funeral Director, Embalmer, Celebrant
Alexis graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in the fall of 2022.
Alexis first joined the Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in January of 2022 as a funeral attendant and transfer team member. After graduating mortuary school, she went back to her home state of Michigan where she served her apprenticeship with Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services in Marshall and was issued her Michigan Mortuary Science license in July of 2023. In 2024, Alexis is back with AMGFH serving families as a Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, Certified Celebrant and Crematory Operator.
In her free time, Alexis enjoys playing video games, cooking, shopping, walking, going to Reds games, and spending time with her family, friends, and two cats, Niko and Patchouli.
email Alexis at: alexis.k@amgfuneralhome.com
Funeral Director, Embalmer, Celebrant
Funeral Home Concierge
Ginny has dedicated herself to helping families with the cemetery/funeral arrangements for over 18 years. After serving as a Family Care advisor with Arlington, she has transitioned to the Arlington Funeral Home as the Administrative Assistant. Ginny’s compassion for those grieving fuels her dedication to helping families through difficult times.
She has lived in the Cincinnati area most of her life and now resides in the Mason area. She enjoys going to new places, hiking in Hocking Hills and getting together with family.
Email Ginny: ginny.t@amgfuneralhome.com.
Funeral Home Concierge
Funeral Home Support
Raye Ann Cosby, a life-long resident of Cincinnati, has worked in various positions during her work life but proudly enjoyed a 25-year career at Procter & Gamble before her retirement in 2002.
Following retirement, Raye Ann transitioned to work in death care at several Cincinnati-based funeral homes in various capacities, including Office Manager and Public Relations Manager. Her desire to serve families has been a driving passion after experiencing personal losses and surviving serious health journeys herself. Assisting and being there for others during their loss, pain, and grief is her way of serving and giving back. She has learned from many of what she considers the best death care providers, including the late Reverend Donald H. Jordan, Sr., Founder & Owner of Thompson, Hall, and Jordan Funeral Homes.
As one who believes in constant development and growth, Raye Ann is excited to be a member of The Arlington Funeral Home team.
Funeral Home Support
Vice President of Family Care & Community Outreach | CANA Certified Specialist
Cindy brings deep compassion and an extensive history of supporting families at every stage of life to her role at Arlington Memorial Gardens. Since joining our Family Care Team in January 2013, Cindy has become a trusted resource in the Greater Cincinnati area, providing guidance and heartfelt support for individuals and families navigating both pre-need and at-need end-of-life decisions.
Drawing from her own journey as a two-time breast cancer survivor, Cindy’s empathy and commitment shine through in everything she does. Her experiences have given her unique insight into the challenges families face, inspiring her to offer practical advice, encouragement, and hope to those she serves.
Cindy is passionate about community education. She regularly speaks to local groups, organizations, and business chambers about the importance of understanding all available options for end-of-life care. Whether she’s leading informative seminars or offering inspiration through support-focused talks, Cindy is dedicated to helping others make thoughtful, informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Active in several community organizations and business chambers, Cindy is recognized as a knowledgeable advocate for the death care industry, always striving to demystify the process and provide comfort and clarity. She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Business, a former small business owner, an ICCFA University alumna, and a CANA-certified cremation specialist.
Cindy lives by Plato’s reminder: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Her warm approach and genuine care have touched the lives of many throughout our community.
Email Cindy: cindy.h@amgardens.org.
Vice President of Family Care & Community Outreach | CANA Certified Specialist
Director of Family Care & CANA Certified Specialist
Sheila has served families in the Cincinnati area for over 20 years through her passion for helping advance the planning of cemetery and funeral arrangements. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Gary Rutz, and has two beautiful children, Megan and Matthew, and their VERY spoiled Goldendoodles, Ellie and Piper. Sheila grew up in the North College Hill community but now lives in Ross Sheila, and Gary enjoys traveling, boating and spending as much time possible with family and friends.
Brimming with an infectiously positive attitude, Sheila says she believes that in life there is ALWAYS a “positive” in any “negative” situation. She can be contacted directly at Sheila.r@amgardens.org.
Director of Family Care & CANA Certified Specialist
Training Coordinator Family Care & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Lauren Christakos joined Arlington Memorial Gardens as a Family Care Advisor in 2018. A west side Cincinnati native, Lauren brings a gentle presence and a deep commitment to helping families navigate some of life’s hardest moments. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, and her dedication to ongoing learning is reflected in her many additional certifications, including:
:: Graduate of ICCFA University (a comprehensive, four-year program in death-care education)
:: CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
:: Disney’s Approach to Quality Service, Disney Institute
:: IAOPCC Pet Bereavement Certification
Lauren is an experienced yoga instructor and has spent years supporting families and individuals in various roles. These paths all deepened her empathy, resilience, and desire to serve others, which she now pours into each family she meets at Arlington.
As someone who has experienced personal loss, Lauren understands the importance of compassionate guidance when families are making tough decisions. She strives to be a steady support, helping people feel seen, heard, and cared for during times of grief and planning.
Lauren is also the “human mom” to Teddy, one of Arlington’s beloved Pet Therapy dogs. Together, Lauren and Teddy meet with families who might need a little extra comfort or a friendly distraction during lengthy planning sessions. Teddy’s calm and loving presence, paired with Lauren’s attentive care, helps families feel more at ease and makes difficult conversations a little bit lighter.
Outside of Arlington, Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors with Teddy, teaching, and doing yoga.
Email Lauren: lauren.c@amgardens.org.
Training Coordinator Family Care & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Family Care Concierge
Heather has been with The Arlington Memorial Gardens since 2014 in an administrative role. However, she joined the Family Care Advisor team in 2022 and is looking forward to helping families with preplanning their cemetery and funeral needs and helping those families that have experienced a loss make final arrangements for their loved one. The knowledge she has from her past role at Arlington will certainly help to serve the families she meets.
Originally from the West Side of Cincinnati and growing up mostly in Fairfield, Heather started her career in the travel industry with an airline and then a corporate travel agency at Procter & Gamble. During this time, she moved to White Oak to be a stay-at-home mom, volunteer for various non-profits and raise her 3 fantastic kids: Benjamin, Caleigh & Morgan.
When the kids started leaving the nest, Heather came to Arlington and found a love for the funeral & cemetery business. Helping people has always been a passion of hers and she is looking forward to helping our Arlington families in a different capacity.
Heather tries always to remember – “Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes.” We all have difficulties in our lives and you never know what someone else is going through, so always be kind!
Email Heather: heather.j@amgardens.org.
Family Care Concierge
Family Care Advisor & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Celia has lived in the Cincinnati area most of her life and along with their father has raised 2 wonderful daughters: Lillian and Claire. She loves and values their family time together.
She comes to Arlington Memorial Gardens after 43 years in the Restaurant Industry and is very grateful for the privilege of building relationships with co-workers and families as they celebrate unions and successes, grow in joy, and eventually mourn loss.
Celia is a breast cancer survivor and understands that asking for help is more of a strength than a weakness. Her Faith, family, friends and co-workers (past and present) surrounded her with support and comfort during a time when “what’s next” didn’t seem quite as predictable as it once was.
As a younger woman, Celia experienced a great deal of loss of family members and friends. Some through illness, others through tragedy and still others who died by suicide. Each loss required a different level of grief that has again helped her to appreciate the value of time.
As a member of the Arlington team, Celia believes her life experiences have helped equip her to provide the care and guidance necessary to walk alongside individuals and families during a difficult time as well as the opportunity to preplan with confidence.
Celia enjoys cooking and baking and loves being around the flowers she grows for birds, bees and butterflies and usually has her camera nearby hoping for the perfect photo.
email Celia at: celia.m@amgardens.org
Family Care Advisor & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Family Care Advisor & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Marcia Ross is a lifelong Westsider who values the sense of community that comes from being involved and helping others. Over the years, she’s spent a lot of time volunteering at her church, her children’s schools, and in her neighborhood, finding meaning in small acts of kindness and connection. She believes that something as simple as a smile or a thank you can make a real difference in someone’s day.
Singing has always been an important part of Marcia’s life. She was an active member of her church choir for many years and enjoys singing at Arlington’s special services, especially around Christmas and Easter. Marcia has sung at countless funeral services, including her parents. Being able to offer comfort through music is something she values deeply.
Marcia has her End-of-Life Doula Certificate and is a Certified Herbalist, giving her a unique ability to guide and support families with knowledge, compassion, and understanding. Her parents had preplanned everything for their final arrangements, which she considers their most beautiful final gift.
Being part of Arlington Memorial Gardens allows Marcia to have a career she is truly passionate about. She appreciates being part of a team that values caring for others and supporting families when it matters most. For Marcia, helping families through both meaningful conversations and simple acts of kindness is more than just a job—it’s work that she finds deeply fulfilling.
Outside of work, Marcia loves tending her garden, relaxing on her deck with coffee, and spending time with her four grown children, whom she considers her greatest blessing. For Marcia, helping families plan and honor their loved ones isn’t just a job—it’s her calling and her joy.
Email Marcia: marcia.r@amgardens.org.
Family Care Advisor & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Family Care Advisor & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
A Cincinnati native, Paulette Rumpke has always found joy in supporting others, whether on the soccer field or in life’s most meaningful moments. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and making her mark as a varsity soccer player, Paulette was honored as Female Athlete of the Year and later inducted into the UC Athletic Hall of Fame. Her passion for teamwork continued beyond college as she dedicated many years to coaching and mentoring young athletes, helping them reach their goals both on and off the field.
Today, Paulette brings that same spirit of encouragement and care to her work as a Family Care Advisor at Arlington. She believes every family’s story deserves to be honored with dignity, and she takes pride in guiding loved ones through end-of-life planning with compassion, understanding, and respect. Paulette’s greatest fulfillment comes from helping families create lasting tributes that reflect the love and meaning of their lives together.
Whether she’s cheering from the sidelines or supporting families at Arlington, Paulette cares deeply about helping others. She values the trust families place in her and is honored to assist them in planning meaningful tributes that reflect the love and memories they share.
Email Paulette: paulette.r@amgardens.org
Family Care Advisor & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Family Care Advisor (English & Spanish) and CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Amy Thie has over two years of experience as a Family Care Advisor at Arlington Memorial Gardens, where she assists families in navigating funeral and cemetery arrangements. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Amy is honored to assist families from diverse backgrounds during sensitive times. Her ability to communicate and guide in both languages makes her a valued resource for families seeking comfort, clarity, and understanding during times of loss.
Amy’s background in hospitality has given her a strong foundation in caring for people, skills she has carried into her calling in death care. Before joining Arlington, Amy gained valuable experience working at other local stand-alone cemeteries. She was ultimately drawn to Arlington because of its unique, full-service approach, where families can rely on one caring team for funeral home, cemetery, and cremation needs—all in one place.
A Dayton native and University of Cincinnati graduate, Amy earned her B.A. in Spanish after spending a year studying in Mexico. She is also a CANA (Cremation Association of North America) Certified Cremation Specialist, staying current with best practices to better serve each family. Amy provides one-on-one consultations to create custom plans for families and also enjoys hosting pre-planning seminars for larger groups.
Amy’s passion is helping families find peace of mind and confidence as they make important decisions. She says, “Whenever I meet with a family, my goal is always the same: to help them feel informed, comfortable, and cared for—every step of the way.” Her work at Arlington deepens her gratitude for life, community, and the chance to walk alongside others when they need it most.
Email Amy: amy.t@amgardens.org
Family Care Advisor (English & Spanish) and CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Comfort & Therapy Support
Teddy is Arlington’s favorite employee. Born February 26, 2019, he was adopted by Arlington Memorial Gardens on April 26, 2019. Teddy is a Goldendoodle. Teddy’s official name is Teddy Bear although he is known as Teddy around the office. His favorite activities are spending time with coworkers and Arlington families as well as waiting for human food to drop on the floor. He is available to the public most days. He spends his evening and weekends with his human mom, Lauren. Email Teddy: teddy@amgardens.org.
Follow Teddy on Instagram and Facebook: @teddy.the.therapy.dog
Comfort & Therapy Support
A seasoned group of professionals, the Leadership Team is responsible for the organization’s daily operations, including the care and maintenance of the grounds, the coordination and management of funeral services, family care, customer relations, marketing, sales and the financial soundness of the company.
President, CEO & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Dan Applegate has been with Arlington since 2001 initially serving as Vice President of Family Care until 2002 when the Board of Trustees appointed him as President. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, trustee of the Arlington Cemetery Association’s Board, President of the Arlington Funeral Home, and Chairman of the Arlington Funeral Home Board of Directors.
Applegate served as secretary/treasurer of the Ohio Cemetery Association for several terms and one term as president. He has served a term on the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission and is a member of the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA). He has earned the designation as a Certified Cremation Specialist through the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Colerain Chamber of Commerce.
President, CEO & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Senior Vice President & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Ann Meyer has been with The Arlington Memorial Gardens since 1980 serving in various positions. She has watched and assisted in the development of the grounds and services as Arlington transitioned into the Tri-State’s best full-service cemetery, funeral home and celebration of life center.
Ann is currently serving a 3-year term as a Commissioner on the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission. The nine-person commission operates under Ohio’s Department of Commerce and is charged with resolving disputes between cemeteries and consumers or referring cases to the Ohio Attorney General for possible violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act or a local prosecutor for possible violations of certain cemetery laws.
Ann grew up in Springfield Township where she attended Finneytown High School and is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. In her spare time, she enjoys following the Reds and the Bengals as well as traveling, cooking for groups of people and listening to music.
Senior Vice President & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Vice President of Family Care & Community Outreach | CANA Certified Specialist
Cindy brings deep compassion and an extensive history of supporting families at every stage of life to her role at Arlington Memorial Gardens. Since joining our Family Care Team in January 2013, Cindy has become a trusted resource in the Greater Cincinnati area, providing guidance and heartfelt support for individuals and families navigating both pre-need and at-need end-of-life decisions.
Drawing from her own journey as a two-time breast cancer survivor, Cindy’s empathy and commitment shine through in everything she does. Her experiences have given her unique insight into the challenges families face, inspiring her to offer practical advice, encouragement, and hope to those she serves.
Cindy is passionate about community education. She regularly speaks to local groups, organizations, and business chambers about the importance of understanding all available options for end-of-life care. Whether she’s leading informative seminars or offering inspiration through support-focused talks, Cindy is dedicated to helping others make thoughtful, informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Active in several community organizations and business chambers, Cindy is recognized as a knowledgeable advocate for the death care industry, always striving to demystify the process and provide comfort and clarity. She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Business, a former small business owner, an ICCFA University alumna, and a CANA-certified cremation specialist.
Cindy lives by Plato’s reminder: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Her warm approach and genuine care have touched the lives of many throughout our community.
Email Cindy: cindy.h@amgardens.org.
Vice President of Family Care & Community Outreach | CANA Certified Specialist
General Manager, Funeral Director, Embalmer
Bill Hoelscher brings over 30 years of experience in funeral home and cemetery management to Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. He is known for his compassionate care and unwavering commitment to the families he serves. As a licensed funeral director, Bill is a respected leader in the funeral service industry, recognized for his operational excellence and community involvement.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Tipton, Indiana, Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He started his career as an Area Manager for the Loewen Group, overseeing five funeral homes and two cemeteries. His career later progressed to managing various funeral home locations and cemetery operations for different firms, including Service Corporation International. Bill’s extensive experience in daily funeral home operations and long-term strategic management makes him an asset to Arlington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. His approach is founded on service, empathy, and effective leadership.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bill dedicated 20 years to the Springfield Township Fire Department in Clark County, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant and Safety Officer. His leadership and commitment to service extend into every area of his life.
Bill has been married for 28 years and has triplet sons. In his personal life, Bill remains actively involved in his community and is deeply committed to his family.
Email Bill: bill.h@amgfuneralhome.com
General Manager, Funeral Director, Embalmer
Director of Customer Experience & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Lisa McClain joined Arlington in 2014 as an Administrative Team Member after years in a Customer Service position. She is currently the Director of Customer Experience which includes planning and overseeing the Community Events held on the Arlington Campus as well as participating in events throughout the Tri-State area. Lisa works across the entire Arlington organization to ensure that families and visitors experience excellence in their interactions with Arlington.
Lisa is a member of the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) and has graduated from the four-year University Program as a Certified Crematory Administrator, Certified Cremation Arranger, and Certified Crematory Operator. She has also earned the designation as a Certified Cremation Specialist through the Cremation Association of North America (CANA).
Lisa knew she had found her second “home” when she came to Arlington and is grateful for the opportunity to support our families and visitors in any way she can.
Director of Customer Experience & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Superintendent of Interment Services and Grounds & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
Jim began his career in death care in 1995 at St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Hamilton, initially as a member of the grounds team working as a string trimmer, mower operator, assisting with committal service set-ups and most other maintenance tasks that are commonly associated with cemetery maintenance work. Very quickly, his interest and abilities converged, and he became a back-hoe operator. In May of 2000, Jim joined the Arlington team as the primary back-hoe operator where he led the Interment Team for well over 900 burials per year. In 2014, Jim became the Grounds Superintendent, which continues to present new challenges and opportunities but “he enjoys coming to work every day.” With the opening of the funeral home in 2020, Jim became a Certified Cremation Operator. He enjoys working at Arlington and states that he looks forward to the next chapter of his Arlington career!
Superintendent of Interment Services and Grounds & CANA Certified Cremation Specialist
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