Staff
Burns-Kish Funeral Home staff members are one of a kind. They are a unique group of kind, funny, caring people of all ages. Employee turnover is very rare at Burns Kish Funeral Home, with many of the employees serving over 10 and even 20 years. Details are important, service is emphasized, and most of all, relationships with each other and the community we serve are cherished. The staff is proud of the reputation and history of the Burns family in Northwest Indiana, and constantly strives to do their absolute best.
Brian Burns, Owner and Manager of Burns-Kish Funeral Homes in Munster and Hammond, Indiana, has been in the family business for over 30 years. He began working for his Dad, Thomas Burns, at age 13, washing cars and cleaning. Brian lives in Munster with his wife Carolina Burns and three children, Nico, Tommy and Sofia. He’s an active member of St. Thomas More church, and took over Burns-Kish Funeral Home from his father officially in January, of 2017.
Tom Burns, Brian Burns’ father, is a third-generation funeral director and has been the business for many decades. Tom was born in Hammond, Indiana and has lived in the Region his entire life. He’s an active member of St. Thomas More church and raised five children with his beloved wife, Jean. Tom enjoys golfing and fine dining. His greatest joy is spending quality time with his family and grandchildren.
I have been a resident of Highland for the past thirty-eight years and married to a science high school teacher ni East Chicago for the past forty-three years. Ihave two children, one daughter in California and one son in Colorado. Iam the proud grandfather to Luka and Isebella. Ilove this profession.
As acaring, dedicated, and compassionate funeral professional, Iam committed to providing respectful and dignified care to those who have lost a loved one. I am knowledgeable about the funeral process and able to provide guidance and support to families during their most difficult time. I have learned to be a patient and understanding, and strive to make the funeral process as stress-free as possible. I have learned to be a good listener because not all families are the same. There are countless items to accomplish before the funeral ceremony, and Iam able to provide resources to those who are in most need of it.
I graduated from Ivy Tech Mortuary School in 2008. I’m a licensed funeral director and have been with Burns-Kish Funeral Home since 2010. I am a resident of Griffith, IN with my significant other and 2 children; my son is the oldest and my daughter the youngest. I enjoy spending my spare time traveling with my family; especially to Tennessee, Florida, and my favorite place Shafer Lake here in Indiana. I have a small collection of antique cars. I love learning about my family’s heritage; educating and living our Greek, Serbian, Dutch, Norwegian and Irish cultures. Showing our children family traditions and values.
What I really like about working in a funeral home is helping people in a time of their life when they need a shoulder to lean on. I enjoy their life stories, photos, memories, and try to make each funeral personalized celebrations of that family’s life.
I am a licensed funeral Director at Burnes -Kish Funeral Homes. I have been with Burns-Kish since 2017. I was born and raised in East Chicago, IN. I am a graduate of East Chicago Central and Ivy Tech Community College. A proud mother of two lovely young women, and a feisty Chihuahua mix name Coxo. I have always felt like it was a calling to comfort and help people. What better way than to help them honor their loved ones, and to also be able to comfort and help families with the wearisome process of funeral planning.
As a licensed director, I am very honored to be able to work with the communities and people in the region. I feel a connection to thisarea and its people. It is a privilege to be able to assist the people of my community through one of their most vulnerable times. I am grateful to be able to continue the legacy that Burns – Kish has brought to the community for over 100 years.
I have been a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana. I was worn in Hammond, IN and moved to Munster for high school onward. I had wanted to be a funeral director after seeing a project another student had done while I attended the Hammond career center my senior year but went toward the track of health care initially. I worked as a CNA locally for 6 years after deciding that nursing school was not for me. I entered Mortuary school during the height of COVID and found that it truly was going to be the right fit, and made trips to Indianapolis for class. Making the transition from healthcare to funeral care has been exciting and I look forward to a long career in funeral directing.
Ruth Litherland assists families with pre-planning their final arrangements, preferably well in advance of any sort of need. She strives to make this important process as easy and accessible as possible. Ruth is a native and lifelong-resident of the Region. She cherishes spending quality time with her family and close friends. She also enjoys long walks and curling up with a good book.
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. My wife Cheryl and I have lived in Saint John for 15 years, and have 4 children and 20 grandchildren.
Family is important to us, and it has been my pleasure to work at Burns-Kish as their bookkeeper for the last 4 years. I have been able to observe how they truly strive to help each family during their time of loss.
While I am typically in the back office working. I am also here to help in any way I can.