Our Team

Our Team

CENTRAL CHAPEL - McINERNEY CENTRAL CHAPEL

Our people make the difference.

Our firm benefits from being among few who post their prices. And we are known for the finest in facilities and the most affordable costs. What brings families time and time to Central Chapel is our team. More clients and consumers today compare funeral homes and cremation services. When people compare, when people discriminate, they stay at Central. We believe in what we do.

JENNIFER BERLONGIERI

Funeral Director / President

One of the few women in metro Chicago who owns a funeral firm without being born or married into it. Jennifer grew up in Richton Park, set out, and succeeded in realizing her dream of becoming a funeral director and owning her own funeral home. Families instantly love and trust Jennifer to shepherd them through the emotionally trying time of a funeral. Jennifer became a licensed funeral director in 2006, when she first worked for Bob Moynihan. She was originally with Hirsch & Lain-Sullivan Funeral Homes in the South suburbs, then with Kurtz Memorial Chapels in Will County before accepting Bob’s invitation to come to Central Chapels to manage and, ultimately, own the funeral homes. Jennifer juggles her career with marriage and her pride and joy, Marco, a boxer-hound mix. 


Ann Jedlowski

Administrative Manager

With Jennifer, Ann runs the firm. Jennifer manages the conducting of funerals and the professional care of loved ones. Ann is the administrative manager of operations. She is married with two adult sons. Before joining Central Chapel, Ann worked at Rush University Medical Center for over 30 years. With a strong desire to help others, while working at Rush, Ann became a registered and certified paramedic. In her free time, she loves traveling to their summer home in Wisconsin and spending time with family and friends and her two granddaughters. Ann is also kept on her toes by the newest member of the family… Frannie the Beaglier! Frannie was named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. 


Robert J. Moynihan

Funeral Director / Founder

Bob Moynihan came into the funeral business at age 15 without any family history in the funeral business. He became a funeral director in 1983 and is the quintessential funeral director. He fervently believes in the value of funeral and memorial services, that every life needs to be honored, and that each service needs to be tailored to fit the uniqueness of the individual. With the Central Chapel team, he has found a way to do just that, serving families of varying cultures, financial concerns, and neighborhoods. Bob prides himself on helping people craft the best possible service for their loved ones. That we do so less expensively than most other firms makes it all worthwhile. He demands a level of unsurpassed excellence in all facets of the service to continue to strike the standard he learned from his early mentors in funeral service.

Bob graduated from Evergreen Park High School and Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from National-Louis University, a Master of Divinity with Worship and Preaching concentration from the Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree. He belongs to St. Peter's Church In-The-Loop, where he has served as a lector, acolyte, and Eucharistic Minister. Bob was a longtime member of the International Order of the Golden Rule, an invitation-only association of foremost and progressive funeral firms.

Robert Moynihan became a Funeral Director in 1983 and a few years later acquired Kelly-Carroll-Moynihan Funeral Home, on the Southwest Side in the Brighton Park neighborhood. Moynihan also brings his experience as Managing Partner of Lain-Sullivan and Lain-Fern Funeral Homes where he learned the importance of providing high quality and unique services while attracting more and more families due to being cost sensitive.

Bob Moynihan worked with and for some of the best funeral directors in Chicago, learning different things from each of them. Abiding gratitude to these mentors: Peter Brady of Brady-Gill Funeral Home, Leonard Tobuch, of Ketcham Funeral Chapel, Michael Heeney, of Heeney-Laughlin Sons Funeral Home, James Melka, of Beverly Ridge Funeral Home, Margaret McKeon and Thomas J. McKeon, of McKeon Funeral Home, Jim and Jack Sheehy of John J. Sheehy & Sons, Jerry Sullivan, of Cremation Society of Illinois, and Marc Jaeger, of Countryside Funeral Homes.

In his spare time, Bob enjoys cooking, grilling, and, most of all, his beagle rescue, Dixie, Central Chapels’ grief companion dog. Always available for consultation, Bob is presently working with the Franciscan Friars to advance their mission.




Natalie Maldonado

Office Administrator / Mortuary Beautician

Natalie is the office manager at McInerney Central Chapel. However, she is a familiar face at both locations. Currently in school pursuing a cosmetology license, Natalie intends to specialize in mortuary esthetics. Natalie is passionate about helping others and making people feel comfortable and beautiful through her work. Bi-lingual, she offers support and translation for our Spanish-speaking families. Born and raised on the Southwest side of Chicago, Natalie resides in the Brighton Park neighborhood. She enjoys spending time painting and reading with her daughter Isabella and giving lots of love to their fur baby Sunny.  


SAVANNAH BERLONGIERI

Funeral Director Trainee

Savannah is the second generation of the Berlongieri Family to pursue a career in funeral service. She is currently enrolled at Worsham College of Mortuary Science. She completed general education studies at Kankakee Community College and graduated from Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School. Savannah grew up being an athlete but is now focused on being a dog mom of two loving puppies who tend to take up most of her free time. Savannah always enjoys being around her family and loved ones.


Dixie

Grief Companion Dog

Dixie is a beagle/cocker spaniel mix and the third grief companion dog at Central Chapel. Like her predecessors, Lilly and Dolly, Dixie is not a trained therapy dog but a grief companion dog by instinct. Dixie is a rescue dog like Lilly and Dolly. She hailed from Kentucky, so only a Southern name would do. Bob adopted her in 2017 when she was 1 ½ years old. She is petite, spirited, and simply loves everyone. Families often request that Dixie attend the funerals. 








PATTI GRZENIA

Family Care

Patti worked for many years at the McKeon Funeral Home in Bridgeport, which closed in 2013. Patti has tremendous gifts for taking care of others and caring for those who grieve. Patti is a lifelong Chicagoan, born, raised, and thriving still on the South side -Bridgeport neighborhood. She is a parishioner at Nativity of Our Lord Church. She and her late husband, Phil have two daughters and four beautiful grandchildren. Patti enjoys bike riding by Lake Michigan during the summer.



GARY JEDLOWSKI

Family Care
Gary Jedlowski is a longtime resident of the Garfield Ridge Clearing neighborhood, born and raised in Brighten Park. He is married with two sons, a lovely daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. Gary retired several years ago from the City of Chicago, Department of Water after a 33-year career. When he is not running errands for his family, watching the grand-girls, or keeping his garden growing, you’re likely to find him at the lake house or on the golf course. Gary also keeps busy entertaining the newest member of his family… Frannie the Beaglier!



CHUCK CONNORS

Family Care

A lifetime resident of the South Side of Chicago, Canaryville neighborhood, Chuck is the resident manager at McInerney Central Chapel, where he has been on the team for over eight years. Chuck also participates in TV shows, commercials, and movies. Chuck oversees maintenance at both locations, works wakes and funerals. On his days off, he enjoys spending time with his children, Sabina, Connor, and Cassidy. He also enjoys taking long walks downtown while listening to his favorite music, watching plays, and musicals.  


CELESTE OCHOA

Family Care

Celeste is currently enrolled at Worsham College of Mortuary Science, pursuing licensure as a funeral director. She grew up in a small town in southern California and moved to Chicago in 2019 to pursue her college education. Part of our bi-lingual team, Celeste feels strongly about supporting her community and providing a comfortable space for grieving families. She enjoys going to the cinema frequently and visiting family in California as much as possible. 




GLORIA EICH

Family Care

Gloria is a longtime resident of the Garfield Ridge neighborhood. Gloria and her late husband, Tom Eich, CPD, raised their three daughters in the neighborhood. The whole family lives in the neighborhood. Gloria has seven beautiful grandchildren whom she enjoys babysitting and spoiling! When she isn’t spending time with her grandchildren, her boxer, Lucy, keeps her very busy! 


KAREN DORENCZ

Family Care

A lifelong Chicagoan, Karen was born and raised on the Southwest side - Gage Park neighborhood (St. Gall’s Parish) but is a longtime resident of Garfield Ridge. Karen is married with one son. She has worked as a dietary clerk, hospitality, caregiver, pub manager, and wake attendant. The common theme in all the things Karen has done is CARING ABOUT PEOPLE. Karen is a people person. And a dog person. Karen loves to spend time with family and friends. 



RUBEN ALANIS

Family Care
 
A lifelong resident of Chicago, Ruben spent most of his life on the South side in Bridgeport and currently lives on the Southwest side in Archer Heights. Bilingual, Ruben is an active member of Iglesia Puerta Al Cielo at 50th & Cicero. Ruben has been active in CAPS for over 25 years, is an avid photographer, and coordinates outings and field trips for the seniors in the 9th District. 



TIM DALY

Family Care

A quintessential South sider, Tim was born and raised on the South side of Chicago. He originally hailed from the South Side-Visitation Parish. Tim worked for thirty years as a supervisor in the City of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation. During those years, he was a precinct captain for the 13th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, where he is remembered as being a friend to his constituents. Tim has been with Central Chapel and McInerney’s for ten years. Tim received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tim has been married to Maureen Dorsey Daly for 36 years, and they have two daughters and three grandchildren.




CHERYL WOODS

Family Care

A valuable part of the McInerney Central team, Cheryl Woods has been a South Side / Canaryville neighborhood resident for over 15 years. She proudly served in the United States Air Force. In addition to caring for her children, Connor and Cassidy, she enjoys reading, writing, arts, and crafts in her spare time.


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