History & Staff

Monreal Funeral Home & Monreal Srnick Funerals & Cremations have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

Our Story

Currently

We have had the honor of being the “Strength in your Time of Need” over the last 125 years. We are proud to be family owned and operated by William A Monreal Jr. and Jane Srnick Monreal. We are pleased to enter into the fifth generation of Monreal Funeral Directors and second generation of Srnick Funeral Directors.

Our dedicated staff aims to create a warm and compassionate relationship at your time of need. What matters most to us is that your loved one’s final wishes are carried out with integrity. In our present culture, we not only mourn the loss of a loved one but we celebrate the life lived by personalizing memorial cards, music, digital slideshows, and any other service detail. In 2002, we built one of the most up to date and largest funeral homes in Northeast Ohio. We wanted to have a home that was not only comforting to families, but allowed us to integrate premier vendors, which enables our families to select caskets, burial vaults, urns, jewelry, flower arrangements, and headstones right from one location. Therefore, this allows families more time to grieve their loved ones, and less time worrying about completing the numerous details involved in planning a funeral ceremony. It is our honor and privilege to have had our family serve your family over these past 125 years and we look forward to being a pillar in the community over the next 125 years.

The Beginning

Monreal Funeral Home opened in 1892 under the direction of Joseph Monreal. There have been many locations throughout the years that have guided us to our current location in Eastlake, OH. Starting in 1892 at 26th St. and St. Clair Ave in Cleveland, the funeral home originated from what was a furniture company. In 1917, in order to distinguish ourselves in the funeral industry, we decided to move to 110th Street and St Clair Ave which was designed solely for the purpose of funeral services.

Starting in 1936, the business expanded to more than one location. The first was to 151st St. and Euclid Ave in 1936 and again in 1957 to Vine St. in Willowick. During the 15 years in Willowick, the business was turned over to the third generation of Monreal's, William A. Monreal Sr. The choice was made to move from Willowick to Eastlake in 1972 and close both locations in Cleveland between 1967 and 1972. This made Eastlake the sole location of the Monreal Funeral Home and still is to this day.

Our Valued Monreal Staff

  • Jane Srnick Monreal

    Jane Srnick Monreal, Owner/Funeral Director

    Jane attended Eastern Kentucky University until 1985 and has gained a background in Marketing, Advertising, Sales, and Music. Jane was in sales for over 10 years specializing in computer software and hardware. In 1993 she started in the funeral business as a Family Service Counselor serving the Northeast Ohio area. She is a licensed insurance agent since 1993 and a notary public since 1995. Jane served her funeral director apprenticeship from 1995 to 1997 at the Monreal Funeral Home. Being a licensed funeral director with her expertise and background brought her to being the current President of the Monreal Funeral Home.Affiliations:Member of SNPJ Lodge 158Circle 2 AlumniAlumni Association for Euclid High SchoolLifetime Member of the Polka Hall of FameMember on the Board of Eastlake Chamber of CommerceScholarship Committee Member for the Eastlake Chamber of CommerceSupporter of many local recovery charities

  • William A.  Monreal

    William A. Monreal, Owner/Funeral Director

    Bill attended Bellarmine College in Louisville Kentucky from 1964 thru 1967. He went into the United States Army in 1967 and fought in the Vietnam War serving in Infantry until he was transferred to Graves Registration for the duration of his time in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1969. He went on to Lakeland Community College and then finished his college career at Cleveland State University. In 1971 he started his 3 year apprenticeship to become a licensed funeral director with his family owned business, the Monreal Company Funeral Home. In 1986 he became the President and CEO of the Monreal Funeral Home and still serves as such today.Affiliations:Sergeant at Arms for Rotary InternationalPast Vice Commander of the Veterans of Vietnam War Post 07Member of VFW Post 3863Member of the 28th Infantry Association Black LionsMember of the Ohio Funeral Directors AssociationMember of DAV in PainesvilleMember of the Embalmers Association of ClevelandMember of the Lake County YMCAPast football coach for St. Justin MartyrHoly Name Society member.Member of St. Justin Martyr Church in EastlakeLifetime Member of the Polka Hall of Fame

  • Alex  Srnick

    Alex Srnick, Funeral Director - Embalmer

    Alex Srnick is a Funeral Director and Embalmer for the Monreal Funeral Home. He has been with the funeral home since 2013. As a funeral director, Alex’s attention to detail and ability to deal sensitively during distressing situations is what makes him a great fit for both our funeral home and the families we are honored to serve. Alex has stated that one of the most important factors in judging his own success is how much easier he can make this process for families. “Families need to not only understand the funeral process but also have the confidence that all of their choices were made without bias.”Alex was born in Euclid, Ohio and moved to Eastlake at the age of seven. He is a proud 2006 graduate of North High School, 2011 graduate of University of Cincinnati, and 2016 graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Alex comes from a large family being one of six children. He got married on February 22, 2014 to Kristina Srnick, who is also a Funeral Director for the funeral home. Alex and Kristina were blessed with two boys. Alex is professionally associated with the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, as well as the National Funeral Directors Association.

  • Kristina  Srnick

    Kristina Srnick, Funeral Director

    Kristina is a Funeral Director for the Monreal Funeral Home. Kristina has been with the funeral home since 2014. She is a caring and dedicated funeral director who demonstrates true compassion and integrity. Kristina is responsible for working with families, planning and implementing funeral arrangements, and working with staff members to ensure the highest possible level of care is achieved. When asked about her career choice she says "I truly enjoy the profession I am able to be a part of. I take tremendous pride and care in the service we provide to the families who have selected us to care for their loved one. It is of the utmost importance that each of our families receive the highest quality service in a supportive environment." Kristina is a 2007 graduate of Eastlake North High School and 2011 graduate of the University of Cincinnati. She was born in Croatia and her family moved to the States in 1996 at the age of seven. Kristina is bilingual in English and Croatian and is proud of the fact that her skill is able to assist families that may have a language barrier in this area.She got married on February 22, 2014 to Alex Srnick who is also a Funeral Director at the Monreal Funeral home. They love working together in this industry as their ideas and personalities fit together perfectly and we are excited to have both of them on our team. They both were blessed with two boys.

  • Bernard Knez

    Bernard Knez, Funeral Director Apprentice

    Bernard Knez has been a devoted team member since 2020. Bernard was driven to pursue a career in Funeral Directing because of his interpersonal relations. He has worked for some of the most respectable organizations in Northeast Ohio as an Event Manager where he has gained 30 years of valuable customer service experience enabling him to communicate, connect and relate to everyone he comes in contact with. He is a lifelong Cleveland resident and is proud of his Slovenian heritage. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from Cleveland State University. Bernard is a music enthusiast and enjoys listening to live music whether they are local bands or national recording artists.

  • Paige Donovan

    Paige Donovan, Funeral Director Apprentice/Embalmer Apprentice

    Paige a recent graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science,is currently undergoing her apprenticeship for Funeral Directing andEmbalming. She received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with aMinor in the U.S. Ethics and Indigenous Studies from Bridgewater StateUniversity from Bridgewater, MA. In her spare time Paige can be founddoing yoga or spending time with her cat, Beelzebub.

  • Shannon  Stih Zaun

    Shannon Stih Zaun, Advance Funeral Planning Specialist

    Shannon has been with the Monreal Funeral home since 2015 and comes from a long line of family members who proudly protected and served various communities in Western Lake County and Euclid. She went to grade school in Euclid at St. Robert’s and William’s Catholic Parish and graduated from Mentor High School. Shannon originally attended nursing school and worked in the healthcare field for several years prior to joining the Monreal Funeral Home. She married Danyon Zaun in September of 2015. Shannon is currently an independent producer for the Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company whose mission is to be the best, most respected provider to the funeral industry. One of Shannon’s primary functions is to help families in qualifying for future Medicaid benefits through creatively working with existing life insurance policies to best accommodate people’s anticipated needs. She is proficient with the knowledge of Medicaid guidelines in order to help family members ensure their loved ones qualify for future, and much needed benefits. She is very passionate about the care and compassion she provides people with on a daily basis. Shannon says, “People prearrange their funerals and the funerals for their loved ones for a variety of reasons. In some cases, a recent passing of a loved one makes a person reflect on their future needs. They often are concerned about the eventual costs that might burden their families and are interested in guaranteeing the best possible services at today’s competitive prices. I truly enjoy providing families with all necessary information for funeral pre-planning that ensures they are able to make the best decisions to suit their individual needs. This level of comfort and security gives families piece of mind and a final gift to their loved ones.”

  • Colleen O'Neill  Pirchner

    Colleen O'Neill Pirchner, Office Manager

    Colleen Pirchner (O’Neill) is the Monreal Funeral Home’s office manager. She attended Euclid High School, Lakeland Community College, and Cleveland State. Before utilizing her expertise at the funeral home, Colleen worked in the manufacturing industry for over 20 years and has been an executive administrator for a fortune 500 company. Colleen is responsible for the daily operations and administration of the Monreal Funeral Home. These responsibilities include financial management, human resources, payroll, as well as various building projects. Colleen brings compassion, care, organization, and a tremendous work ethic to the funeral home. Colleen comes from a very large family, and is proud of the many life-long firefighters in her midst. She is married to Bob Pirchner. An avid skier and outdoor enthusiast, Colleen enjoys many activities such as hiking, kayaking, and bicycling.

  • Phil  Srnick

    Phil Srnick, Marketing Specialist/Headstone Specialist

    Philip Srnick has worked for the Monreal Funeral Home since 2009. He was born and raised in the Euclid area and graduated from Euclid High School. Phil attended Lakeland Community College where he earned a degree in Business Administration. Additionally notable, Phil is musician with over 35 years in the music industry. He has traveled the country and the world. He has also been featured on recordings, radio and television. He currently plays with the Cleveland area band, Paradox. At the Monreal Funeral home, Phil Serves as Director of Marketing and is also headstone specialist. In addition to his aforementioned responsibilities, Phil is the Monreal Funeral Home’s Media Specialist. Phil also supports the funeral directors by assisting with the logistics of funeral and funeral home events. Having many years of experience as a producer and director in other business venues such as the music and television industries, Phil’s forte is organizational skills and logistics have played an integral role with the production and operation of such events as the Monreal Funeral Home’s Celebration of Remembrance. Coming from a large family, and having many children of his own, Philip distinctly understands the importance of commitment to the families the funeral home serves.

  • Drago Simunovic

    Drago Simunovic, Funeral Service Assistant

    You can find our Funeral Service Assistants throughout the funeral home during visitation hours.

  • Harry  Cowper

    Harry Cowper, Funeral Director

    Harry was a Funeral Director for over 50 years at Monreal Funeral Home and retired back in 2012. Harry has since passed on December 31, 2018. We thank him for his dedication to our families throughout the years past and he will be missed by everyone here at the Monreal Funeral Home.