Who We Are

Ryan Helfenbein Owner/Certified Pre-Planning Counselor

Ryan has been working in his family business since 1997 and became a partner in 2006. Prior to that he had thought he’d become a Marine Biologist. While that career didn’t take off, he throws himself into his fishing hobby whenever time permits. His favorite spot to travel is Atlantic Beach, NC because as a fisherman, that place has it all! Ryan’s favorite time of day is early morning when all is quiet and he has a fresh mind. He believes the best part being an “Undertaker” (as he refers to himself) is being able to help individuals plan well in advance to eliminate stress and financial burden for family in the future. He also feels good after a ceremony when family members and visitors leave his facilities with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye. This tells him that the role of creating a one of a kind final farewell was in fact achieved. Now, some of you may remember Ryan as Kaptain Blue Light at the Kent Island Kmart, but if he had the opportunity to be a real life superhero he would chose to trade lives with Captain America! Given the opportunity to be immortal, Ryan would choose to remain in his mid-30s. He described it as life before aches and pains, minimal stress, and that it was at the time when he and his wife, Sarah, were able to watch all three of their children, Luke, Chase, and Emma grow from babies into the amazing personalities they have today.

Emily Murphy Managing Director

Growing up as a kid, Emily spent a lot of time as a passenger on the toll roads of the Midwest. Working as a toll collector in an individualized booth seemed like the dream job to young Emily. As she grew up, she switched her aspirations to being a professional ice hockey player and then finally around seventh grade settled on being a funeral director. In a way, there are quite a bit of similarities between being a toll booth operator and a funeral director. Emily’s favorite part of her job is meeting so many unique and accomplished individuals. Every day is completely different because she gets to hear the stories of everyone’s past. Her favorite challenge in her role as director is connecting with family members to create and perfect the most memorable experiences when stress tends to be the highest. When asked what her favorite time of day is, she easily answered the mornings. It’s when she thinks the clearest and possesses the most patience to tackle big ideas. It should come as no surprise, with patience in mind, that her desired superpower would be to teleport. Her least favorite part of traveling, by air or land, is the time spent doing it. Of everywhere she’s traveled, safari in the Serengeti (Tanzania, Africa) was her favorite!

Christina Smith Funeral Director

Christina prefers cats over dogs. Her and her husband Ryan are proud parents to their two cats, Sir Pounce and Archer. She is hopeful, though, that in due time her husband will agree to add a pup to their family! While Christina leans in to her love for cats, her love for pets doesn’t stop there. Finding much inspiration from helping others and her love for animals, Christina is extremely passionate about Pet Parents Services for families who lose their furry family member. Three words to describe Christina are curious, empathetic, and generous; all of which are valuable qualities to enhance the Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care team. If Christina could learn a new skill, it would be to take up a new language. German, Spanish, and American Sign Language are all up for consideration. You may be wondering what musical artist Christina would pick to play at her funeral? That’s easy: Simple Plan or Four Year Strong!

Pam Borges Office Manager

As a child, Pam’s career aspirations were to become a bus driver. Although that career never transpired, she is responsible for navigating and guiding our client families, office operations and staff. So in a way, she most certainly is steering the “bus!” Pam joined the Lasting Tributes staff with a passion to learn. Her coworkers describe her as empathetic, hardworking, and kind, all of which are essential for her role on our team. Finding herself positioned happily in between wanderlust and homebody personalities, Pam enjoys life wherever she is situated. Travelling and exploring new places is just as satisfying as spending time at home with family and friends! When asked if a hot dog is a sandwich, Pam defends her position that it’s not a sandwich by highlighting that the hot dog bun is a connected piece of bread. Whereas a sandwich requires two separate pieces. Agree or disagree, this is indeed a very thought out justification!

Ken Laing

Honest, friendly, and trustworthy are three redeeming qualities that Ken brings to work with him every day. His favorite part of overseeing Bestgate Memorial Park and assisting the families at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care are being able to find a way, even if it’s a small one, to help families at what feels like their worst moments. Ken considers himself a traveler over a homebody. There are so many awesome and fun things to do in new places, plenty of exciting opportunities and interesting people to meet! His favorite place to spend time is in West Virginia where the natural beauty of the state times in with family connections and memories shared there. If he could learn any language instantly it would be Spanish. Having that tool would allow him the ability to better serve our diverse community in Annapolis while also enjoying travels abroad!

Kerry Legg Funeral Concierge

Kerry’s favorite time of the day is late afternoon – it’s winddown time during the week and on the weekends when she gathers with her husband, Josh, and kids. She has been proudly helping the FHN communities since 2007, and learning about others while helping them through a difficult time is truly what propels her every day. While she grew up thinking she’d be a soccer player or coach, she is instead coaching others through uncharted territories after a loved one is lost or by encouraging individuals to preplan services to relieve stressors on their family members. Coaching comes naturally for Kerry, as she is also extremely involved in her daughter Hayden’s, and son, Jase’s athletic pursuits. If Kerry could have any superpower it would be flying. She loves to travel but dislikes the time spent getting to a destination. Of everywhere she has traveled, Whistler, British Columbia marks the top destination on her list. If Kerry could have any band, living or dead, play at her funeral she would choose The Beatles. Thanks to her mom, she has a strong love for the British icons!

Kristal Abrams Planning Administrator

Kristal has been helping our communities solve the tricky items our families come across after services are over, like insurance claims and Register of Wills affairs to name a couple, since 2016. Her favorite time of day is when the funeral concierge work ends and she pulls into her driveway to see her three kids, Vada, Luke, and Sawyer waiting for her with their bright smiles! Kristal considers herself a homebody over a traveler, so it’s only fitting that her and her husband, Matt, have made their beautiful family home one she adores! Though she loves her time with family, it is helping community families that brings her the most joy in her role at FHN. She describes herself as dedicated, stubborn, and kind. All of these are valuable qualities to help organize families in getting back on their feet after a loss! When ask the hotly debated question, “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” Her answer quickly was: “Not a sandwich, obviously!”

Leon Burton Sr. Funeral Assistant

Leon is described by his coworkers as dedicated, dependable, and accountable. Not only does he still work full time for UPS, he spends his nights and weekends helping out families at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care. It should come as no surprise that his favorite time of day is the night, especially in the summer -- when he can drive with his windows down, listing to good old R&B music. His favorite part of working at Lasting Tributes is being able to care for others’ loved ones. To him, it is the ultimate honor to have the trust of a family caring and providing services for the person they love the most. When Leon isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, Wanda, and their teenage son, Leon Jr. Leon would like to add more travel to his life, as it’s a time he can truly escape from his fast paced work life. However, if time doesn’t permit, then spending time at home with his family is equally enjoyable. If Leon could trade places with any Disney character, it’d be Mickey Mouse because he’s the main attraction and everyone loves Mickey! Leon’s coworkers believe he is the Mickey Mouse of the team! Everyone lights up when Leon walks in the room!

Danielle Callahan Funeral Assistant

When asked the hotly debated question, “is a hot dog a sandwich?” Danielle replied with a resounding: “No! Do not disrespect a sandwich like that!” While Danielle had her dreams set on becoming a police officer as a child, she pursed law enforcement in a slightly different capacity. Instead of police work, she fills her days with government work for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. It is helping individuals and being a caring presence that brings her most joy while she fulfills her duties at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care! She considers herself to be ambitious, relentless, and influential all qualities which propels success in her professional endeavors. Her favorite time of day is at sunset, when all of the work from the day is completed and she can relax. If she could request any performer at her Celebration of Life Party, it would be ACDC!

Robb Lippy Funeral Assistant

Robb joined the team at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care in 2020. He is easy-going, friendly, and detail oriented which is what makes him the perfect fit in his role with Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care. Being able to bring a bit of comfort to people in their time of need is what he appreciates most about his position. If Robb could pause time at any point in his life and remain immortal, he would pick his 30s. It was when he and his wife, Jackie, were well enough into their adult years to watch their daughters grow, and also still in great physical shape. Robb considers himself a traveler over a homebody. He was fortunate in his career to be able to see much of the US and Canada. However, his favorite place he’s visited is Aruba – where the beaches are fantastic!

Phil Curry Funeral Assistant

Phil Curry joined the team in 2021 after retiring from a long and successful career as a respiratory therapist. He finds much crossover between the two positions and appreciates the ability to bring comfort to others during a difficult time. He is best described as caring, dependable, and detail oriented. Phil and his wife Tammy have six children, eight grandchildren, and one dog, Lily; so, spending time with family is something that brings him much happiness. However, he also loves traveling the world. Among his top favorite locations are San Francisco, New Orleans, St. Kitts, and Aruba. These places offer such an expansive diversity of culture and life! Phil’s love for music will follow him after life, as it soothes his soul in so many ways. If he could have anyone perform at his Celebration of Life event, he would be hard pressed to pick just one: Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Uncle Kracker are all front runners!

Allie Sansing Funeral Assistant

Allie Sansing started as an Office Manager at Lasting Tributes in 2017. When she decided to leave the office to take a work-from-home position, she realized she felt a profound loss without Lasting Tributes in her life. So in 2022, she transitioned to a part time funeral assistant! As a child, Allie had dreams of becoming a doctor and a mom. While she never became a doctor, she still focuses her energy on taking care of families at Lasting Tributes while simultaneously juggling the responsibilities of being mom to her two sons, Braeden and Sawyer. If Allie could possess one superpower, it would be to heal others of pain. She feels passionately about promoting positive mental health and wellness. If there were a magical way to fix others’ suffering, it’s where she would channel her energy. Allie describes herself as a homebody, but has dreams of a traveler. The comfort and peace she finds from being home with her family brings more joy to her heart than she’s ever found from her travels. When asked who she would like to musically perform at her Celebration of Life, she emphatically said, Ed Sheeran!

Kayln Barrow Florist

Marissa Strunk Florist

Dr. Craig N. Coates Senior Pastor, Fresh Start Church

Dr. Craig N. Coates is a native Annapolitan with over 20 years of pastoring experience. He serves as the Senior Pastor at Fresh Start Church, a non-denominational fellowship in Anne Arundel County. In addition, he serves on numerous boards to include the Anne Arundel County HIV Commission and the Healthy Anne Arundel Coalition. Bishop Coates holds a doctorate from the University of North Carolina College of Theology. In addition, he is a licensed pastoral counselor and specializes in emotional health, managing anxiety, and grief coaching. His compassion for grieving families is evident in his unique and often humorous messages regarding life, death, and eternity.

Greg DeHaven Traditional Highland Funeral Piper

To mourn the passing of a loved one a traditional piper can play at a tribute of ones choosing as a means of respect. For centuries, it has always added a special touch to any ceremony with their unique and individual sound. Greg, who is exclusive with Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care, brings honor and dignity to ones passing as well as support to the family, friends and acquaintances of the deceased.

Mary Cahill-Kindrat Hostess & Bereavement Coordinator

Mary was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She moved to Maryland where she met and married her husband Peter in l979. They have 3 children and two beautiful grandsons - Vincent and Jackson. Mary completed her Associates Degree in General Studies with area of concentration in Psychology and Gerontology. She then continued her studies at the University of Maryland University College where she obtained her Bachelors of Sciences Degree. She continues to study in the areas of Behavioral Science, Psychology, and Mental Health. Mary has been contributing in various roles since joining Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care.