Mark T. Phillips
Funeral Director
Born in Saratoga Springs and lifelong resident, he began employment with the funeral home at age 15, under the professional and dedicated guidance of the late Richard Stone, James and William J. Burke, Jr.
He and his wife of 45 years, Michele (DelVecchio) Phillips are parents to John (Molly) Phillips and Margaret (Andres) Reyes and proud grandparents of Carter and Mason Phillips, Thomas and Jack Lawrence Reyes.
Long active in many local civic, fraternal and benevolent organizations, he is a member, communicant and current Trustee of the historic Church of St. Peter.
Professionally is currently serving on the Family Assistance Commission of the NYS Funeral Directors Association and the NYS Department of Health Bureau of Funeral Directing Advisory Board and is a past president of the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association and former Region Two Director.
Grateful to remain active with the firm’s increased professional staff of full-time licensed funeral directors, he is privileged to continue in service to all families for any pre-need and at-need concerns.
As funeral directors truly love life, Mark is humbled to be a current American Red Cross 27 gallon donor and a member of the Bone Marrow Registry.
Mark T. Phillips
Funeral Director
Born in Saratoga Springs and lifelong resident, he began employment with the funeral home at age 15, under the professional and dedicated guidance of the late Richard Stone, James and William J. Burke, Jr.
He and his wife of 45 years, Michele (DelVecchio) Phillips are parents to John (Molly) Phillips and Margaret (Andres) Reyes and proud grandparents of Carter and Mason Phillips, Thomas and Jack Lawrence Reyes.
Long active in many local civic, fraternal and benevolent organizations, he is a member, communicant and current Trustee of the historic Church of St. Peter.
Professionally is currently serving on the Family Assistance Commission of the NYS Funeral Directors Association and the NYS Department of Health Bureau of Funeral Directing Advisory Board and is a past president of the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association and former Region Two Director.
Grateful to remain active with the firm’s increased professional staff of full-time licensed funeral directors, he is privileged to continue in service to all families for any pre-need and at-need concerns.
As funeral directors truly love life, Mark is humbled to be a current American Red Cross 27 gallon donor and a member of the Bone Marrow Registry.
R. Thomas Armer
Funeral Director
Tom has been affiliated as a funeral director with the Burke firm since 1974. A second generation funeral director, he is one of five licensed funeral directors in the Armer family of Ballston Spa.
A member and former vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa, he is also a member and past president of the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association. He has donated many years of volunteer service to the county 4-H unit and is a member and current president of the Saratoga County Fair Board.
Tom's interests include the great outdoors and taking care of his registered Belgian draft horses at his Meadow View Farm on Hop City Road in Ballston Spa. He is married to retired Saratoga Springs school teacher Donna L. Armer, and they are the parents of two daughters and proud grandparents of two granddaughters.
R. Thomas Armer
Funeral Director
Tom has been affiliated as a funeral director with the Burke firm since 1974. A second generation funeral director, he is one of five licensed funeral directors in the Armer family of Ballston Spa.
A member and former vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa, he is also a member and past president of the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association. He has donated many years of volunteer service to the county 4-H unit and is a member and current president of the Saratoga County Fair Board.
Tom's interests include the great outdoors and taking care of his registered Belgian draft horses at his Meadow View Farm on Hop City Road in Ballston Spa. He is married to retired Saratoga Springs school teacher Donna L. Armer, and they are the parents of two daughters and proud grandparents of two granddaughters.
Daniel J. DeCelle
Funeral Director
A graduate of Hudson Valley Community College’s Mortuary Science program, Daniel has been associated with the funeral profession in this area since 1980. Licensed as a funeral director in New York State since 1983 and a lifelong Mechanicville resident, he is a member of All Saints On The Hudson (Assumption-St. Paul’s Church) in Mechanicville.
Dan has been serving families at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes since 2001. He has been involved with many of Mechanicville's youth sports programs. He is the current New York State District 11 District Administrator for Little League programs in four counties, a former coach, board member and president of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Little League, a former coach and board member for the Mechanicville Junior Red Raider Football program, he coached baseball & basketball for the Mechanicville School District as well as coaching and refereeing for the local C.Y.O. basketball program.
Dan is a past director for the Mechanicville-Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce and is the current president of the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association.
He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 40 years and still reside in the lovely hamlet of Willow Glen. They have two children, Nick (Meredith) DeCelle and Stephanie (Eric) Nelson and four beautiful grandchildren, Daniella and Edward Nelson, and Cecilia and Natalie DeCelle.
Daniel J. DeCelle
Funeral Director
A graduate of Hudson Valley Community College’s Mortuary Science program, Daniel has been associated with the funeral profession in this area since 1980. Licensed as a funeral director in New York State since 1983 and a lifelong Mechanicville resident, he is a member of All Saints On The Hudson (Assumption-St. Paul’s Church) in Mechanicville.
Dan has been serving families at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes since 2001. He has been involved with many of Mechanicville's youth sports programs. He is the current New York State District 11 District Administrator for Little League programs in four counties, a former coach, board member and president of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Little League, a former coach and board member for the Mechanicville Junior Red Raider Football program, he coached baseball & basketball for the Mechanicville School District as well as coaching and refereeing for the local C.Y.O. basketball program.
Dan is a past director for the Mechanicville-Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce and is the current president of the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association.
He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 40 years and still reside in the lovely hamlet of Willow Glen. They have two children, Nick (Meredith) DeCelle and Stephanie (Eric) Nelson and four beautiful grandchildren, Daniella and Edward Nelson, and Cecilia and Natalie DeCelle.
Nicholas D. DeCelle
Funeral Director
Before deciding to pursue a career in funeral directing and follow in his father, Daniel J. DeCelle’s, footsteps, he had a successful career working in college athletics. Nick is a graduate of Springfield College (MA) with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Exercise Science and Master of Education degree in Sport Management. While attending Springfield as an undergraduate he was a four-year varsity track and field athlete while accepting the role of captain his senior year. As a graduate student he was awarded a teaching fellowship position. Nick also spent time working in Bristol, CT, at ESPN, Inc. in the human resource and employee wellness departments, Castleton State College (VT) in their athletic department, and as the youth development director at the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center.
Nick attended Hudson Valley Community College for Mortuary Science and was one of two recipients of the Capital District Funeral Director’s Association Award for Excellence in Funeral Service.
He is a member of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association. Nick is a graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Saratoga, a former ambassador for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and a former board member for The Dake Foundation For Children. He currently sits on the board of directors for Wellspring, the New York State Funeral Directors Association, and is the treasurer for the Saratoga Springs Lions Club. He also is graduate of the NYS Funeral Director Association Leadership Academy and a former member of their Continuing Education and Convention Education Committee.
He lives in the Town of Stillwater with his wife, Meredith (Pozefsky), his daughters, Cecilia and Natalie, and their dogs, Rosie and Emma.
Nicholas D. DeCelle
Funeral Director
Before deciding to pursue a career in funeral directing and follow in his father, Daniel J. DeCelle’s, footsteps, he had a successful career working in college athletics. Nick is a graduate of Springfield College (MA) with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Exercise Science and Master of Education degree in Sport Management. While attending Springfield as an undergraduate he was a four-year varsity track and field athlete while accepting the role of captain his senior year. As a graduate student he was awarded a teaching fellowship position. Nick also spent time working in Bristol, CT, at ESPN, Inc. in the human resource and employee wellness departments, Castleton State College (VT) in their athletic department, and as the youth development director at the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center.
Nick attended Hudson Valley Community College for Mortuary Science and was one of two recipients of the Capital District Funeral Director’s Association Award for Excellence in Funeral Service.
He is a member of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association. Nick is a graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Saratoga, a former ambassador for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and a former board member for The Dake Foundation For Children. He currently sits on the board of directors for Wellspring, the New York State Funeral Directors Association, and is the treasurer for the Saratoga Springs Lions Club. He also is graduate of the NYS Funeral Director Association Leadership Academy and a former member of their Continuing Education and Convention Education Committee.
He lives in the Town of Stillwater with his wife, Meredith (Pozefsky), his daughters, Cecilia and Natalie, and their dogs, Rosie and Emma.
Stephanie Nelson
Office Manager
Before joining her father and brother at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, Stephanie owned a Gift shop on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. She opened her shop less than 6 months after graduating from SUNY Oneonta with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business Economics. There, she was a member of the Phi Epsilon Omicron National Honor Society.
After meeting her husband and starting a family she decided to close the shop and stay home with their children. During this time she worked evenings, part time as a Head teller for Pioneer Bank’s Malta Branch.
When her youngest started school, she was ready to fully re-enter the workforce. Having always loved Saratoga, Stephanie was very grateful to be given the opportunity to come work at Burke’s. She also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Stillwater Area Community Center and is a member of the All Saints on the Hudson Parish, where she’s volunteered with the Faith Formation.
Stephanie lives in the Town of Stillwater with her husband, Eric; their two children Daniella and Edward; and their dog Cody.
Stephanie Nelson
Office Manager
Before joining her father and brother at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, Stephanie owned a Gift shop on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. She opened her shop less than 6 months after graduating from SUNY Oneonta with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business Economics. There, she was a member of the Phi Epsilon Omicron National Honor Society.
After meeting her husband and starting a family she decided to close the shop and stay home with their children. During this time she worked evenings, part time as a Head teller for Pioneer Bank’s Malta Branch.
When her youngest started school, she was ready to fully re-enter the workforce. Having always loved Saratoga, Stephanie was very grateful to be given the opportunity to come work at Burke’s. She also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Stillwater Area Community Center and is a member of the All Saints on the Hudson Parish, where she’s volunteered with the Faith Formation.
Stephanie lives in the Town of Stillwater with her husband, Eric; their two children Daniella and Edward; and their dog Cody.
Anthony J. Morris
Funeral Director
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Anthony’s family moved to upstate New York in 1988, where he graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 1995. He is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management.
After years in the hospitality and finance industries, he returned to Hudson Valley for his Mortuary Science degree and has been with Burke Funeral Home since 2021.
Anthony currently resides in Clifton Park with his tremendously supportive wife, Rebecca; their two beautiful children, Jaxon and Elena; and their Great Pyrenees, Payton. He lives for participating in and watching his children’s sporting and non-sporting events. Anthony looks forward to building lasting relationships with the community in the years to come.
Anthony J. Morris
Funeral Director
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Anthony’s family moved to upstate New York in 1988, where he graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 1995. He is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management.
After years in the hospitality and finance industries, he returned to Hudson Valley for his Mortuary Science degree and has been with Burke Funeral Home since 2021.
Anthony currently resides in Clifton Park with his tremendously supportive wife, Rebecca; their two beautiful children, Jaxon and Elena; and their Great Pyrenees, Payton. He lives for participating in and watching his children’s sporting and non-sporting events. Anthony looks forward to building lasting relationships with the community in the years to come.
Nicholas A. Cannizzo III
Funeral Director
Nicky was born and raised in Johnstown, New York. He graduated from Johnstown High School in 2010 and later graduated from Hudson Valley Community College with an Associate Degree in Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science. Shortly after, he followed in his father's footsteps and legacy by joining their family's Funeral Home in Johnstown.
In early 2024, he moved to Saratoga Springs and was thrilled to join the team at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff funeral homes.
Nicky considers it a privilege to serve the families of this community and be able to provide meaningful, appropriate, and affordable funeral services. He especially enjoys sharing stories with the families.
He is a member of the New York State Funeral Directors.
On his off days, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He is most known for being the funny one and loves being able to make people laugh.
Nicholas A. Cannizzo III
Funeral Director
Nicky was born and raised in Johnstown, New York. He graduated from Johnstown High School in 2010 and later graduated from Hudson Valley Community College with an Associate Degree in Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science. Shortly after, he followed in his father's footsteps and legacy by joining their family's Funeral Home in Johnstown.
In early 2024, he moved to Saratoga Springs and was thrilled to join the team at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff funeral homes.
Nicky considers it a privilege to serve the families of this community and be able to provide meaningful, appropriate, and affordable funeral services. He especially enjoys sharing stories with the families.
He is a member of the New York State Funeral Directors.
On his off days, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He is most known for being the funny one and loves being able to make people laugh.
