Meet the Staff

(574) 232-1411

J. Patrick McGann

A "lifer" in the South Bend area, Pat believes Michiana is a great place to live and raise a family. Pat has been working in the family funeral business for 42 years. He and his wife Tessa (Bajo) have four grown children and two grandchildren and live in Granger. Tessa is a Registered Nurse and native of East Chicago, IN and graduated from Bishop Noll Institute and Holy Cross School of Nursing. She has worked at Notre Dame for over fifteen years in various positions and currently is in the Campus Work Station Program. Pat is a 1972 Grad of John Adams High School and attended Holy Cross College, IUSB, IUPUI and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science and serves as CEO of McGann Hay. Pat's has served many community boards including the American Heart Association, Red Cross, YMCA, Camp Eberhart, Camp Fire, Granger Lions Club, Past President of the Downtown Rotary Club, Morris Park Country Club, as well as being in charge of several Adams Class reunions. He is a member of St. Pius X Parish in Granger and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoys fishing, golf and use to love watching and coaching his kids sports teams when they were younger.

Bonnie (Heck) Hay

Bonnie grew up in the East Gate area of South Bend and graduated from John Adams High School and St. Mary's College. She was married to Brian Hay, he was the third generation owner of the Forest G. Hay Funeral Homes. Brian passed away in 2005 and they have two wonderful grown children: Conor and Stephanie. Bonnie works at Memorial Hospital with newborn infants and their families as well as continuing as a consultant for McGann Hay. Bonnie enjoys snow skiing, golf and travel and lives in Granger. She has been a long time member of St. Anthony's Parish in South Bend.

Jessica Howard

Jessica. L. Howard

A South Bend native and proud graduate of the “Pride of the Westside”, Washington High School, with the Class of 2000. Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Vincennes University Funeral Service Program, and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. After graduation she served her Internship with the Forest G. Hay Funeral Home where she had worked part time before entering Mortuary School. She became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2005. After the merger of the McGann and Hay families into one funeral operation in 2005, Jessica became a staff funeral director. Today, Jessica is the Operations and Complience Manager for the McGann Hay firm and is proud of her roll in her chosen profession. She values her long time membership in the Ontwa Baptist Church in Edwardsburg and is an active member in the Downtown South Bend Rotary Club serving on several committees and serves on a Board at Bethel College. She volunteers time by serving meals at the Center for the Homeless and going on Mission Trips when she has the opportunity. Prior to Mortuary School, she taught Ballroom Dancing at Dan O’Day’s Dance Studio and still loves to dance every chance she gets.

Richard Thomas

Rich was born in Gary, IN, graduated from Andrean High in 1967, and from Indiana University at South Bend in 1971. Rich and his wife Gloria make their home on the south side of Mishawaka. They have four grown children, April, Megan, John and Elizabeth. Rich was a long time teacher at St. Joseph Grade School in South Bend, also worked for Roadrunner Transportation, and is still taking tickets for the South Bend Silverhawks at Coveleski Stadium. Rich and Gloria have been long time parishioners at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church in South Bend. Rich is a member of the IU Alumni Association of St. Joseph Valley. He bleeds the Cream and Crimson of IU athletics. He spends his off hours watching his grandchildren's sporting events and school activities. Rich has worked at McGann Hay since 1990, and heads up McGann's Executive Limousine Service and Accounts Payable.

Ryan McGann

Ryan C. McGann

A South Bend Native and fourth generation involved with the McGann Hay Funeral Homes, Ryan attended St. Anthony’s Grade School before moving with his family to their home on Corey Lake in Three Rivers, MI. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1992 and attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church as well as Lord of the Lakes in the summers in the Camp Eberhart Outdoor Chapel. Ryan attended Western Michigan University and pledged Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Ryan moved to Jacksonville Beach, Florida in 1995 where he started his own business Truck Improvements and auto and truck accessories shop in St. Augustine. After selling his business he moved back to South Bend and became part of the funeral business. Ryan, has not married yet and lives in an apartment at the firms Morning Star Funerals & Cremations Chapel, on West Cleveland Rd. Ryan is an active volunteer at YMCA Camp Eberhart and their Alumni Association. Ryan enjoys spending his weekends off in the summer on his pontoon boat he keeps at Corey Lake and in the winter Snow Skiing at Swiss Valley in Jones, MI. Ryan enjoys spending time outdoors caring for the firm’s landscape gardens and ponds as Facilities Manager.

Michael J. McGann

Mike is a 1968 graduate of John Adams High School where he played Varsity Football and was a member of the Track Team and Monogram Club. He received a football scholarship to McCook Junior College in McCook, NE then attended Holy Cross College, and received a degree in funeral service from The Mid-American College of Mortuary Science. Mike served 25 years as a South Bend Police Officer retiring in 1996. While on the SBPD he received the George A Cooper Award for Heroism twice, many other heroism awards, and was a member of the first SWAT team in the state. Mike was a member of Elk’s Lodge #235, FOP Lodge#36, Knollwood Country Club, the Junto Goose & Duck Club and he and his wife Ann are members of St. Pius X. They live in Granger where Mike has lived for more than forty years. Mike has two children Erin Ann (Teddy) Demetriou and Michael (Erica McGlothlin) McGann who is stationed in San Diego, CA with the United States Marine Corps and has had one tour in Iraq. Mike is an avid fisherman and he and Ann enjoy spending time with and babysitting for their three granddaughters and vacationing in warm climates, since his recent retirement from eleven years as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative.