Our Staff

J. Patrick McGann

Owner & Funeral Director

Born and raised 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 45 years. He is a 1972 graduate of John Adams High School and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science and serves as CEO of McGann Hay. Pat has served on many community boards including the American Heart Association, The Red Cross, YMCA, Camp Eberhart, Camp Fire, Granger Lions Club, Morris Park Country Club, as well as organizing several Adams High School Class reunions. He is also a former President of the Downtown Rotary Club. 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, when his children were young, watching and coaching their sports activities. Pat and his wife Tessa live in Granger, where they delight in visits from their four grown children and three grandchildren. Tessa, a native of East Chicago, Indiana, is a graduate of Bishop Noll Institute and Holy Cross School of Nursing. She worked for many years as a nurse at Memorial Hospital, then later at the Notre Dame Infirmary. She later opened a new chapter in her career at Notre Dame's Office of Information Technology, continuing her 25+ year career at Notre Dame.

Jessica (Howard) Lambert

Manager & Funeral Director

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 Compliance Manager for the McGann Hay firm and is proud of her role in her chosen profession. She values her long time membership in the Ontwa Baptist Church in Edwardsburg, MI and is an active member in the Downtown South Bend Rotary Club, where she served on The Board of Directors. 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. Jessica, her husband Jason and their three rescue dogs live on Barron Lake in Niles, MI.

Pastor John Railton

Funeral Assistant & Pastor

John graduated from South Bend’s Riley High School and then attended and graduated from Oregon Bible College in IL (now Atlanta Bible College), with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. Upon graduation, he pastored a church in Minnesota, and three in Indiana, including his current pastorate at Family Bible Church in Granger. He and his wife Alice celebrated 50 yrs. of marriage in 2019. They have three adult children and five grandchildren in the Michiana area. A few years ago they rescued a little Bichon Poodle, Cheyenne, who's given them a lot of joy. Spending time with family is very important and such a blessing. Traveling with his wife is a favorite thing to do as they have visited 49 states and most of the National Parks. He keeps active playing pickle-ball and is often found working in the kitchen at home. John joined the staff at McGann Hay in 2015. He has a heart for pastoral ministry, caring for people, and feels it pairs well with serving on staff at the funeral home. He’s available to officiate funerals or memorial services for families who don’t have a close church affiliation or pastor.

Renee Dominiak

Funeral Director

Renee spent most of her school age years living in Indianapolis, IN. She continued moving south to Brown Co. and Columbus, IN. During this time, she attended Mid-America College of Funeral Service, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 2012 with 3 children. Her fourth child, and only girl, came in 2014. Renee moved to the South Bend area in 2016 to be closer to her mother and grandparents.

Renee started with us in the fall of 2017 as an intern and became a Funeral Director in November of 2018. When asked why did you want to become a Funeral Director, her answer always is, “I want to help families in need.” She attends Christian Center Church in South Bend. She spends her time with her children and family, reading, traveling, and working in the yard. She loves to vacation anywhere with a beach and palm trees.

Kayla Koszyk

Preneed Counselor

Kayla was born and raised in South Bend, IN and graduated from Washington High School in 2017. Afterwards, she decided to fulfill her lifelong wish of attending Bible College. She graduated from Indiana Bible College in Indianapolis, IN in 2021 with a bachelor’s in Biblical Studies and a minor in Music with honors. After graduating, she decided to move home and help out at her home church- Ironwood United Pentecostal Church. She is very involved with her church, serving in any capacity she can, but mostly in the music department. She leads worship and directs the choir along many other things such as playing the organ and praise singing. Following in her family’s footsteps, she felt a calling to help people plan their final wishes, in advance, offering support and making that inevitably difficult day easier. She obtained her life insurance license and joined the McGann Hay team in October, 2022. Kayla loves to travel, crochet blankets, and read.