Groff's Valued Staff

The families we serve come to us because they recognize we are leaders both in our community and in our profession, seasoned experts dedicated to excellence in service and known for the highest integrity.

  • Elizabeth M.  Groff (Lisa)

    Elizabeth M. Groff (Lisa) President, Funeral Director, Licensed Supervisor

    [email protected]Lisa continues the legacy of the Groff family by being the fourth generation of funeral directors serving the Lancaster Community. She is the President and Licensed Supervisor of The Groffs Funeral Home where she is dedicated to guiding families every step of the way through the decision-making process. Lisa takes great pride to carefully explain your options, make recommendations at your request, take care of all the small details, and ensure that you and your family's personal touch is always present.Lisa is a graduate of McCaskey High School, class of 1978, earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College in 1984. Lisa began her business career as a Security Consultant with Dictograph Protective Alarms in Greenwich CT, before earning her degree in Mortuary Science from Mt. Ida College in Newton, MA in 1991. Lisa completed her apprentice year at Fred F. Groff, Inc. before becoming a Licensed Funeral Director. She has over twenty-five years of experience as a Funeral Director previously holding the positions of Pre-Need Manager, Pre-arrangement Counselor and Licensed Insurance Agent. After her father Bob’s retirement in 1999, Lisa assumed the role of Licensed Supervisor at Fred F. Groff, Inc.. Lisa has been a passionate and dedicated community volunteer for many years. She has held and currently holds leadership roles with many organizations. Lisa is on the Board of Neighborhood Services, currently serves as chair elect of the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Lancaster. She has served many years as a committee member and sponsor for the Office of Aging Senior Games. She is the former Board Chair of both the American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events (MOOSE). Lisa is also involved with the Elizabethtown College Leadership Council and Lancaster History.org serving on the committee for the Valentines Extravaganza. She recently co-chaired the Capital Campaign for the Lancaster County Council of Churches new Food Hub. Lisa has been a lifelong member of St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster. Lisa is a lifelong sports enthusiast having been active with her high school’s basketball and tennis teams. As a USPTA Tennis Professional, she coached the Greenwich High School Boys and Fairfield (CT) University Women’s teams. Some of her athletic accomplishments include The Lancaster Intelligencer Woman Athlete of the Year in 1978, NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Champions at Elizabethtown College in 1982 and inducted as a Championship Team Member of Elizabethtown College Hall of Fame. She also was inducted into the J.P. McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. Lisa currently enjoys boating, fishing, playing recreational tennis and spending her free time with family and friends on the water in North East, MD. Lisa can be reached at [email protected]

  • Thomas S. Buter

    Thomas S. Buter Licensed Funeral Director, Vice President

    [email protected]Tom has proudly been with with The Groff Family for over 50 years. As a Licensed Funeral Director he is proud to dedicate his knowledge and experience in serving our local families. Tom Buter is a native of Zeeland, Michigan and attended Zeeland Christian schools until his family relocated to the Lancaster area following his father's transfer. Tom then attended and graduated from Manheim Township High School, Class of 1967.After graduating from college with a degree in Business Administration, Tom began a course of study at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science graduating in 1970. Tom immediately started his internship with employment at the Fred F. Groff, Inc. Funeral Home. Tom is a graduate of the National Foundation of Funeral Service School of Funeral Service Management, Evanston, IL, Life Appreciation, Los Angeles, CA, a member of the Funeral Ethics Association and has earned the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service, Inc.Tom has served in many volunteer positions in the Lancaster area including The Salvation Army, United Way, Fulton Opera House and SHARE of Lancaster where he held various positions including board presidency. Tom is a Member of the Lancaster County Funeral Directors Association as well as a member of various other funeral profession organizations. Tom is also a graduate of the In-sight Institute as a Funeral Celebrant.A strong supporter of Hospice & Community Care (founded as Hospice of Lancaster County), Tom currently is serving his third term on the Hospice Board of Directors and for 26 years has been Chairman of the Labor Day Auction Committee. Tom also serves as Chairman of the organization's Development and Community Relations Committee and also served on the Grateful Families Division of the Extraordinary Building Campaign. Tom received the Pennsylvania Hospice Network's 2009 Heart of Hospice Award, which recognizes an individual volunteer who demonstrates exemplary generosity and spirit toward the hospice community.Tom is a member of Covenant United Methodist Church, Lancaster where he has served on numerous committees. Tom is a member of Lodge No. 43 F. & A.M. and Zembo Shriners. Tom can be reached at [email protected]

  • David W. Groff (Dave)

    David W. Groff (Dave) Co-owner, VP and Funeral Director

    [email protected]Meets and handles arrangements with families in their time of need. Responsible for the marketing of Groff Family Funeral Home and Groff Event Center.Dave joined the family business as a fourth generation funeral director in 2015 with the acquisition of Fred F. Groff Funeral Home. Prior to coming back to Lancaster, Dave held many sales and marketing positions in sports beginning with the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Coyotes. He was President of Westgate Live, a 225 mixed use property in Glendale, AZ encompassing the Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Cardinals, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, College Football National Championships and NFL Super Bowls venues. Prior to moving back to Lancaster, Dave was instrumental in the inception and growth of Branded Cities, a premier global out-of-home advertising company specializing in iconic media in iconic locations.Since his return to Lancaster, Dave has become very involved in the Lancaster community. Following in his mother Ellen’s footsteps he serves as a Trustee on the Board for the Fulton Theatre contributing on both the marketing and development committees as well as co-chairing the Fulton Follies for two years. He enjoys serving on the Lancaster Museum of Art/Demuth Foundation Board and contributing to the development committee and co-chair of 2018 Trees Galore. Dave joined Sunrise Rotary in 2018 and assists with sponsorships to the Club’s major events. In 2019, Dave will co-chair for the third time the 10th Annual Lancaster County Conservancy Dine on Harvest Moon fundraiser. Following in both his father and grandfather’s lineage, Dave is a member of the Tucquan Club and a plebe for The Pirates of Lancaster. He enjoys attending his childhood church home of St. James Episcopal sitting in the first pew with his father, Bob Groff.Dave received his BA from Denison University and received his Associates Degree from Mesa Community College in Arizona as part of becoming a licensed Funeral Director in Pennsylvania. He has two children who both attend the University of Alabama, Tanner (21) and Sydney (20).Dave feels blessed to be home in Lancaster, where he was raised. Being the fourth of six children, coming home has provided an opportunity to grow closer to his large family.

  • Scott Brubaker

    Scott Brubaker Funeral Director

    [email protected]Scott is a dedicated funeral professional with over thirty-five years of experience as a Llcensed Funeral Director. He started his career of serving Lancaster County’s families in 1976 during his senior year at Warwick High School when he worked at The Spacht Funeral Home in Lititz. Scott is a graduate of North of Northampton Community College where he earned his degree in Applied Science through the Mortuary Program. He worked for The Young Funeral Home from 1979 until 2015 when Young’s merged with The Groffs Family Funeral Home.Scott and his wife Donna live in Manheim Township and have two sons, Ryan and Matthew. Scott is a member of Lancaster Church of the Brethren where he volunteers in various capacities. Scott enjoys travel, dining, gardening and spending time with family and friends. Scott can be reached at [email protected]

  • Charles McWilliams III

    Charles McWilliams III Funeral Director

    [email protected]Chuck has over forty years of experience as a Licensed Funeral Director. After graduating from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1973 Chuck began working at Young Funeral Home located at 317 East Orange Street in Lancaster. He owned and supervised Young’s from 1975 until May of 2015 when the business was merged with the Groff Family Funeral Home. Chuck continues to work in a limited capacity assisting families from both the Groff Family and Young Funeral Home clientele. Chuck is a 40 + year member of Lancaster First United Methodist Church where he has served on or chaired many church boards and committees. He continues as a member of the Lancaster Lions Club, Lamberton Lodge #476 F&AM, and is a Squad Leader and mortuary officer in the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT III), under the auspices of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, international responders to mass fatality situations. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, music, traveling, bowling, and playing golf.Chuck is married to his wife Darlene for over 40 years. They have two daughters Melanie and Sharyn, a son Kyle and two granddaughters. Chuck can be reached at [email protected]

  • Michele DeRosa

    Michele DeRosa Funeral Director/ Community Outreach Coordinator

    [email protected] Michele DeRosa, Licensed Funeral Director since 1980, began her career with the Groff’s in 1979 as a funeral intern. She is the first licensed female director in Lancaster County who attended schooling at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Her education interests continued, graduating from the University of Cincinnati, Millersville University with a BA in Psychology, the Lancaster School of Cosmetology, and numerous Dale Carnegie courses. She also spent three years working at Hospice and Community Care in their bereavement and community relation departments. She received Certification as a Grief Educator and Grief Movement Guide. With the Groff’s, her passions include serving families, planning meaningful ceremonies, serving as the facilitator for two annual support groups, and public speaking, including a segment on “20/20” teaching children about death and dying as it relates to the importance of life with Buchanan Elementary School. She has been the featured speaker on a local, state, and national level in Funeral Service. Michele authored a grief journal entitled “Solace Through Writing” in memory of a dear friend, and is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In her spare time, she works as a Master Reiki and Cranial Sacral Practitioner, volunteers for the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue and offers animal reiki to those animals in need. Her personal passions include being outdoors, family and friends, dining and traveling.

  • Spencer Nickel Groff

    Spencer Nickel Groff Licensed Funeral Director

    [email protected] The Groff Family Funeral and Cremation Services has hired Spencer Groff as a licensed funeral director. Spencer, of Lancaster, has joined his family’s business as a fifth-generation funeral director. Spencer received his B.S. Business Administration at Neumann University, Aston, PA and his Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science at Northhampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA. He joins Groff’s having previously worked as a Licensed funeral director with Beeson Funeral Home in Newark, Delaware.

  • Sarah Irwin

    Sarah Irwin Licensed Funeral Director

    [email protected]Born and raised in Lancaster, Sarah graduated from Solanco High School and went on to attend The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD to study painting. While in art school, the death of a family member called Sarah to pursue a career in Funeral Service. She transferred to Northampton Community College and was accepted into the Funeral Service Program. Sarah graduated in May 2020, finishing top of her class, and earned the Outstanding Funeral Service Education Student of the Year Award. Sarah was introduced to the Groff family during her time in mortuary school and began as a Funeral Intern at The Groff Family Funeral Home in June 2020. She served a one-year internship before becoming a licensed Funeral Director in June 2021. She is the Vice President of the Lancaster County Funeral Director's Association. Sarah lives in Lancaster City with her husband, Justin. She enjoys painting, traveling, antiquing, and collecting taxidermy.