By Anna Yoder | Columnist

*Editor’s note: This column contains a description of how bodies are prepared for funerals which some readers may find graphic. Reader discretion is advised. Also, this article was updated from its print version to correct names of Stephen and John Brady.

Some people may think they are invincible and will live forever. Others fully understand our time on Earth is limited. Regardless of your school of thought, it happens to all of us — we pass on from this world.

“Don’t Fear The Reaper” is a song by the American rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album Agents of Fortune about the inevitability of death. It is also a song that references Romeo and Juliet as an example of eternal love — the type of love we continue to have for our dearly departed. Always there and never ending.

We have eternal love for our dearly departed; yet most often we also experience a time of deep sadness. During that time of deep sadness, it is important to surround yourself with your family and friends who love you. It also becomes a necessary time to find caring professionals who can help you make the final arrangements for your loved one.

If you are like me, you might be thinking: where would I find a caring professional? Please allow me to point you in a positive direction to a wonderful Northside business that can help.

As an Arimathean for my church (i.e., parishioner who attends and serves funeral masses), I have the distinct pleasure of meeting with many funeral directors from various funeral homes. They are all professional and caring. Yet, there is one funeral director who stands out in my mind who exudes kindness, a calming and compassionate presence, and offers the utmost care for the deceased and their families. It is LeeAnn Sherman — the affable owner, funeral director, and supervisor of Stephen M. Brady Funeral Home (aka Brady’s).

When LeeAnn accompanies the deceased and their family into church, she is the epitome of the type of funeral director you want. LeeAnn seamlessly strikes a balance between efficiency and compassion to create a peaceful and relaxing environment for families of the deceased through her calm and poised demeanor. Families respond to LeeAnn with mutual respect because they know that their loved one is in good hands which makes for an easier goodbye.

A little about LeeAnn: LeeAnn found herself interested in becoming a funeral director when she was a child. LeeAnn describes her work as a funeral director as “God using [her] as a vessel to help get a loved one to heaven.” LeeAnn’s educational journey toward this calling started in 2001 and as a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, she found herself seeking an internship at numerous funeral homes. During a time when there were very few women in the “funeral” business, combined with many businesses being family owned, LeeAnn had a difficult time in finding acceptance as funeral director intern. Not until LeeAnn decided to look in the Pittsburgh area, did she find an internship when Mr. Stephen Brady (descendant of John Brady) decided to hire her for his funeral home.

In those earlier years, LeeAnn did what most interns do: carry out the tasks that their boss asks of them. As a funeral director intern, those intern tasks included parking cars for the funerals. LeeAnn comically recalls being a bit naïve when a car kept circling the block around Brady’s funeral home and she tried to get the driver to enter the funeral home’s parking lot. She remarked to Mr. Brady that she desperately tried to get the driver of the circling car to pull into the lot and Mr. Brady simply responded “he’s not looking for a ‘parking spot’” (wink wink). This persistence to do a good job is exemplified in her sincere determination to provide the same level of loving care for all the deceased and their families that she serves. LeeAnn stayed at Brady’s in part because of the colorful, animated, and diverse fabric that makes the Northside unique and became a fully licensed funeral director. After the passing of Stephen Brady, LeeAnn purchased Brady’s in 2018.

LeeAnn is fully committed to treating everyone equally — no matter their religion, race, or ethnicity. LeeAnn’s goal is to ensure that the deceased and their family are well cared for at a time they need it the most. LeeAnn accommodates the families through her ability to learn what the deceased’s family wants, to be there to guide and offer suggestions, and act as a compassionate and knowledgeable resource for the family. LeeAnn believes that an effective funeral director is one who can take direction in instances where perhaps there are certain religious rituals that need to be adhered to; yet be there to organize, plan, and execute other aspects (e.g., masses, services, cremation, etc.) so that the family’s wishes are fully met and “things are perfect.”

LeeAnn and her staff offer many services including: pre-planning (i.e., expression of wishes prior to death), pre-funding (i.e., putting money aside for funeral arrangements prior to death), and full funeral arrangements including cremation. LeeAnn’s commitment to serving our community and ensuring everyone receives the same care is exhibited in the lengths that she goes to offer financial assistance and discounts to those needing it. LeeAnn works with the Department of Public Assistance, churches, religious groups, veteran groups, and other charities to solicit funding to help cover funeral expenses.

Yet, what I REALLY wondered about (and you may too) is how is the body prepared for a funeral viewing? LeeAnn quips that this is what people are most curious about when they meet with her. The process is not as scary as you might think. Rather, it is a very methodical yet personal and caring process (almost like getting ready for work on any given day.)

Stephen M. Brady Funeral Home Owner/Funeral Director LeeAnn Sherman shows off an empty casket in the funeral home’s viewing room. Photo by Anna Yoder

The process begins with removing the clothes prior to the deceased getting “a bath.” This gentle bath serves to sanitize and disinfect the body. Very similar to what we do every day when we shower or bathe.

Next, LeeAnn “sets the features” which simply means to ensure the deceased has a “peaceful look on their face.” Through two small medical incisions, the body is then preserved with embalming fluid. The incisions are sutured after the procedure and the body is then gently washed again. Finally, it is time to get dressed. The deceased is dressed in clothes that either the family or funeral home provides to look their best.

Next, it is time for “cosmetizing” which is the process of applying facial makeup to achieve a natural look and for men, shaving their face. LeeAnn laughed when I asked if she styles the hair? Other than a little combing of the hair or the placement of a wig, LeeAnn leaves the hair styling up to a professional hairdresser (or even a family member if they request to do it). To make this an even more personal experience, LeeAnn says she always talks to the person and calls them by their name when she is working on them (I can vouch for this as I saw this first hand during our chat).

What was one of her oddest requests? LeeAnn was asked to have the deceased laid out naked in the casket (a request she did not honor). LeeAnn also debunked the urban legend that funeral directors remove the legs (and other body parts) before placing the loved one in the casket (A blanket typically covers the legs). Also, LeeAnn says she rarely knows how the person died. Quite frankly, I thought that would be the first thing the family would tell the funeral director!

LeeAnn strives to put the deceased’s families at ease and help them during a time of high stress. Lee-Ann also wants families to know that “there’s nothing scary about a funeral home even though death can be scary.” So don’t fear the reaper, contact LeeAnn Sherman at Stephen M. Brady Funeral Home, and plan ahead for when the time comes… to say “goodbye” the way you want (With the exception of laying there in your birthday suit).

Fun Facts: In 2021, LeeAnn served as President for the Allegheny County Funeral Directors Association and is currently on the Board of Trustees as secretary. And today, the number of women far exceeds men as funeral directors!

Stephen M. Brady Funeral Home is located on 920 Cedar Ave. They can be contacted at (412) 321-0495.