History & Staff

Daniel R. Patch, Jr Owner

Dan was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois and is a lifelong resident. He spent his life growing up around the funeral business learning from and being inspired by his father, Dan Patch Sr., to one day become a funeral director. Dan attended the College of Lake County and soon after graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1995 and has since been employed by Peterson and Patch Funeral Home. His years dedicated to the funeral profession have given Dan the opportunity to fulfill his life passion serving the families of Lake County community.

In 2000 he served as the president of the City Club of Waukegan, and is currently a member of the Exchange Club, Waukegan Moose Lodge 706, and Knights of Columbus 731. Dan is also very involved with the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where he had served as president from 2004-2006. He is also a current member of both Illinois and National Funeral Directors Association.

In 2000, Dan married Michelle Miscenic of Waukegan, if you ask Dan who his celebrity crush, he will always say "My beautiful, talented, caring, amazing wife that puts up with me, Michelle." they currently have two children, Oliver and Cecilia and a grandson named Dean.

Interesting facts about Dan!
Fact #1: There was a famous pace horse named Dan Patch in the late 1800s early 1900 that held the world record for the 1/4 mile. So when you see something named Dan Patch there is no relation. (Horse stable at Grand Geneva Resort, street off O’Plain Rd in Green Oaks, IL, there is even a movie called the The Great Dan Patch, not me, etc.) When Michelle and Dan first got married, they were in Lake Geneva and went horseback riding at Dan Patch Stables, they asked for their IDs, and I remember the lady looked at Dan's and lifting her head with a look on her face and said, “you are kidding me right?”

Fact #2
What song always gets you out on the dance floor? I don’t think there is any one song, it’s Michelle dragging me onto the dance floor that gets me out there. Once I’m there it’s hard to get me off.

Fact #3
What song, or album, could you listen to on repeat? I can go from Billy Joel, Elton John, Sublime to Kid Rock, I’m all over the place when it comes to music.

Fact #4
If you could donate $1 million to any charity, what cause would you choose?
Disabled American Veterans.

Fact #5
What was the worst haircut/hairstyle you have ever had? Mohawk mullet in 8th grade, but it was pretty cool!

Fact #6
Dan is a Yogi!! Dan's career is very demanding and emotionally draining, it’s not a 9 to 5 it’s a 24/7 of dealing with death and the grieving. It’s never been easy for him to be able to focus on anything else without work on his mind. Santosha Yogo study has taught him that the 45 minutes/hour he can escape and think of nothing else but that time on his mat. Dan also enjoys attending sporting events and playing golf with his friends and family and traveling to Croatia, every year to visit family.

A message from Dan Patch, Jr. "Live life every day because every day is a gift."

Lesly Mondragon Manager

Lesly was born in La Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico. She is the proud daughter of Gilberto Mondragon Vicario born and raised in Quetzalapa, Guerrero and Nora Navarro Orozco born and raised in Morelia, Michoacán. She moved to Illinois at the age of three and lived in various cities such as Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Glenview and Lake Bluff. She has daughter named Casandra Anahi. She has four siblings, Jorge, Ivan, Josue, and Joselin. Lesly loves a good home cooked meal, dancing, listening to music and learning new things every day.

Her dedication to funeral service came after volunteering at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in both the transportation and pathology departments. She graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where she excelled as Vice President of Pi Sigma Eta (National Honor Society) and also received Associates in Applied Science in September 2014, becoming the first in her family to graduate college.

She joined the firm in 2014 and quickly became known in the community as a compassionate and caring funeral director. Being bilingual in Spanish and English has helped Lesly serve the families of Waukegan and all of Lake County.

Bianca Navarrete Funeral Director Apprentice

Bianca was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois. She attended St. Anastasia Middle School and continued on to Waukegan High School. Bianca graduated from SIUC Mortuary Program with a bachelor's in science. Outside of work, Bianca enjoys art, visiting her family in Belize, and spending time with her two beloved dogs.
Bianca is our apprentice and is working to become a licensed funeral director to further serve her community with compassion.

Mr. Brian R. Hendrickson Registered Nurse - Community Outreach

Mrs. Samantha M. Rossi Funeral Director - Embalmer

Samantha M. Rossi joined our team in 2020. Samantha or Sam moved to Illinois in 2005 from Rochester, Minnesota to pursue mortuary school and graduated Worsham College in 2007 at the young age of 20. She was very blessed to have made Niles, Illinois her home and completed her internship and licensure with Skaja Terrace Funeral Home from 2005-20011. From 2011-2012 she worked for Smith-Corcoran Funeral Homes, both in their Chicago, Glenview, and Palatine locations. Her true calling happened when she was offered a manager position with Muzyka & Son Funeral Home in Chicago, IL. The owner gave her the freedom and flexibility to run the business as if it were her own.

In 2014, Samantha had her first child Louis and shortly after in 2015 her daughter Marilyn. While juggling being a new mom, having a new business, and still managing a funeral home fulltime - she was on course of funeral home ownership BUT, life took an unfortunate turn when her mother was diagnosed with triple-negative-breast cancer in 2015.

Stepping back from managing Muzyka & Son Funeral Home full-time allowed her to start Funeral Services of Illinois, and Life After Fetch - Pet Cremation Services (www.LifeAfterFetch.com) to give her the freedom to manage her time taking care of her mother and two very young children. Continuing to push through the rollercoaster - she ended up losing her father Kurt Kreinbring in 2018 (53 years old), and her mother Donna Gehrking in 2020 (54 years old).

Though her losses are tragic, and she endured them at a young age, her life has allowed her to see things very differently.

in 2021, Samantha and her family moved to Lake County and are very fortunate to have found their forever home in Lake County.

We support Samantha and her family because we believe in her and see the goodness in her heart. Her motivation and life experiences bring a new light to our funeral home and the funeral industry in general. We are very lucky to be associated with her and cannot wait to see what the future holds!

Daniel R. R. Patch Sr. Past Owner 1978-2017

Daniel R. Patch, Sr., was drawn to funeral service with a deep desire to help families who have suffered a tremendous loss. He spent his entire adult life doing just that. To him funeral service was not just a job but a true calling.

He was born March 15, 1944 in Waukegan to Oliver and Helen (nee Daly) Patch a descendent of two Newport pioneer families. Which makes him a fifth generation to Lake County.

Dan Graduated from St. George High School in 1962 and from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1966. From 1964 to 1967 he was associated with Peterson Funeral Home as a student and part time employee.

Dan was a Vietnam Era veteran serving in the United States Army from 1967 to 1969. In 1969 after his release from the military he returned to Peterson Funeral Home as an employee and purchased the firm in 1978. Along with his son, Daniel R. Patch, Jr. he owned and operated Peterson and Patch Funeral Home and The Memorial Chapel of Waukegan both in Waukegan. Dan has been associated with Peterson and Patch Funeral Home for over fifty years.

Dan was very active in the community his entire life, belonging to National, Illinois and Northeastern Illinois Funeral Director Associations, he was the past president of Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association from 1986 to 1988.

Dan was also a member of Homer Dahringer American Legion Post 281, past president and member of The Waukegan Lions Club and The Waukegan Moose Lodge 706, past member of The Knights of Columbus 731, The Waukegan Jaycees and Waukegan Lions Club as well as a member of the NRA, Early Ford V-8 Club and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Waukegan Historical Society, Newport Township Historical Society and the Lindenhurst Lakes Commission.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Dan R. Patch, Sr. passed away at the age of 73 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

He was survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Theresa (nee Laffredi); children, Dana (John) Iskalis of Wadsworth, Dawn (Brett) Stickels, Daniel R. (Michelle nee Miscenic) Patch, Jr. of Beach Park; Grandchildren, Thomas, Taylor, Sydney Iskalis, Connor, Boden Stickels, Oliver and Cecelia Patch; sister, Virginia Baker of Midland, Michigan; sisters-in-law, Linda (Jim) Onan of Wadsworth, Carol (Larry) Jackson of Las Cruces, New Mexico; nieces, nephews and extended family and his German Shepherd Tuffy.

A Funeral Mass was held 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at St. Anastasia Church 624 Douglas Ave. Waukegan. Interment Millburn Cemetery. Visitation was from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017 at PETERSON & PATCH FUNERAL HOME 408 N. Sheridan Rd. Waukegan.

Daniel R. Patch, Sr. will be remembered for his hard work, and dedication to the community and organizations. He will truly be missed by his family, friends, and the families he helped at the funeral homes.