SunFlower
About Us
History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
Our History
One of the oldest funeral homes in the area, Singleton Funeral Home was founded in 1932 by Thomas W. Singleton, a Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Dispatcher. The funeral home started when Mr. Singleton rented a home located at Crain Highway and Second Avenue in Glen Burnie, Maryland. After two years, he later moved his family to the current location to establish both a residence for his family and the funeral home. The original home remains under four expansion projects that have added and surrounded the home.
Thomas W. Singleton passed away in 1956, leaving the funeral home under the leadership of his wife, May V. Singleton. Mrs. Singleton managed the funeral home for 11 years, earning the Golden Rule Funeral Home distinction in 1959, until she too passed away in 1965. Leadership then passed on to a partnership between the two surviving children, Hope Singleton Ware and Richard V. Singleton.
In 1973, the partnership was dissolved as Mrs. Ware pursued other interests. The home then went to her brother, who established the Richard V. Singleton Funeral Director, P.A. On July 1, 1992 , Mr. Singleton retired, effectively dissolving the Richard V. Singleton Funeral Director, P.A. The funeral home was sold to R. George Hopkins and David L. Hovatter.
Today, as members of the International Order of the Golden Rule, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, the staff of Singleton Funeral & Cremation Services continues to show their distinction as one of the most respected funeral homes in North Anne Arundel County.
Singleton Funeral & Cremation Services believes that no two individuals are alike; therefore no two funeral services should be alike. We strive to provide personalized and unique services that truly memorialize your loved one. We are committed to providing dignified and quality services to individuals of all faiths and ethnicities.
The MD Gazette Readers Choice Award Winner
We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest thank you for the honor of serving your family, the community and for selecting us as the 2011 MD Gazette Readers Choice Winner. It is our hope that the trust you place in our funeral home is well earned and is always rewarded by excellent service from our funeral directors and all of the staff here at Singleton Funeral & Cremation Services. THANK YOU!
Our Valued Staff
David L. Hovatter CFSP, Owner, Licensed Funeral Director
David graduated from Glen Burnie High School, Class of 1965. In 1969, he graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. David served in the US Army from 1969-1972. He came to Singleton Funeral Home in 1972 where he started as a staff director. David became the Assistant Manager at Singleton’s from 1974-1989, becoming the Owner in 1989. He obtained his Maryland Insurance License in 1995 and became a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner in 2004. David has been a member of the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association since 1975, where he was elected President from 1982-1983. He was also a member of the Maryland State Board of Morticians from 2001-2009, where he was elected President from 2005-2007 and Secretary from 2008-2009. David has been a National Funeral Directors member since 1975. He is also a member of the Glen Burnie Improvement Assoc. where he has been volunteering at the carnival since 1963. Other memberships include the Glen Burnie Masonic Lodge since 1972, Boumi Temple (Shriner’s Children Hospitals) since 1974 and Kiwanis Club President from 1984-1985. David is married to Pamela A. Hovatter. He has 3 children, Matthew Hovatter, John Erbe, Jr. and Jason Erbe, and 5 grandchildren.
Pamela Hovatter CFSP, Owner, Licensed Funeral Director
Pam was born in Baltimore, MD. She graduated from Arundel High School, Class of 1978 and from Catonsville Community College in 1991 with a Degree in Mortuary Science. Pam became a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner in 2005. She is also part of the Certified Mass Fatalities Response Team Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare. Pam came to Singleton Funeral Home as an Apprentice Mortician from 1987-1991, becoming a Licensed Mortician in 1991. She became Office Comptroller in 1991 and Vice President/Secretary in 2010. Since 1991, Pam has been a member of the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, where she was President of MSFDA from 2008-2009, and a Board Member since 2001. She is also part of the National Funeral Directors Association, since 1991 and the Academy of Professional Service Practice, since 1994. Pam is a member of the Glen Burnie Improvement Association, for the Glen Burnie Carnival. She is a Region III Member of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) since 2005, where she served 3 months in Baton Rouge, LA for Hurricane Katrina and served 2 weeks in Haiti after the Haiti Earthquake. Pam is also the Deputy Co-Commander for the Maryland State Funeral Directors Assoc. Disaster Response Team. In April 2011, she became a member of Bou-Tem-Sci (Charity fund for Masonic Crippled Children’s). Pam is married to David Hovatter. She has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Michael E. Canapp, Managing Director / Licensed Funeral Director
A second generation funeral director, who started caring for families and their loved ones at an early age. Michael attended Catonsville Community College earning an A.A. degree in Mortuary Science and has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1997. He is also a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, with a degree in Visual Communications.
Michael currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves and is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also serves the community by being a member of the American Legion Post #40 and an active member of the Honor Guard, a member of the VFW, Washington Lodge #3 AF & AM and the Scottish Rite of MD.
“I feel privileged to serve the families of our community, in such a rewarding profession. Our staff takes great pride in the work they do, it’s more than a job when you can help a family navigate through the most difficult times of their life.”
In his free time Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and son, enjoying outdoor activities and traveling. They are active members of St. Michael Lutheran Church.
Mark A. Vancura, Assistant Manager, Licensed Funeral Director
Mark graduated Magna Cum Laude from Catonsville Community College’s Mortuary Science Program in 2002. He achieved the highest grade on the National Board Exam in the State of Maryland for 2002-2003. He became a licensed funeral director in 2003. Mark is married with 3 children. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Selena L. Shirk Polasky, Licensed Funeral Director
Selena was born in March 1983 in Baltimore and was raised in Dundalk. She is the oldest of 3, having 1 younger brother and 1 younger sister. Selena graduated from Sparrows Point High School, Class of 2001. She received an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science in 2005 from Catonsville Community College. Selena currently resides in Essex with her husband Keith and their dog Rocky. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, shopping, traveling and dancing, which she danced professionally for 15 years.
Matthew D. Hovatter, Licensed Funeral Director
Matt graduated from Southern High School, Class of 1994. Later, he attended Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science where he graduated in 1999. Matt is married to wife Carrie, and together they have a son named Cameron. He was a 2007 & 2008 Past Master of Glen Burnie Masonic Lodge #213, and is also the Secretary of Glen Burnie Masonic Lodge #213 Holding Corp.
Tina Carrigan, Administrative Secretary
Tracy Cartwright, Administrative Secretary
Tracy joined the funeral home team in January 2010. She came to the funeral home after spending most of her career in the veterinary industry. Tracy was born in 1976 in Baltimore. She is the oldest of 4 girls. She was a graduate of North County High School, Class of 1994. As a secretary, Tracy works in the office doing most of the computer input, billing, and creating documents for the funeral home. She mostly plays a “behind the scenes” role where she writes obituaries for newspapers and the funeral home website, creates Tribute DVD’s, portraits, register books and prayer cards. Tracy also handles the Aftercare follow-ups the funeral home provides to families they have serviced. She currently resides in Glen Burnie with her boyfriend Tony. Together they share their home with 2 golden retrievers named Daytona and Fawn. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys baking and decorates cakes for birthdays, baby showers, etc. She is an avid Ravens fan who enjoys going to the games, spending time with her family and enjoys the outdoors.
Vivian Rivera, Funeral Home Maintenance Attendant
Jason M. Erbe, Funeral Assistant
JoAnn Armiger, Hostess
Yvonne Danel, Hostess
Marian Johnson, Hostess
Carole McGuiness, Hostess
Tracey Riccobene, Hostess
Diane M. Stamer, Hostess
Judy Waybright, Hostess
Roberta D. White, Hostess
Charles Carter, Funeral Assistant
Serge Danel, Funeral Assistant
Wyle L. Donaldson Jr., Funeral Assistant
Edward Forsht, Funeral Assistant
Donald Gibson, Funeral Assistant
Walter C. Plitt, Funeral Assistant
Ronald Homberg, Funeral Assistant
Rita Hamilton, Hostess