Our Staff

Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.

Meet Hope

Meet Hope

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce Hope, a Labradoodle who joined the Singleton Family on July 14, 2017. She is a working Grief Therapy Dog and spends most of her days at the funeral home comforting families of all ages. Therapy dogs have become increasingly useful in treating physical, emotional and mental health issues and interacting with a dog has been proven to lower blood pressure and release endorphins in the body that have a calming effect on people. A gesture as simple as laying their heads on a grieving person’s lap or being there for a crying child to pet can improve the process of dealing with the emotions of grief.


We are sensitive to people with animal allergies and phobias, so Hope does not roam freely and is hypoallergenic. Typically, she may be found in the funeral home lobby greeting visitors and loves everyone she meets. It’s a soothing transference to pet an animal, almost as if a portion of a person’s grief is passed to the pet and lessens the individual’s burden for a period of time.


There is no additional cost to a family for Hope’s presence and she may be requested by a family as the funeral is planned. 

Our Caring Staff

Pamela A. Hovatter

Pamela A. Hovatter

CFSP, President, Licensed Funeral Director

Pamela was born in Baltimore, MD. She graduated from Arundel High School and went on to Catonsville Community College finishing with an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science. After finishing her Associate Degree, she became a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and a Certified Crematory Operator. Pam came to Singleton Funeral Home as an Apprentice Mortician in 1986, five years later she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a funeral director. Singleton’s has since been Pam’s home, originally as the Office Comptroller and thereafter Vice President in 2010. Pam always had a dream of becoming a funeral director as a young child.  She never dreamed it would ever become a reality.  Pamela takes great pride in assisting people with helping others in their time of need.  She has only been with Singletons during her whole career.  


Since 1991, she has been a member of the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, where she was President from 2008-2009, and has been 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 proud sponsor of the Glen Burnie Improvement Association and hosts a stand at the Glen Burnie Carnival every year, also a member of The 100 Club of Maryland. Pam serves on the Revitalization Committee for Glen Burnie and looks forward to being a part of the "Revitalization" of the town.  She is a member of DMORT Region III (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, and is also a Certified Mass Fatalities Response Team Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare Responder.  Pam is also the Deputy Co-Commander for the Maryland State Funeral Directors Assoc. Disaster Response Team.


In December 2016, Pam became the President and sole owner of Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services. Family is essential to Pam’s life, in her household and at the Funeral Home. Pam's mother is 96 years young and resides with her and she cherishes every day she has to spend with her.


Pam is the proud mother two sons, and four grandchildren she feels blessed every day. Her family does not stop with blood line, each of the staff members at Singleton’s is a part of her family. She looks forward to continuing the "Singleton" legacy and serving the families of the community as she was taught.


Pam is very proud to have and extended family, as mentioned she doesn't stop with blood line.  She is happy to have 1 son, 2 daughters and 2 grand daughters and a wonderful son in law of her soulmates. 


Pam loves the outdoors, she has chickens, goats, 3 dogs and a cat.  Pam enjoys spending time at her log cabin in West Virginia, which is where her roots come from with her children and grandchildren.  Family is everything to her.

 Michael E. Canapp

Michael E. Canapp

Managing Director / Licensed Funeral Director / Certified Crematory Operator

A second-generation funeral director, who started caring for families and their loved ones at an early age. Michael graduated from Catonsville Community College with 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 served as a Chief in the U.S. Navy Reserves and is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also serves the community as a member of the Glen Burnie American Legion Post #40 and a member of their Honor Guard, a member of the VFW, as a Mason with Glen Burnie Lodge #213 and  Washington Lodge #3 AF & AM and the Scottish Rite of MD.


In his free time Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and son, enjoying all types of outdoor activities and traveling. They are active members of St. Michael Lutheran Church.

Mark A. Vancura

Mark A. Vancura

Assistant Manager, Licensed Funeral Director

Mark was born and raised in Overlea, Maryland, where he attended St. Michael the Archangel School, and is a proud graduate of Calvert Hall College High School.  With a calling to help others, he went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Catonsville Community College in 2002, earning his A.A. Degree in Mortuary Science.  Shortly after graduating, he achieved the highest grade on the National Board Exam in Maryland for 2002-2003, on his way to licensure.


Becoming a Funeral Director has allowed Mark to compassionately guide grieving families through some of their most difficult life moments.  He understands that the death of a loved one can be an overwhelming experience, and with his knowledge and empathy, Mark is able to assist and educate families on all of their options and tailor the services to fit their needs and wishes.  He is supportive of each family throughout the entire process and helps make each service as unique as the individual we are honoring.  He has been serving Singleton families since 2003.


Mark and his family, wife Stephanie, daughters, Natalie and Courtney, and son, Ryan, along with their faithful four-legged companion, Samson, live in Parkville.  Mark and his family love to cheer on the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, enjoy spending time together at the beach, and watching their favorite cooking shows.

Selena L. Shirk Polasky

Selena L. Shirk Polasky

Licensed Funeral Director

Selena, the oldest of three, was born and raised in Dundalk. She graduated from Sparrows Point High School in 2001. Selena received her Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science from Catonsville Community College in 2005. She joined the Singleton team in 2004 after working five years in medical records. Funeral service became a passion for her at a young age after the loss of her grandfather. She takes great pride in serving our families during the most difficult time in their life. Selena currently resides in Essex with her husband and daughter. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling and is an avid Orioles and Ravens fan.

Mark Brohawn

Mark Brohawn

Licensed Funeral Director

Mark was born in Baltimore, MD and has lived around the Baltimore Washington area all of his life. He attended Oakwood Elementary, Corcoran Junior and graduated Glen Burnie High School in 1972. He has always wanted to be a Mortician/Funeral Director his entire life and he began his career in June of 1972 at the Singleton Funeral Home, under the ownership of Mr. Richard V. Singleton. His grandparents lived in the Linthicum area and   Mom and Dad and the rest of the family lived in the Dundee area of Glen Burnie. Through the years he has worked at other funeral homes in the Baltimore Washington area, but he always had a dream of returning to the funeral home where he started at as a teenager and completing his long career serving all of the families of the Glen Burnie area again.


He has been married for over 44 years to his lovely wife, Randy who was also a mortician, and has beautiful twin girls, Marilyn and Marta. Mark enjoys landscaping and building features to accent his yard.

Christina Tina Carrigan

Christina Tina Carrigan

Administrative Secretary


Tracy Tomshack

Tracy Tomshack

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. The oldest of four girls, she was a graduate of North County High School. 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 in servicing our families. Tracy currently resides in Glen Burnie with her husband and their rescue dog. She enjoys the beach, baking, and decorating cakes, and is an avid Ravens fan.

Vivian Rivera

Vivian Rivera

Funeral Home Maintenance Attendant


Doug Shirk

Doug Shirk

Funeral Assistant / Maintenance Attendant

Doug was born and raised in Dundalk Maryland.  He attended and graduated from Sparrows Point High School after which time he attended Community College of Baltimore County.  Doug studied Industrial Maintenance and landed a job with Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows point for 23 years until they closed.  He then worked at Nestle  in Baltimore for 5 years and then to Bitumar in Baltimore for 3 years, before joining the Singleton Family.  Where is is the Skilled Maintenance Man, Funeral Assistant and jack of all trades,  He can do just about anything you give him to do.  He was the developer and builder of the drive up window that was installed for COVID to assist in the closure that families needed in the event they could not have visitation during the pandemic.  


Doug is the proud "Dad" of 3 natural children, 1 son in law and 2 granddaughters.  He has his extended family of 2 sons, 2 daughter in laws, 4 grandchildren a mother in law, 3 dogs, cat, chickens and goats.


However, in his spare time he loves to hunt, tinker with cars, his motorcycle and whatever he may be building in his garage.  But, most of all going to his cabin in West Virginia with his family and making lasting memories.

 Yvonne Danel

Yvonne Danel

Receptionist


Kathy Nangle

Kathy Nangle

Receptionist

Kathy is our full-time receptionist and comes to Singletons with over 20 years of experience as an Administrative/Executive Assistant. She enjoys being a support for a wonderful team of professionals that work their hardest to help people during their worst time. Kathy is married with 3 children and 7 grandchildren and counting. Kathy and her husband regularly attend St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Linthicum where they also volunteer with the homeless ministry

Lorraine League

Lorraine League

Receptionist


Diane Neighoff

Diane Neighoff

Receptionist


Amy Erbe

Amy Erbe

Receptionist


Julia Urton

Julia Urton

Receptionist


Linda Young

Linda Young

Receptionist


John Kleinsmith

John Kleinsmith

Funeral Assistant


Donald Shilow

Donald Shilow

Funeral Assistant


John Nangle

John Nangle

Funeral Assistant


John Songer

John Songer

Funeral Assistant


Larry Thomas

Larry Thomas

Funeral Assistant


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