Meet Our Team

Daniel W. Symonds Sr.

Owner & Funeral Director

A second-generation funeral director, Daniel was raised in this profession by his late father, Irving Symonds Jr., who built funeral homes throughout the Chicago area. He carries that legacy forward today, alongside a 24-year career as a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier — including four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan — from which he proudly retired in 2026. Daniel holds an Associate's Degree in Mortuary Science and has been a licensed Illinois funeral director for nearly 30 years. He is deeply rooted in the community through the American Legion Post 57 in Elgin, Cary-Grove AMVETS Pearl Harbor Memorial Post 245, VFW, and the Elgin Area Historical Society, among others. Daniel is also a lay minister at Good Shepherd Church in Elgin, IL. Daniel and his wife Joy have three children.

Joy Symonds, MA

Owner & Director of Community Engagement

Joy brings warmth and purpose to every family she serves, especially at our community events. She leads Operation LOVE, connecting volunteers with local veterans, and organizes community events that keep the funeral home closely tied to the communities it serves. Before joining the family business, Joy served as Director of Communications for the Michigan Attorney General's office, and she holds advanced degrees in political theory and security policy. She serves as an elected member of the Gail Borden Public Library Board of Trustees and is a devoted volunteer across civic, youth, church and veteran organizations.  Her proudest title remains "mom" to her three children.

Steve Moore

Funeral Director

Steve has been a licensed funeral director for over 50 years, a career he began after graduating from Worsham College in 1973 - the same year he married his wife, Jane. The couple's journey in funeral service started above the Ahlgrim Funeral Home in Chicago before they purchased the Kahle Funeral Home in Cary in 1978, where they raised their two children, Erin and Rob, and made Cary their home. For decades, Steve served families throughout Cary, Fox River Grove, and the surrounding communities with the steady professionalism that became his hallmark. In 2025, Steve passed that legacy to Daniel Symonds and his family, confident that the same standard of care will continue for generations of families to come.

Mark Symonds Jr.

Funeral Director

A third-generation funeral director, Mark knew early on he wanted to follow his father, grandfather, and uncles into this calling. He earned his mortuary science degree from Malcolm X College and a business degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago before joining the family business in 2024. Continuing a family tradition of military service, Mark currently serves as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Outside of work, he's active in his church community and enjoys time outdoors with his dog, Lily.

Val Kaspar

Funeral Director

Val has served families with steady compassion since becoming a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1963 — over six decades of dedication. Born in Latvia, his family fled Soviet rule to build a new life in Chicago, where Val later trained at Worsham College of Mortuary Science. After a successful career in manufacturing, he returned to funeral service, joining the Symonds family in 2008 because the calling never left him. Val and his wife Ariel have been married more than 60 years and share four children and twelve grandchildren.

Robert Allanson

Funeral Director

Robert continues a family tradition that spans three generations, following both his father and grandfather into funeral service in his hometown of Elgin. A graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, he also holds a master's degree in Organizational Leadership. For more than 30 years, Robert has served Elgin and Fox Valley families with the integrity and compassion instilled in him from the start. He's an active member of St. Mary's Parish and the Knights of Columbus, joining the Symonds family in 2014 to bring his expertise closer to home.

Jeff Filip

Funeral Director

Bio coming soon!

Jennifer Neuman

Administrative Assistant

An Elgin resident since 1997, Jennifer joined the Symonds family in 2020, bringing nearly a decade of administrative experience from her earlier career at law firms and a medical office. She stepped away from that career to homeschool her two daughters, staying sharp through community leadership roles along the way. Now, Jennifer channels that same steady, organized care into keeping the office running smoothly for the families it serves. She and her husband Warren have been married almost 30 years and are active members of their church community.

Keith Kmieciak

Funeral Attendant

Born and raised in Elgin, Keith served his country in the U.S. Air Force before returning home to build a life and family here. He and his wife Susan have raised three children and now enjoy three grandchildren, all while staying active in their church community. Keith brings that same hometown dedication to his role at Symonds Family Chapels, continuing to serve the neighbors he's known his whole life. Keith and Susan also own and operate Fox Valley Pet Cremation Services, extending their care to families across Kane County.

Kris Peters

Funeral Attendant

Kris has been drawn to funeral service since high school, and while his career took him through other pursuits, he never strayed far — working in area funeral homes since 1999. Born and raised in Elgin, he went on to earn undergraduate degrees from Elgin Community College and the University of Illinois, followed by graduate degrees from Northwestern University. He joined the Symonds staff in 2022, bringing with him a genuine love for caring for people and an exceptional eye for detail. Outside of work, Kris enjoys traveling, hiking, fine dining, and losing himself in a good book or a great bookstore. His two nephews and niece are, by his own account, the greatest blessings in his life.

In Memoriam