Ballston Lake ,  NY | 518-399-5022

Offering You Service and Choices Beyond Your Expectations.

Our Staff

Our Staff

Each of the staff members at

Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home

is committed to providing your family with

the finest in personal care.
In fact, for years, it’s been comforting for area families to know that we are available to help at any time of the day or night. When a loved one dies, all you need to do is make one phone call. From that moment on, we’ll take on the responsibilities of the physical care of your loved one, and the emotional care of those left behind.

Kathleen Lowes Sanvidge

       Owner and Licensed Funeral Director

Office Phone: 518-399-5022
Mobile Phone: 518-810-7021

Kathleen A. Lowes Sanvidge is an experienced licensed funeral director and owner of Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home, 21 Midline Road in Ballston Lake. For more than 28 years now, she has cared for families and their loved ones as they go through one of life’s most difficult and painful travails. She graduated from Shenendehowa High School, class of ’90 and went directly to Hudson Valley Community College, where she studied and earned her degree in mortuary science. In 1994, after serving a year internship locally and passing the National Board and State Law exams, she remained in the community and burst into her life’s work as a licensed funeral director and manager.  
Divine intervention, no doubt, brought her to Townley & Wheeler and she closed the deal as owner and manager on June 27, 2013. For Kathleen, funeral care is so much more than a business – it is her vocation. And she has made a lifelong commitment to offer you the most convenient, professional, and comforting services available in the area.  
She is a member of NYS Funeral Director’s Association and National Funeral Director’s Association. She is active with Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake BPA the Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Glenville YMCA Advisory Board. Kathleen is the only female funeral director in New York State to be a certified Woman Business Enterprise (WBE). She considers it one of her roles to pioneer and be an active and philanthropic member of her community. 
In addition, Kathleen is a loving mother to three daughters. She enjoys, cooking, cleaning, exercising and just living the regular life. Kathleen aspires to travel the world and maintain her spirited “Full of Grace” attitude.  

Kathleen Lowes

Owner and Licensed Funeral Director

Office Phone: 518-399-5022
Mobile Phone: 518-810-7021

Kathleen A. Lowes has been serving her community as a revered funeral director for over thirty years. She has been the owner of Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home since 2013, caring for families in their greatest time of need with honor, kindness, grace, professionalism, and sincere attention. She empathizes with and tends to each bereaved individual as if they were her own family member. Her characteristics of warmth, sensibility, charisma, and naturalism bring comfort to those seeking condolence and assure them that all their wishes will be met accordingly. 

Kathleen is local to the area, graduating from Shenendehowa High School in 1990, and later from Hudson Valley Community College, where she earned her associate degree in applied science / mortuary science. She officially began her life’s work as a licensed funeral director in 1994 after completing her residency, National Board Exam, and State Law Exam. 

Funeral Directing became Kathleen’s calling from a young age. Through divine intervention, she closed the deal with the former owners at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home on June 27, 2013, and began her journey as the new owner and manager. For Kathleen, funeral care is more than just a business, it is her true purpose. She is completely immersed in all aspects of the profession and enjoys every minute of her commitment to those she serves. 

Kathleen is a member of both the NYS Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. She is active in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake BPA and the Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. She formerly served on the Glenville YMCA Advisory Board and Gateway House of Peace Board of Directors. 

Notably, Kathleen is the only female funeral director in New York State to become a certified Women Business Enterprise. She utilizes her position by being an involved, influential, and munificent role model and member of her community. Kathleen is constantly forming new proposals as ways to give back and engage with people and enterprises around her.

In addition to being a successful and admirable businesswoman, Kathleen is also the loving mother to her three awesome children, Frankie, Natalie and Aisling, a devoted wife to her hero, Zoltan, and a dedicated canine pal to her sweet working dog, Teddy. She loves to cook, decorate, exercise, and relishes the ordinary days of a normal lifestyle. Kathleen has set her heart on traveling the world and sharing her “Full of Grace” spirit with everyone she meets. 


 Zoltan Prohaszka

Operations Manager and IT Specialist
Zoltan, also known as “Zoli,” is the proprietor of all technological, architectural, systematic, and ingenious matters at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home. Zoli has been a part of Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home since 2013. He is a classic one-man-show when it comes to long-term or last-minute projects, both around the funeral home and at his residence. If an idea sparks his interest, he will utilize all creativity possible to make it happen in a way that exceeds expectation. 

Zoli’s charming and modest etiquette reserves an exemplary atmosphere of warmth, solace, and assurance for anyone that walks through our doors. Each of Zoli’s efforts help shape his indispensable role in maintaining and advancing the reputation of the industry and our team. Zoli never rests on providing the utmost quality in care, attention to detail, and sincere tenacity put forth to make each family’s experience as easy as possible, while expressing respect and dignity to everyone involved. 

At his core, Zoli is a true family man and always enjoys venturing to captivating destinations, with those close to him by his side. He has a dynamic appreciation for quality food and drinks, and a sweet tooth when it comes to dessert. Zoli is immensely proud of his Hungarian heritage, which he shares through his cultural traditions, decorum, and “Old World” spirit. Each of these attributes make him a unique, yet familiar face here at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home.

Melissa Mellen

Licensed Funeral Director and Funeral Home Manager
InSight Certified Celebrant

Melissa, graduate of Chenango Valley High School, the University of New Haven, and Hudson Valley Community College, is a proficient, resourceful, charismatic, and compassionate licensed funeral director, manager, and certified celebrant at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home. 

Melissa was born and raised in Binghamton, NY with her parents and four siblings. Friends and family have always been some of the strongest influences in her life. Melissa has a keen taste in music, literature, dining, and captivating podcasts. She especially loves eating sushi, reading up on true crime stories, and attending concerts. She also enjoys exercising and relaxing with her lovable kitty, Winchy and her fiancé, Rob. In her free time, she can be found traveling to new places and discovering the vast world of experiences around her. 

On a daily basis, Melissa provides vital services to families that strengthen the bond between Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home and the community. Since 2022, Melissa has been a Certified Celebrant for funeral services. Her natural ability to compose and deliver a fitting personal tribute to each decedent adds a new layer to her already admirable role in this business. Melissa truly brings a contemporary and bright perspective to a historic trade. Her determination, high spirit, sophisticated work ethic, and fervent family values have established her identity as a distinguished funeral professional, eager to improve the industry while helping many people along the way.


Darlene Tanchak

Office Manager
Darlene has been the office manager at Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home since May of 2023. She quickly assumed her fast-paced and hands-on position with ease, while simultaneously gaining favor as a reliable, amiable, and complementary teammate. She is welcomed wholeheartedly and is immensely appreciated for her intuitive and advantageous efforts in benefiting both the funeral home and its members. 

Darlene also works full-time at Walgreens, as a shift lead, where she assumes just as much responsibility and enjoys being part of their team. Darlene is one of eight siblings and is the wonderful mother of two. Before beginning her career endeavors, she attended Albany Business College, where she excelled in administrative procedure studies. Darlene is from the Rensselaer area, where she loves to cook, spend time with her family, and tend to her adorable ‘Shorkie’ dog, Gizmo, and her spunky hamster, Cashew.


Masha O'Keefe

Student Intern
Masha is a soon-to-be graduate of the Mortuary Science Program at Hudson Valley Community College. She previously earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University at Albany. She has a great passion for nature, painting, antiquing, and traveling. 

Masha joined the Townley & Wheeler team in 2021, as a part-time employee and has honed her reputation as a prospective, venerated funeral director. Upon graduation of the program, Masha will remain with Townley & Wheeler as a year-long resident before she becomes licensed. 

Masha’s empathetic heart and driven mind have graced her position into the funeral industry with full devotion and commendation. She is dedicated to serving each family with complete professionalism, benevolence, attentiveness, and reverence. Her future with Townley & Wheeler is bright and filled with endless opportunity to implement her strive to benefit both the industry and the people involved. 

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