Cieslak & Tatko Funeral Home, Inc.

Edward J. Tatko, Funeral Director and Supervisor
Ed has served as the firm’s supervisor for 30 years and has been a licensed funeral director for more than 35 years. He is a native of Pittsburgh – growing up in the Carrick area. He continues to live in the South Hills in Whitehall with his wife, Donna, of nearly 30 years. Ed attended Carrick High School and then Purdue University. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1970 and became a licensed funeral director in 1971. In 1972, Ed became a partner in the original Cieslak Funeral Home with his aunt, Mara Cieslak, thus updating the name to Cieslak & Tatko Funeral Home. In 1979, Ed became president and supervisor of the newly incorporated Cieslak & Tatko Funeral Home, Inc. Ed is currently mentoring his daughter, Laura, to become the firm’s third generation funeral director.

Mark L. Donato, Funeral Director and Director of Family Services
Mark handles all of the firm’s advance-planning arrangements as well as monument designs and orders. He has been a licensed funeral director for 17 years and has worked with the firm since 1994. After attending Robert Morris University, where he received an associate’s degree in business, Mark went on to graduate from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Mark has always lived in Pittsburgh and continues to do so with his wife and daughter.

Stephen D. Gilbert, Funeral Director
Steve has been a licensed funeral director since 1993, which is also when he began working at the firm. After graduating from Brentwood High School, Steve attended California University of Pennsylvania. He then went on to attend the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he is currently a clinical instructor. Steve grew up in Brentwood and currently resides in Whitehall with his wife and two children.

Laura M. Tatko-Diamond, Funeral Director
Laura has worked at her family’s firm in various capacities all of her life. She graduated from Baldwin High School in 2000 and in 2004 from Penn State University, majoring in public relations and minoring in business. Most recently, she graduated magna cum laude from the
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 2007, where she also acted as the class vice president. After completing her one-year internship under the direction of her father, Ed, Laura became a licensed funeral director in November 2008—the third generation in her family. She is also the Director of Marketing/PR for the Brentwood Business Owners Association. Laura enjoys working with her family and finds working for the families she serves to be very fulfilling and rewarding. Laura currently lives in Whitehall with her husband, Brian.

Richard Collier, Visitation Coordinator
Richard has served as the firm’s visitation coordinator for nearly 10 years. He enjoys making sure every detail is perfect for the families we serve, and prides himself in taking care of each family through a very difficult time. Richard has a background in retail, specifically, men’s clothing, where he worked before entering into the funeral business 20 years ago. Richard has lived in the South Hills section of Pittsburgh for more than 40 years. Some of his hobbies include gardening, so he enjoys planting and caring for all of the funeral home’s flowers and plants.

Donna J. Tatko, Office Manager
Donna has been with the firm since marrying funeral director, Ed Tatko, in 1980. Handling the firm’s general accounting and payroll, Donna also manages the overall décor of the funeral home itself. She is responsible for the building’s recent aesthetic update. Donna is originally from South Park, where she graduated from South Park High School. She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in education from Slippery Rock University. Currently, Donna lives in Whitehall with her husband Ed. She enjoys biking, golfing and spending time with family.

Michael E. Tatko
Michael helps out at his family's firm whenever necessary, especially for technical and computer support. He is employed full time at Westinghouse Electric Corporation as an electrical engineer. Like his sister Laura, Michael attended Baldwin High School and Penn State University, graduating in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Michael currently resides in Whitehall.