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.

HISTORY OF DELLINGER FUNERAL HOME

J. Frank Dellinger was born April 13, 1858, and Minnie Lee Grim was born July 9, 1864. They were married December 9, 1880 in Hamburg, Va. J. Frank and Minnie started the funeral home in 1883 in Hamburg and called it the J. Frank Dellinger Funeral Home. J. Frank graduated from the Philadelphia Training School for Embalmers. He was licensed by the State Board of Embalming of Virginia on May 23, 1910. He and his wife opened a business in Mt. Jackson in 1909 and named it the J. F. Dellinger Funeral Home.

Vernon Lee (Pete) Dellinger, son of Frank and Minnie, was born June 17, 1889. He married Virginia Belle Stickley on December 19, 1909. Pete and Virginia lived with J. Frank until they built a house at Hamburg. Pete helped his father in the undertaking business and had his own planer mill. He also built houses for other people. In 1916, Pete and his wife bought the Alice Dodson place and opened a business in Conicville. The names of the funeral homes were changed to Dellinger and Son. After his father’s passing, Pete continued to run the Conicville and Mt Jackson businesses. In 1924, he moved everything to the Mt. Jackson location. In 1939, Pete Dellinger bought out the Frank Fravel Funeral business of Woodstock and built the funeral home located in Woodstock. Opening days were in August of 1940. In 1947, Pete bought the S.P. Lonas property, then known as the Ford Saum residence in Mt. Jackson and converted it to the present funeral home there.

Pete and Virginia had three children: Elwood Dellinger was born Feb. 18, 1913. He received his funeral license in 1934. He died on May 9, 1959 and had no children.

Sadie Dellinger was born April 13, 1917. She married Clyde W. Heishman. They had three children, Vernon Heishman, C. Dennis Heishman, and Bonita Heishman. Vernon had three boys; Dennis had a son and a daughter, all of whom were married in the chapel.

Pete’s third child was Margaret Virginia Dellinger who was born February 7, 1921; she married David Stanley Kagey who became a licensed funeral director in 1950. They operated the funeral home in Mt. Jackson. They had two children. Janelle Kagey Fadely who is a licensed fourth generation funeral director and current manager of the Mt. Jackson location. She had a son, David Lee Litten who is a fifth generation funeral director and current manager of the New Market location.  Margaret and Stanley’s son, V.L.D Kagey is a former funeral director but is not currently employed with the family business.

Our Valued Staff

  • Janelle Kagey Fadely

    Janelle Kagey Fadely, Licensed Funeral Director/President

    Janelle is a licensed funeral director and manager of the Mt. Jackson location.
    She graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1962. She is a fourth-generation family member of the Dellinger Family following her father David Stanley Kagey. She received her Funeral Directors license in 1968 and became a shareholder in 1970.
    She currently lives in Mt. Jackson and is a member of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.

  • David Lee Litten

    David Lee Litten, Licensed Funeral Director/Vice President


    David is a licensed funeral director and manager at Theis Chapel, New Market location.

    He graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1985. He then attended and graduated from John Tyler Community College and received his Associates in Applied Science, majoring in Funeral Service.

    He is the fifth- generation family member of the Dellinger Family following his mother, Janelle Fadely and his uncle, V.L.D. Kagey.

    He is the father of Matthew Litten who works for Dellinger Funeral Home.
    He lives in Mt. Jackson with his wife Mindy Litten and they have a daughter Morgan.

  • Jerry Ray Litten

    Jerry Ray Litten, Licensed Funeral Director

    Jerry is a licensed funeral director and manager at the Woodstock location as well as assisting at the other locations. He is the husband of Rev. Stephanie Heishman-Litten, fifth generation of the Dellinger Family, and father of Corey Litten and Kaitlin Litten who both work at Dellinger Funeral Home. He served his country faithfully in the United States Marine Corps and attended Lord Fairfax Community College for general studies towards his degree from John Tyler Community College where he graduated and received his Associates in Applied Science, majoring in Funeral Service. With 27 years’ experience, Jerry brings a lot of knowledge to the business.

  • Stephanie E. Heishman-Litten

    Stephanie E. Heishman-Litten, Pastoral Care

    Rev. Stephanie Heishman-Litten is available for pastoral care services and to assist help as needed. She is a fifth-generation family member of the Dellinger Family. Her father, Dennis Heishman, introduced her into the family funeral business. In addition, her husband, Jerry Litten, is the manager and funeral director at the Woodstock branch along with her son, Corey Litten, who is employed at Dellinger Funeral Home (sixth generation) and daughter Kaitlin Litten who assists as needed.

    Pastor Stephanie (as many call her) is currently a Pastor at St. John's UCC Hamburg and Christ UCC Church Conicville. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a Master of Divinity Degree. She is a Chaplain with the Shenandoah County Sheriff's office and is the Sexual Assault Coordinator and Case Manager at Response, Inc. She wears many "hats" in the community and does what she can to help others. She is available to help and assist her family business at Dellinger Funeral Home any way possible!

Our Staff

Our Staff

Front Row: Jerry Litten, Stephanie Heishman-Litten, Janelle K. Fadely, David Litten, Mindy Litten

Back Row: Kaitlin Litten, John Dorrin, Corey Litten, Matthew Litten, Wayne Shaffer, Wanda Adams

Not Pictured: Gary Comer, Patsy Comer