Sarah Lee

Sarah Lee is the founder, owner and manager of Lee-Ellena Funeral Home. She received her funeral director license in 2007 after graduation from Wayne State University in 2006.

Sarah was an early casualty of the auto industry downsizing. Her plan was to continue the family business, Bill Lee Oldsmobile. But General Motors eliminated the brand and the business closed in 2004. Thinking she was too young to retire, she settled upon funeral service as a new career. Her inspiration came from her experiences following her mother's unexpected death five years before. Wanting to create meaningful final farewells for loved ones in a facility custom built to soothe and comfort, Sarah decided to become a funeral director. She enrolled in Wayne State University's Mortuary Science program and graduated in 2006. After serving a required apprenticeship and passing the State and National Board exams, she was licensed as a funeral director in 2007.

While at school, Sarah became aware of the new movements in funeral home architecture. Adopting ideas from the hotel and hospitality industry, Sarah envisioned a funeral home built for the modern consumer. The result is Lee-Ellena Funeral Home, which opened its doors in March 2008. The building offers a soothing and comforting atmosphere enhanced by the latest in technology.

The Lee-Ellena Funeral Home is proud to host the BRAG group of Sterling Heights Utica Shelby Chamber of Commerce. The firm is also a member of the chamber as well as the National Funeral Directors Association.

Sarah is a past president and member of the Mt. Clemens Rotary Club. She belongs to Selfridge Base Community Council, attends St. Peter Lutheran Church in Macomb and volunteers at the Richmond Community Theater.

Jeffrey S. Ellena

Jeff is the other half of the Lee-Ellena Funeral Home. Stepson to Sarah Lee, Jeff has been with the funeral home since its inception on paper. Jeff has found his work at Lee-Ellena to be extremely rewarding. “I enjoy working closely with our families. I consider it my challenge to help them deal with grief from their loss while assisting them in a memorial farewell to a life well lived.” Jeff plans to become a licensed funeral director. He has held many titles, but owner-in-training fits him the best.

Thomas Sexton

Tom is also a casualty of the auto industry downsizing. He retired from Delphi as a logistics manager. He first came to Lee-Ellena to arrange his father’s services. Having some previous funeral service experience when he was a young man, Tom took on a role with Lee-Ellena that has developed into assistant to our funeral director and our building operations manager.

Donna Dunn

Donna is our receptionist, administrative assistant and greeter coordinator. Along with her daily tasks, Donna enjoys organizing our community events, most notably, our annual remembrance ceremony.