Guido J. Santella

Owner/Funeral Director

Guido is the son of the late Guido Sr. and Mildred (Haser) Santella, and has a brother, Glenn Santella of San Diego Ca, and a sister, Lorraine, of Altoona. He is married to his wife of 43 years, Deborah (Shultz) Santella, who is also a licensed funeral director. Together they have two sons: Guido III (Andrea) and Paul, and two granddaughters, Isabelle and Ruby, who are a special joy in their lives.

Guido is a 1967 graduate of Altoona Area High School. He is also a graduate of Penn State University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Guido’s avocation is dedicated to share the history of our fine community through tours of his displays through the funeral home facility. He has assisted in its folklore oral history project at the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum and is a member of the Blair County Historical Society, where he was a past board member.

Guido’s involvement in scouting began years ago while receiving the Eagle Scout Award. Guido enjoys the outdoors and the value it teaches. He was active in Pack 15 and is currently the Assistant Scout Master with Troop 49, where he enjoys teaching the citizenship of merit badges, as well as, camping in the outdoors. He has also been a past District Chairman. 

Guido is also a member of the Blair County Antique Auto Club, where he takes great pride in restoring his father’s 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood Limo and 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse. He also owns a 1966 Fleetwood Cadillac owned by the late Mr. Leslie E. Axe, who used it as a lead car for his funeral home during the late 60’s and 70’s. Him and his wife enjoy taking the cars to various events and parades.

Guido is a member of the Keystone Funeral Director’s Association, where he served as past-President. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania and National Funeral Director Associations.

Deborah M. Santella

Funeral Director

Deborah is the daughter of Daniel Shultz and the late Lois (Raichle) Shultz and had grown up in the Altoona area. Together, her and her husband Guido, were blessed with two sons, Guido III (Andrea) and Paul. They especially enjoy spending time with family and friends and treasure  their two granddaughters, Isabelle and Ruby. Deborah also enjoys her sister weekends throughout the year with her sister, Diane.

Deborah is a 1971 graduate of Altoona Area High School, as well as Penn State University, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Debbie has always been appreciative to her late mother-in-law, Mildred, also a licensed funeral director, who inspired her to continue her education and earn her Funeral Director degree.

Both Deborah and Guido have worked together in the funeral profession since 1977, where they have been privileged to serve generations of families in the community, as husband and wife.

Besides working together, Deborah and Guido enjoy attending the Altoona Symphony Orchestra concerts and are both members of the Mary Queen of Angels Secular Franciscan Fraternity. A year won’t go by when together they enjoy serving ice cream and snow cones during their fun-filled parish festival every July. 

Chelsea Hoffman

Funeral Director

Chelsea is the daughter of Doug and Tracy Hoffman of Altoona, and has a younger brother, Cody and sister, Charley. She is a 2009 graduate of Altoona Area High School, a 2014 graduate of Penn State Altoona with a Biology degree in Vertebrate Physiology and continued her funeral training at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where she graduated in 2017. Chelsea loves the art of dance and has been taking lessons since she was three years old. She has been teaching ballet, jazz, and tap at Pauline Baker Rodgers School of Dance, Altoona, for many years. She also enjoys camping, kayaking, and being outdoors.