Staff
Foster Heath - Funeral Director
Foster Heath opened Heath Funeral Chapel on November 23, 1959 and currently serves as president as well as a Licensed Funeral Director. Foster received a certificate of mortuary science from the University of Minnesota's Program of Mortuary Science. He also completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Southern College and holds a Life and Variable Annuities License.
Prior to the opening of Heath Funeral Chapel, Foster served his country in World War II as a tail gunner on a B-17 in the Army Air Corps in Europe. He was discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1945 after spending eleven months in German Prisoner of War camps and was awarded a Purple Heart and other decorations.
Foster has been an active member of the Lakeland Community and has served on many committees through the years including the Chamber of Commerce, Lakeland American Red Cross, the American legion and the Lakeland Rotary Club. He is also a member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization.
Foster and his wife Doris are members of College Heights United Methodist Church. They have two children, Caroline Heath Schichtel of Lakeland and Eugene Heath of New Paltz, New York as well as four grandchildren.
Bill Schichtel - Funeral Director
Bill joined his father-in-law at Heath Funeral Chapel in May of 1989 and serves as Vice-President and Manager of Heath Funeral Chapel.
Bill was born and raised in Buffalo, New York where he completed a Bachelor of Administration in Finance from St. Bonaventure University in 1973. After living in the Ft. Lauderdale area for 16 years, Bill decided to make a career change and returned to school at The College of Boca Raton (Lynn University) to complete an Associate in Science degree in funeral service. Bill also holds a Life and Variable Annuities License.
Bill has a commitment to the Lakeland Community and is involved in many organizations. He currently serves on the VISTE Board (Volunteers in Service to the Elderly) and the Paint Your Heart Out Lakeland Board and is also an active member of the Lakeland Rotary Club and the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association.
Bill and his wife Caroline reside in Lakeland and are active members of the First United Methodist Church. They have four children, Matt (22) a senior at Davidson College, Katherine (20) a sophomore at Furman University and Leslie (17) and Olivia (14) who attend Lakeland Christian School. The Schichtel family also includes four Labrador retrievers.
Joseph S Marrelli - Funeral Director
Joseph moved to Lakeland in 1970 and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia in 1993 where he was class president. Following his graduation he came to work for Heath Funeral Chapel in 1995. Joseph is a member of the Church of the Resurrection and a member of The Sons of Italy. Joseph and his wife Rita have been married for 30 years and have two daughters, Adrian and Liza.
Art Kretzer II - Funeral Director
Art is a native of Charleston, West Virginia and moved to Lakeland with his family in 1989. He received his AS degree in Mortuary Science from St. Petersburg Junior College in 2005 and became a licensed funeral director in 2006. Art joined the staff of Heath Funeral Chapel in 2007. He resides in Lakeland with his wife Kellee where they are members of the Restoration Church of Lakeland. Art is an avid golfer and enjoys playing the piano.
Flora Lance
Flora "Flo" Lance was born and raised in Flint, Michigan but spent most of her life in Oklahoma City. She moved to Lakeland in 2000 and joined the staff of Heath Funeral Chapel in July of 2000. Flora is the mother of three sons, grandmother of six and great grandmother of 1. She enjoys gardening, reading and working in the community where she was elected President of the AWARE Program. Flora is a member of the West Lakeland Church of God.
Mark R Niece
Mark was born in Youngstown, Ohio and moved to Lakeland in 1981 where he graduated from Lake Gibson High School the following year. He came to work for Heath Funeral Chapel in 1989 and was promoted to Support Staff Foreman in 2002. His hobbies include comic book collecting, reading, writing and swimming. Mark and his wife Linda currently reside in Lakeland.
Gary Watson
Gary moved to Florida ten years ago from Michigan where he had retired from the Department of Corrections after 25 years of service. He worked at courthouses in Lakeland and Winter Haven for nine years before joining the staff of Heath Funeral Chapel in February of 2007. He and his wife Pattie currently reside in Lakeland.
Eric Ortman
Eric, joined the staff of Heath Funeral Chapel in March of 2008. Born in Aurora, Illinois, he moved to Miami where he stayed until relocating to Lakeland in 2003. Eric enjoys spending time with his son Dylan, eating at restaurants and going to the Gym.
Ryan Bates
Ryan grew up in Central Florida, and has lived in Lakeland since 1999. Prior to joining the staff at Heath Funeral Chapel in early 2008, he worked for years in the restaurant industry. Ryan is currently working on a Bachelor's degree in finance at the University of South Florida. He holds a Life, Health and Variable Annuities License and currently serves as a Pre-Planning Advisor for Heath Funeral Chapel.