Staff Directory

James W. Dimbleby

Jim Dimbleby is a Principal of the firm and has been a Licensed Funeral Director for over 20 years. He is a third generation funeral director and began working in the funeral business as a teenager, with his father and grandfather.

Jim graduated from Whitesboro Central High School and later SUNY Canton ATC with an A.A.S. in Mortuary Science. He served his residency under his father’s supervision and became a New York State Licensed Funeral Director in 1987.

Jim is a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro, where he has been ordained a Deacon and Elder. He is a member of the Oriskany Lodge #799 F&AM where he served as Master of the Lodge in 1991 and 1994. Jim also serves on the Board of the Whitesboro Central High School Alumni Association. He is a former member of the Whitesboro Fire Department and is a current member of its Benevolent Association.

Jim lives in Deerfield with his wife Caroline. They have four children — Christine, a graduate of Ithaca College, and John, Hope & Hannah who are students in the Whitesboro Central School District.

John W. Dimbleby

Jack Dimbleby represents the second generation to guide the Dimbleby family business. He is a Principal of the firm and has been a Licensed Funeral Director for over 45 years. Jack has been key to growing the business through the acquisition of funeral homes in Holland Patent, Old Forge and West Winfield, and through his association with the former Elwood T. Day Funeral Home in Utica. 

Jack graduated from Whitesboro High School. A talented trumpet player, together with several high school friends, founded a successful dance band called the Musical Demons. Following High School he was asked to join the nationally known Little John Beecher's Band, however, Jack enrolled in Utica College of Syracuse University, earning a Bachelors degree. While attending college, he also successfully completed the requirements to become a New York State Licensed Funeral Director in 1962. In addition to working with his father, Jack worked as a writer for a research company, taught classes, and worked for several area funeral directors. 

Jack is a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro and has been ordained a Deacon and Elder. He is a member of the Oriskany Lodge #799 F&AM, Yahnundasis Bodies AASR, Ziyara Temple AAONMS, and a life member of the Whitesboro Fire Department, and its Benevolent Assn. 

Jack is a lifelong Whitesboro resident and lives there with his wife Judy, who has worked alongside him for over 40 years. They have two daughters, Brenda Gilberti of Whitesboro and Jean Nelson of Maryland, and a son James W. Dimbleby who is the third generation to join the family business. They have eight grandchildren. Jack’s hobbies include music and collecting antique cars.

James C. Friedel

Jim Friedel is a Principal and Treasurer of the firm and has been a Licensed Funeral Director for over 12 years. He is an active member of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association, New York State Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.

Jim graduated from New Hartford High School, later American International College with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, and The Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science in Syracuse.

Jim serves on the Board of Directors for the Presbyterian Home of Central New York. He is also a member of the St. Elizabeth Foundation in Utica, St. John the Evangelist Church in New Hartford, the Utica Curling Club and participates in the Ride for Missing Children.

Jim lives in New Hartford with his wife Jennifer, their daughter Ella, son Daniel and daughter, Claire. He loves to spend time with family and friends and also enjoys biking, skiing, boating and curling.

Stewart H. Williams

Stew Williams is a Principal of the firm and has been a Licensed Funeral Director for over 34 years. He is an active member of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association, New York State Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.

Stew graduated from Utica Free Academy, later Gettysburg College, and The Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science in Syracuse where he was awarded the American Board of Funeral Service Education Scholarship. Prior to beginning his career in funeral service, he was a teacher in Adams, Massachusetts and served in the United States Army Reserves.

Stew is a member of the Rotary Club of Utica, where he has served as President and was twice awarded Paul Harris Fellowships. He has served as Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Presbyterian Home of Central New York, and President of the St. David’s Welsh Society. Stew is a member of the Utica Lodge #47 F&AM, the Yahnundasis Bodies AASR, and Ziyara Temple AAONMS where he was Potentate in 1995. He is also a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, serving on the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the Refugee Support Committee.

Stew lives in Holland Patent with his wife Esther. They have four children and three grandchildren. He is a lifelong tennis player, and has enjoyed climbing several high peaks in the Adirondack Mountains with his three sons.

Donald A. Edmunds

Don Edmunds is a Principal of the firm and has been associated with it as a Licensed Funeral Director for over 35 years. He is an active member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association and serves as a Trustee of its PrePlan fund, which manages nearly $530M in prepaid monies. 

Don graduated from Utica Free Academy and the Mortuary Science program at Hudson Valley Community College. 

Don is a member of the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation, the Philanthropy Committee of the House of the Good Shepherd, and the Utica Curling Club. Don is also a member of the Oriental-Faxton Lodge #224 F&AM, Scottish Rite, Ziyara Temple AAONMS, and St. John the Evangelist Church in New Hartford. 

Don lives in New Hartford with his wife the former Jennifer Friedel and their children Matthew, Sarah and Marykate.

Albert J. Abdulla

Albert J. Abdulla has been a New York State Licensed Funeral Director for most of his adult life; Al plays a vital role in the day to day operations of the funeral homes six locations. His knowledge on cremation has put him in the forefront of creating meaningful and memorable services for the many families who choose cremation that we are privileged to care for. He is also a Certified Crematory operator, and is a member of the Cremation Association of North America; He has had the honor of attending several Cremation Association of America conferences all around the country and has been able to successfully put together a meaningful program for us to offer to the cremation families that we are honored to serve. Al is also a member of the Tri County Funeral Directors Association, where he served as past president for six years, the New York State Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors Association. 

Al Graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1979, and Mohawk Valley Community College where he has a Degree in Business. He also graduated at the top of his class from Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science in Syracuse. He served his residency with the Miller Funeral Homes in Rochester, NY. 

Al is a board member of Hospice Care’s Siegenthaler Center and serves on the Siegenthaler Center’s Fund Raising Committee. He is a member of St. Louis Gonzaga Church in Utica. He lives in Utica with his wife Robin. They have a daughter Victoria who is a graduate of Siena College in Albany and the college of Saint Rose in Albany where she received a Masters degree in education. Al enjoys traveling with his family especially to New York City, Las Vegas and Florida. He also enjoys spending his free time at his family’s summer home on Oneida Lake. 

Douglas Corsette

Doug grew up in the foothills of the Adirondacks in Newport, NY. He graduated from West Canada Valley Central School and furthered his studies in Mortuary Science and Business Administration at SUNY Canton. 

After serving his residency from 2003–2004 with Friedel, Williams, Coriale & Edmunds Funeral Home, Doug worked for Lombardo Funeral Home in Buffalo, NY for two years. He returned to the Utica area and Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Homes in early 2007. He is currently a member of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association. 

Doug currently lives in Utica, and enjoys travelling and spending time with his family and friends.

Thomas Groves

Tom graduated from Whitesboro Central School with Jack Dimbleby after being in the same class since kindergarten. He attended The Crane School of Music as a trombone major, and later The Simmons School of Embalming.

After spending two years in Germany with the US Army, he returned to the Utica area, working with several local funeral homes. He later graduated from the nursing program at Mohawk Valley Community College, and is now a charge nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital and a supervisor at the Loretto Utica Center.

Tom has been a past Master of Baron Steuben Lodge #264 in Lee Center and North Woods Lodge #849 in Old Forge, and past Assistant Grand Lecturer for the 2nd Oneida District, F&AM. He has also been Past Patron of Old Forge Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. He is also active in Hamilton College and the Community Oratorio Society, and is a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Whitesboro.

Tom’s wife Barbara is also a registered nurse and a Deacon in the Episcopal church. Together they have three children: Laura Cooper of Old Forge, Cathy Schafer of Manlius, and Tom, serving with the US Navy in Brunswick, ME.

Sister Rose B. Troy, CSJ

Sr. Rose Benedict Troy, CSJ has been a Bereavement Support Coordinator with the firm for 8 years, and has provided bereavement services to the local community since 1983. She serves our families in many ways including bereavement support and counseling, planning meaningful funeral services, and presiding at services. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Hudson and Albany Business College, She received her Bachelor of Science from The College of St. Rose in Albany and her Masters in Religious Education from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. She received a Certification in Bereavement from Maria College in Albany.

Sr. Rose taught high school for 17 years. In 1983 she became Pastoral Associate for St. John the Evangelist Church in New Hartford. She has spoken on Bereavement and Spirituality, and arranged and facilitated Bereavement Training Workshops in the Utica and Syracuse areas. She received the YWCA Salute to Outstanding Women in 2001. She has also brought noted counselor, speaker and author Doug Manning to the Utica area four times, with each session attended by over 350 people. She is a member of American Academy of Bereavement, and The Association for Death Education and Counseling-Greater Upstate NY Chapter.

Sr. Rose lives at St. John’s Convent with members of her community, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Connie Schroth

Constance (Connie) Race Schroth has been our Office Manager since 2004. Her pleasant personality and demeanor, organizational skills and expert knowledge are very important to our firm and enable us to provide outstanding service to our families. 

Connie graduated from Holland Patent High School; received her Associates Degree from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and her Bachelor's Degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam. In 2008, Connie was awarded the Pride of Workmanship Award from The Rotary Club of Utica, NY. 

Connie and her husband John have a son, John S. “Jack” and a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth; she also enjoys reading, hiking, sports events, opera and the arts.

Wendy Page

Wendy Page has been our Administrative Assistant since 2006. 

Her attention to detail, creativity, and willingness to go that extra mile make her a valuable addition to our staff. 

She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a BSBA in Accounting. She is a Girl Scout leader in the Whitesboro area, and enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, crocheting, and reading in her off time. She has been married to Leroy Page for 21 years and has three children, Erin, Michelle, and Julie, two of whom are in college.

Paul Hawthorne

Retiring in 2002 from a successful career in law enforcement with NYS, Paul began working for several local funeral homes. His interest in the field of funeral service led him to enroll at Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in Syracuse. He received his degree in 2005, graduating at the top of his class. Paul served his residency with Autenrith Funeral Home in Newport, NY, and continued to work at several local funeral homes prior to joining Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Homes.

Paul is a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Barneveld, where he serves on the vestry and as Lay Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife, Doreen, live in Newport with their two Siamese cats. Leisure activities are likely to include kayaking, SCUBA diving, photography, and amateur radio.

Paul considers himself fortunate that he was asked to join the family of professionals at Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds in the spring of 2010.

Ed Stanimer

Ed grew up in the Sauquoit Valley. He earned his A.A.S in Mortuary Science from Hudson Valley Community College and graduated with high honors in 2011. While at Hudson Valley Community College he served as the Vice- President of the Mortuary Science Club and was inducted into the Phi-Theta Kappa National Honor Society. Ed has been affiliated with the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Homes since June of 2011. Ed has since received the Tri-County Funeral Director Associations Scholarship.

In his free time, Ed enjoys working on his “project” cars and helping his family on their dairy farm.