Our Team

Steve Moore

Former Owner & Funeral Director

I’ve been a licensed funeral director for 52 years. Looking back on my career and before, I can’t help realizing how fleeting our time is, nothing more than a thumb drive.

I was born February 29, 1952 in Chicago. Shortly thereafter, I became the oldest of six and living in Woodstock, IL. I graduated from Worsham College in 1973. Coincidentally, it was same year I married Jane Robers. We lived above the Ahlgrim Funeral Home at 5700 W. Division in Chicago.

In 1978, with the help of the Ahlgrims, I purchased the Kahle Funeral Home in Cary. Once again, Jane and I moved above the funeral home. We raised two children there, Erin, born in 1980, and Rob, born in 1982, and Cary became our home.

There comes a time, and the time was April 25, 2025 when Daniel Symonds and his family bought the Kahle-Moore Funeral Home.  Daniel Symonds comes from a 2^nd generation family providing funeral services. I have the utmost confidence that he will continue to serve the families in Cary and Fox River Grove and the surrounding areas with professionalism.

Daniel Symonds

Owner & Funeral Director

Daniel is a second generation licensed Funeral Director and U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, following in his father’s footsteps of military and funeral service.  Daniel was literally born and raised into the funeral industry, learning to serve families with integrity first-hand from his late father, Irving Symonds Jr., who owned several funeral homes in Chicago, Highwood, and Grayslake, Illinois. Daniel strives to uphold the high standards his father set for him every day.

In addition to working in funeral service, Daniel has served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier. Daniel enlisted in the Army to serve his country six months after the attacks on September 11, 2001. He has also served throughout the world on training missions in Panama, Germany, Korea, and Malaysia.  

Daniel is currently a Master Sargeant at Rock Island Arsenal for U.S. Army Reserve Public Affairs. Daniel is proud to have come from a long line of military service, dating back to the Civil War, starting with his Great-Great Grandfather, Private Daniel Rufus Symonds, his namesake. 

Daniel earned his Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science at Chicago Citywide Mortuary School and has earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Television Production from Chicago’s Columbia College of the Arts. Daniel has been a licensed funeral director in the state of Illinois for almost 30 years, and he also holds licenses in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Dan serves on the executive board for American Legion Post 57 in Elgin. He is also a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association (IFDA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1307,  the Elgin Area Historical Society, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 799, the Elgin Lion’s Club, the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, and the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp #2, and is a former member of Kiwanis Club of Elgin.  

Daniel is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin.  Dan and his wife Joy have two daughters, Emily and Vivienne, and a son, Daniel W. Symonds Jr.

Joy Symonds, MA

Owner & Director of Community Engagement

In partnership with her husband, Daniel, Joy focuses on family services and community engagement.

Among her many duties, Joy has written many obituaries for the families we serve, and she takes pride in telling their stories in a personal and meaningful way. 

Joy is an elected official of the Gail Borden Public Library Board of Trustees.  She also oversees the activities of Operation L.O.V.E., a community project to connect volunteers with veterans in need.

She is the person behind public events that allow us to connect with and give back to the community.  As a licensed insurance agent, Joy also handles pre-arrangements for families who plan ahead for their funeral expenses. 

Joy brings an extensive background in marketing and public relations, previously serving as Director of Communications for the Department of Attorney General for the State of Michigan.

Joy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University.  

Joy is an active volunteer leader in the greater Elgin community.  She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for Post 57, the VFW Post 1307 Auxiliary in Elgin, and the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association.  She received a Downtown Elgin Service Award for her volunteer contributions to the 2019 Elgin Winter Wonderland Festival. 

Joy is a board member and treasurer for the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin. She is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin. 

Her proudest role is that of mom to her daughters, Emily and Vivienne, and son, Daniel W. Symonds Jr.

Jennifer Neuman

Administrative Assistant

Jennifer uses her administrative skills to keep the office organized and running smoothly.

In 1998, after almost ten years as a secretary at several law firms and a medical office, Jennifer left the work force to raise her family, homeschooling her two daughters, Emily and Abby, from kindergarten through high school. During that time, Jennifer kept up her administrative skills by leading a 4-H club, working on the board of a homeschool co-op, and coaching and mentoring her younger daughter’s robotics team.

Now that her daughters are grown, Jennifer enjoys the opportunity to work with the Symonds family and serve the community.

Jennifer and her husband, Warren, have been married for almost 30 years.  They are members of Christ Community Church in St. Charles.  Her hobbies include sewing, knitting and crochet, art journaling, learning new software, and cuddling with her boxer pup, Gideon.