Owner and President, Licensed Funeral Director of her family’s business, Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., Sharon is the third generation of Ryave family funeral directors, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Jacob Ryave, her father, Arnold Ryave, her brother, David, and her mother, Gail Perlut Ryave, all deceased.  Sharon proudly holds the distinction of being the first Jewish woman to become a licensed funeral director in Pittsburgh following her graduation from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science as Class President in 1995.

Sharon’s professional affiliations include memberships in the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association (PFDA), the Allegheny County Funeral Directors Association (ACFDA), and the Jewish Funeral Directors of America (JFDA). Ralph Schugar Chapel is a proud member of KAVOD.  She is on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association and a Lifetime Member of the National Council of Jewish Women, where she is a former board member.  Former Board of Directors member of the Aleph Institute, Northeast Division.  

Previously a resident of Mt. Lebanon, Sharon now lives in Squirrel Hill but retains her membership at Beth El Congregation, Temple Emanuel of South Hills, as well as at Rodef Shalom Congregation.  Sharon is proud to continue the Ryave family tradition of service to the Pittsburgh area by welcoming her two sons, Benjamin and Joshua Brody to the staff as the fourth generation. 

Sharon enjoys offering talks and tours to local synagogue and temples’ members and their religious school students to educate and inform the Jewish community on traditional Jewish funeral practices.  Regarded as a community leader and valuable resource, Sharon is often quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Jewish Chronicle on topics related to Jewish funeral customs, death, dying and grief support.

Rose Carfagna Au has been in funeral service for over 45 years. She has been associated with Ralph Schugar Chapel in Shadyside since May 2001. Prior to that, she worked for Burton L. Hirsch Funeral Home in Squirrel Hill for 22 years, beginning with her internship in 1979 and ending her tenure as a Location Manager.

Rose is a 1978 graduate of Penn State University with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and a 1979 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

In 1994, she became the first female president of the Allegheny County Funeral Directors Association (ACFDA) in 100 years. She has served on the Board consistently in different capacities since that time. In 2020, Rose was named an Honorary Life Member of the ACFDA.

In 1999, Rose became the first female Board of Governors member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association serving as a District Governor of Allegheny County until 2003. She is also a Certified Funeral Service Celebrant.

She and her husband, Frank, reside in Ross Township.

Morgan grew up in Western, Maryland and spent a couple years living in Saint Petersburg, Florida before deciding to move to Pittsburgh to pursue a career in mortuary science. In January of 2018, she attended Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. In 2019, she graduated with her Associates in Specialized Business and earned a diploma in Embalming and Funeral Directing. She also completed certification in becoming a Funeral Celebrant and Crematory Operator. In December of 2020, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Point Park University with a BS degree in Funeral Service and a minor in Psychology. 

Morgan started at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. in the summer of 2021. She completed her internship between November 2021 and February 2023 and became a Licensed Funeral Director in February 2023. Morgan also has a passion for art. In 2019, she was the recipient of the “Pierce Chemical Restorative Art Award” for her excellent replica of Salvador Dali in restorative art class at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. 

In her spare time, Morgan loves spending time with her dachshund Molly, creating art, exercising and being outdoors.

Holly Vaughn is a 2008 graduate of Millersville University in Lancaster County, with BAs in Anthropology and Philosophy. She spent two years working for AmeriCorps in a rural United Way, where she organized the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and a free summer lunch program for low-income students. She then spent several years working for a winery before settling in as a trainer and support specialist for K-12 school websites.

In 2019, Holly decided to change careers to work in the death care industry. Holly took classes online at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science while continuing to work full time and graduated with honors in 2022, receiving her Associate’s in Specialized Business and the “Dodge Chemical Award” for expertise in the embalming curriculum. She is also a Certified Celebrant and Certified Crematory Operator. Holly began working at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. as an administrative assistant in December 2021, became a licensed funeral intern in June 2022, and a licensed funeral director in September 2023. 

Holly enjoys snuggling her cats Viktor and Gideon, crafting, and watching movies with friends.