Staff members of Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.
Douglas C. Sensel
Licensed Funeral Director / Owner
Douglas Chester Sensel was born in Hagerstown, MD and grew up in Hanco*ck, MD. Doug is a 1968 graduate of Hanco*ck High School, a 1970 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science at Cincinnati, OH and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Hagerstown Community College.
He started his career in the funeral business in 1968 working under the direct supervision of Mr. Howard Grove in Hanco*ck, MD. In 1972, he moved to the Washington, DC metropolitan area where he worked with Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes in both Bethesda and Rockville, with Donald M. Stein Hebrew Memorial Funeral Home in Takoma Park and with Joseph Gawler’s Sons (“Funeral directors to the Presidents”) in Washington, DC. Doug can practice his profession in the District of Columbia and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the states of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Doug married Ellen Rose Fulton at Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville, MD in 1988 and they recently reaffirmed their vows at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. On January 2, 1992, they purchased Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home from Lewis and Lisa Braithwaite.
A bit of a community activist, he is a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, DeFord Lodge #88 A.F. & A.M., the Junior Order of United American Mechanics Council #117, Berkeley Springs Lions Club, Sons of the American Legion Squadron #60, the Morgan Arts Council, Friends of the Morgan County Public Library, the Humane Society of Morgan County, Berkeley-Springs Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Apple Butter Festival Hall of Fame, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1483, and serves as the Treasurer of Cacapon Resort State Park Foundation.
Doug’s hobbies include antiquing, cooking, real estate investing and relaxing at the seashore. He is a philanthropist and very supportive of “all things Morgan County.”
Ellen F. Sensel
Licensed Funeral Director / Owner
Ellen Rose Fulton Sensel was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Ellen attended Marymount School, School of The Holy Child and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1973. She then attended American University with a double major in Anthropology and American Literature, graduating in l977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She attended Catonsville Community College and graduated with Honors in l998 with a degree in Mortuary Science.
Ellen worked as the office manager of her father’s contracting business for 20 years before moving to Berkeley Springs in 1992.
Ellen married Douglas Sensel in l988 at Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville, MD; they reaffirmed their vows at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. On January 2, l992 they purchased Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home from Lewis and Lisa Braithwaite.
Ellen is a parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, a member of MCIEC, the Berkeley Springs Lions Club, Friends of the Morgan County Public Library and Foxglove Garden Club.
Ellen grew up spending much time on her family’s farm outside of Pittsburgh and now at her father’s farm in Berlin, MD. She is a farm girl at heart (even owns her own tractor!) and has an undying love for animals, most particularly horses and dogs. She is an avid reader, enjoys antiquing, and loves art and the beach. She is an avid collector of all things Morgan County, antique funeral memorabilia and everything pertaining to horses.
Jeremy P. Peck
Funeral Assistant
Jeremy Phillip Peck, funeral assistant with Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home since 2004.
Jeremy was born April 10, 1980 in Winchester, Va. He is the son of Carroll “John Gobble” and Anna Fritzman Peck.
Jeremy is a 1999 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and was raised in Morgan County all his life.
Jeremy is active in his community with organizations as he belongs to the Berkeley Springs Loyal Order of Moose Lodge # 1483, Gateway Moose Legion # 196, Junior Order of United American Mechanics Council # 117 and a member of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). Jeremy has carried different offices at the Moose Lodge where he has been sergeant-at-arms and three year trustee. He was presented the Moose of the Year for the Berkeley Springs Lodge for 2009 - 2010 year. Jeremy is also the founder of Eeerie Acres at Moose Acres in 2008, which is a haunted pavilion for the family to come and get chills and thrills from the scary madness in October. Moose Acres is the lodge picnic grounds, which is located a quarter mile on Myers Road in Berkeley Springs, where we hold our annual Moose Family Picnic.
Jeremy is an avid bowler, loves the beach and likes to travel.
- Douglas C. SenselLicensed Funeral Director / Owner
- Ellen F. SenselLicensed Funeral Director / Owner
- Jeremy P. PeckFuneral Assistant
Our Team Click each member for details
Douglas Chester Sensel was born in Hagerstown, MD and grew up in Hanco*ck, MD. Doug is a 1968 graduate of Hanco*ck High School, a 1970 graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science at Cincinnati, OH and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Hagerstown Community College.
He started his career in the funeral business in 1968 working under the direct supervision of Mr. Howard Grove in Hanco*ck, MD. In 1972, he moved to the Washington, DC metropolitan area where he worked with Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes in both Bethesda and Rockville, with Donald M. Stein Hebrew Memorial Funeral Home in Takoma Park and with Joseph Gawler’s Sons (“Funeral directors to the Presidents”) in Washington, DC. Doug can practice his profession in the District of Columbia and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the states of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Doug married Ellen Rose Fulton at Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville, MD in 1988 and they recently reaffirmed their vows at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. On January 2, 1992, they purchased Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home from Lewis and Lisa Braithwaite.
A bit of a community activist, he is a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, DeFord Lodge #88 A.F. & A.M., the Junior Order of United American Mechanics Council #117, Berkeley Springs Lions Club, Sons of the American Legion Squadron #60, the Morgan Arts Council, Friends of the Morgan County Public Library, the Humane Society of Morgan County, Berkeley-Springs Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Apple Butter Festival Hall of Fame, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1483, and serves as the Treasurer of Cacapon Resort State Park Foundation.
Doug’s hobbies include antiquing, cooking, real estate investing and relaxing at the seashore. He is a philanthropist and very supportive of “all things Morgan County.”
Ellen Rose Fulton Sensel was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Ellen attended Marymount School, School of The Holy Child and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1973. She then attended American University with a double major in Anthropology and American Literature, graduating in l977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She attended Catonsville Community College and graduated with Honors in l998 with a degree in Mortuary Science.
Ellen worked as the office manager of her father’s contracting business for 20 years before moving to Berkeley Springs in 1992.
Ellen married Douglas Sensel in l988 at Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville, MD; they reaffirmed their vows at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. On January 2, l992 they purchased Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home from Lewis and Lisa Braithwaite.
Ellen is a parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, a member of MCIEC, the Berkeley Springs Lions Club, Friends of the Morgan County Public Library and Foxglove Garden Club.
Ellen grew up spending much time on her family’s farm outside of Pittsburgh and now at her father’s farm in Berlin, MD. She is a farm girl at heart (even owns her own tractor!) and has an undying love for animals, most particularly horses and dogs. She is an avid reader, enjoys antiquing, and loves art and the beach. She is an avid collector of all things Morgan County, antique funeral memorabilia and everything pertaining to horses.
Jeremy Phillip Peck, funeral assistant with Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home since 2004.
Jeremy was born April 10, 1980 in Winchester, Va. He is the son of Carroll “John Gobble” and Anna Fritzman Peck.
Jeremy is a 1999 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and was raised in Morgan County all his life.
Jeremy is active in his community with organizations as he belongs to the Berkeley Springs Loyal Order of Moose Lodge # 1483, Gateway Moose Legion # 196, Junior Order of United American Mechanics Council # 117 and a member of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). Jeremy has carried different offices at the Moose Lodge where he has been sergeant-at-arms and three year trustee. He was presented the Moose of the Year for the Berkeley Springs Lodge for 2009 - 2010 year. Jeremy is also the founder of Eeerie Acres at Moose Acres in 2008, which is a haunted pavilion for the family to come and get chills and thrills from the scary madness in October. Moose Acres is the lodge picnic grounds, which is located a quarter mile on Myers Road in Berkeley Springs, where we hold our annual Moose Family Picnic.
Jeremy is an avid bowler, loves the beach and likes to travel.
