History & Staff

She graduated from Monrovia High School in 2005 and was the class president all four years. Her senior prophecy from the yearbook staff read, “Savanah Light went on to open Monrovia’s first funeral home, Starr Light Mortuary.” During high school she worked in her hometown at Dawghouse Pizza, Class Act Hair Studio, and Greendell Landscapes. It was in her junior year that her interest became apparent for the funeral service profession. Certain of her life’s calling, helping others through their time of loss, she started to gain experience and recognition in doing so.

After high school, she immediately began working in the industry at Flanner and Buchanan, and later worked for G.H Herrmann Funeral Homes, both in Indianapolis. In 2007, a position opened at Carlisle & Son, allowing her to serve families within her own community. During that time, Savanah earned her college degree from Vincennes University, completed her internship, and became a licensed Funeral Director. Savanah was able to establish her professional reputation and develop relationships within her community. Savanah has gained a multitude of valuable professional experiences from being involved with two larger corporations, in addition to six years of service at a locally operated funeral home.

In 2013, Savanah was presented with an opportunity of a lifetime from family friends, Mark and Lori Gilkerson, who contracted the construction of the funeral home. Savanah accomplished her goal and opened the first full-service funeral home in Monrovia in November 2014. During the planning and designing of her new facility, she stayed actively working within her profession by assisting families with her respected friends in the industry at Neal & Summers Mortuary in Martinsville.

Previously married to Kevin Blundell, who also graduated from Monrovia in 2002 and coached the Monrovia Varsity Wrestling Team. In 2007, Savanah and Kevin built a home on Brandywine and shared two Pitbull fur babies, Axis and Lulu. After 16 years together, they invested in establishing corporations and life took its course; dissolving their marriage and friendship in 2018. Very close with her family, she adores her supportive and loving parents, Gary and Shawntel (Olleman) Light; her younger sister, Desirae Dawn (Light) Watson, and her favorite little niece, Olivia June Watson; to whom all take part in operating the funeral home.

Savanah holds two professional licenses in Indiana as a Funeral Director/Embalmer and Life Insurance Producer, which allows her to assist families with prepaid funeral arrangements. In addition, she is a Notary Public. She is currently a member of the Monrovia Lions Club and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association (IFDA). Actively volunteering in her community, she previously served two terms on the Morgan County Fair Board of Directors and assisted on the IFDA Education Committee and proctors for students at Vincennes University. Savanah enjoys refereeing and coaching for the Monrovia Youth Volleyball League and helps at various events. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, fishing, boating, and playing volleyball.

Savanah has always had a passion in caring for people and animals. She can often be found getting involved to help others in ways they don’t expect and by being there when they need it most. She is truly humbled by the love and monumental support from her family, friends, and community.

Shawntel (Olleman) Light has been a lifelong resident of Monrovia. She has two older siblings, Debbie Williams (husband, Mike) and Eddie Olleman (wife, Diane) all of Monrovia. Her late parents, Ed and Jacqueline (Kenworthy) Olleman, and maternal grandparents, Roy and Maude (Gray) Kenworthy, were very active in the community owning Olleman Insurance Agency and Kenworthy & Son Hardware.

Shawntel graduated from Monrovia High School in the class of 1981 and attended Vincennes University. In 1984, she married her soulmate, Gary Light (Monrovia class of 1983). Together they had two loving daughters, Savanah Starr Light and Desirae Dawn (Light) Watson, and a granddaughter Olivia June Watson. Shawntel is a past member of the Monrovia Methodist Church and Come into the Garden Club of Mooresville. She is currently a member of the Monrovia Lions Club, and West Union Friends Church - belongs to Kappa Kappa Sigma Sorority, and is a certified wildlife habitat member who loves to grow everything. She worked for Graham Electronics in Indianapolis, and W.R. Air Service in Indianapolis and was then fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom with her children through their younger years. Many people may remember Shawntel working at Greendell (off state rd. 42), where she held many titles for over 14 years.

In September of 2013, Shawntel retired from Greendell and put her complete focus on helping Savanah to create and establish Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel. Shawntel runs the office and enjoys assisting families during their time of need. Not only does she enjoy helping people, but has been known to have a soft heart for animals and goes out of her way to care for each and every one of them. In her free time, she vacations and spends time with family and friends.

Shawntel lost her mother to cancer when she was age 4, her father to heart complications at age 24, and her husband (of 36 years of marriage) at age 57. Throughout her life, she has lost many other loved ones and understands the meaning and importance of dealing with the grief process. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things that we will face in this life. By being part of and working in such a close-knit community, she has found an inner peace that allows her to share, help and support people she truly cares about. She may be reached at any time for assistance by contacting the funeral home at (888) 255-8040.

Gary Light was behind the scenes since the beginning of the construction process for Light Memorial. A face our families often see when we initially respond to a death. He also was the maintenance department, our groundskeeper, and our door greeter, and oversaw funeral procession parking.

He graduated from Monrovia High School in 1983 and married Shawntel (Olleman) Light in 1984. They had two daughters, Savanah Starr Light and Desirae Dawn (Light) Watson, and one grandchild, Olivia June Watson. A family man, who was well known for his dedicated and strong work ethic but, most of all, one of the best family men in the world was called home to be with the Lord on October 29, 2020. We thank God for him every day and he will remain in our hearts forever.

A lifelong resident of Monrovia, Maggie is a 1987 graduate from Monrovia High School. She attended IUPUI for three and a half years, majoring in Elementary Education, during which time she was employed with the Diabetes Research Center, before recognizing that wasn’t the path for her. She married her husband, Dale Bauer, in 1995, and together they had two children, Sarah and Zachary.

A stay-at-home mom until both kids entered school, Maggie re-entered the workforce cleaning residentially, which led her to work for Pedigo Heartland Crossing Chevrolet in Camby for seven and a half years. Conversations with her boss, guidance from Savanah, along with the failing health of her beloved mother Martha Gannon, led her to her life’s epiphany of becoming a Funeral Director. She returned to college at the age of 40, earning her degree in mortuary science from Ivy Tech, graduating cum laude with the class of 2014.

Civic minded, Maggie served two years as Softball Director with Monrovia Organized Baseball/Softball, additionally raising funds for the town’s fireworks. She dearly loves her hometown and takes pride in her community. She feels truly blessed to be a part of the Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel family, serving the people of her society.