Our History
Northern Virginia Jewish Funerals is proud to be serving the DMV Jewish Community. Our roots run deep in the Jewish Community, and our philosophy is doing business with heart. Philanthropically, we donate to various Jewish organizations throughout the year.
We partner with all local synagogues and cemeteries to ensure you and your loved ones are cared for in your time of need. We are able to transfer pre-need policies from any funeral home even from other cities. Our licensed Funeral Directors are available to meet with you at our offices, your home, any area hospitals, your synagogue, or wherever you feel most comfortable.
At Northern Virginia Jewish Funerals, we offer a better, more personal way to plan Jewish funeral services. True, the funeral industry is a business, but we believe it is also a Mitzvah to serve those in need with heart and provide as much Jewish Tradition in the time of death. All of our staff have a commitment to serving the DMV Jewish Community with passion, empathy and the love of our Jewish heritage and tradition, when caring for your loved ones. We consider it our honor, privilege and mitzvah.
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Andy Starr Owner, Executive Director
Andy Starr has dedicated his career to serving individuals and families during some of life’s most pivotal moments—whether navigating health challenges, caring for aging loved ones, or coping with loss. Before entering the funeral profession, he played a key role in expanding Hearthstone Assisted Living and U.S. Physical Therapy into nationally recognized organizations.Passionate about preserving Jewish traditions, Andy is committed to ensuring that older adults receive compassionate, dignified care rooted in Jewish values. With family ties in McLean and his mother laid to rest at King David Memorial Gardens, he feels a deep connection to the Northern Virginia Jewish community and takes pride in supporting families during their time of need.Outside of work, Andy enjoys staying active through cycling, walking, and playing poker with friends. He and his wife, Wendy, are dedicated to strengthening Jewish life and remain actively involved in their community.Andy is honored to serve families with compassion, respect, and an unwavering commitment to Jewish traditions.
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Zane Belyea Owner, Community Relations
From an early age, Zane wanted to help people in need, so when he attended Southern Illinois University, he decided to study Social Work & Psychology. During his first year after graduation, Zane worked with abused and neglected children, before spending eleven years in the education industry, eventually becoming Vice President of Recruitment for a large education firm. In 2011, after many years of business travel, and a growing family in Dallas, Zane followed the advice of one of his mentors and began a new career in the funeral industry. True to his roots in social work, Zane finds it deeply rewarding to help families during one of the worst moments of their lives, and he has instilled that passion for service throughout the organization. “Every member of our team has a solemn commitment to serve all our families well beyond their expectations. We absolutely won’t let them down.” The Jewish community is extremely important to Zane and his family, and he continues to be involved daily. Whether it’s playing softball in the Temple Shalom Brotherhood Softball League, or putting on Tefillin with one of the Rabbis, every experience is beyond meaningful. In 2018, Zane had the fortunate experience of joining the Dallas Area Torah Association on the Momentum trip and experiencing Israel for the first time. This was certainly a trip of a lifetime full of laughter, deep reflection, and at times tears. Growing up, Zane didn’t have a traditional Jewish household and unfortunately never had a Bar Mitzvah. During the Momentum trip, this important Jewish tradition was fulfilled on Masada! In 2019, Zane returned to Israel this time to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of his oldest son, Dylan. To see your children go through this experience at the holiest site on Earth can never be expressed in words. Zane is married to a Dallas native (Jill Liberman), and has two sons, Dylan & Zachary. Although members of Anshai Torah, Zane and his family have a strong connection to Rabbi Block and Chabad Plano as well as Rabbi Zakon/Rabbi Nissel from Dallas Area Torah Association. We will forever be grateful to Rabbi Nissel and his efforts in tutoring Dylan in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah.
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Liz Vargas Owner, Human Resources
Liz Vargas is the VP of Accounting at Jewish Funerals USA where Liz has full responsibility for financials, procedures, budgets, and human resources for multiple locations. Liz has worked as an accounting professional for over 25 years in different industries and specializes in the direction and setup of accounting systems and establishing policies and procedures for financial and operational activities for startup companies. Liz enjoys working in her garden and watching her favorite sports team the Houston Astros in her free time
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Shelby Sibilsky Director of Marketing
Shelby Sibilsky discovered her passion for helping others early in life. She pursued this calling by earning her Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in English Literature from the University of Texas at Dallas. Driven to delve deeper into conflict resolution, she furthered her education at Southern Methodist University, obtaining a Master's degree in Dispute Resolution Conflict Management.Shelby finds joy in spending time with her husband, Tristan, and their beloved cat, Wolfgang. Whether she’s diving into a good book, indulging in movie marathons, or exploring new restaurants, she values experiences that bring connection and joy. Above all, she cherishes quality time with her mom, Connie.From her childhood aspirations to her present endeavors, Shelby remains committed to her lifelong goal of making a positive impact on people's lives. From day one, Shelby knew she wanted to be part of an organization that cares, surrounded by people with big hearts. And every morning, she wakes up thankful for the chance to be a part of that.For marketing inquiries, please email: [email protected]
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Gary Henninger Location Manager
Gary, a 1990 graduate of the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Virginia and Washington, DC, with Maryland licensure forthcoming. With an impressive 38-year career in the funeral service industry, he has excelled in roles such as Arranger, Advanced Planning Specialist, and General Manager.Originally from Virginia Beach, Gary relocated to Alexandria in December 2023 to lead Northern Virginia Jewish Funerals as its manager. Outside of his professional life, Gary is an avid enthusiast of sports, indie music, museums, festivals, aquariums, coffee shops, trivia games, and darts. His passion for coaching high school and elite travel girls' fastpitch softball spans over two decades, during which 23 of his players earned collegiate scholarships, one was honored as Gatorade Player of the Year, and another represented the British 18U Team.
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Jonathan Mitchell Funeral Service Assistant
Jonathan is a dedicated Funeral Assistant with Northern Virginia Jewish Funerals, embarking on his first role in the funeral service industry. Currently pursuing a degree in Funeral Services at Brightpoint Community College, he is an aspiring funeral director driven by a deep passion for providing meaningful and spiritually fulfilling support to the Jewish community in NOVA.A lifelong NOVA resident with a brief chapter in Vermont, Jonathan initially pursued linguistics and anthropology before discovering his calling in the funeral profession. Outside of work, he has a wide range of interests, including alternative music, concerts, Judaic studies, and Jewish learning. A polyglot in the making, he has studied Latin, Russian, and Yiddish, with plans to explore even more languages. Jonathan also channels his creativity into jewelry making.An active member of the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Jonathan is a familiar face at Friday evening services, where he finds connection and inspiration within his community.
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Ellen Suls MacDonald Community Liaison
Ellen is an experienced educator, synagogue leader, and community advocate, serving as Community Liaison for Northern Virginia Jewish Funerals. A second-generation Washingtonian raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, she has deep roots in the Jewish community. Ellen attended Beth El in Bethesda, where she celebrated her bat mitzvah, confirmation, and developed a strong connection to Jewish tradition through USY and a transformative Pilgrimage to Israel.Ellen holds degrees in Secondary English Education and English Literature from the University of Maryland. She built a successful career as a high school English teacher and preschool educator before transitioning into synagogue leadership. Since moving to Northern Virginia in 2001, Ellen has been an active member of Congregation Beth Emeth, serving as both a volunteer and Lifecycle Coordinator, supporting congregants through significant life events.Her role in the Jewish funeral industry reflects her commitment to guiding families through sensitive moments with compassion and dignity. Ellen’s expertise in education, relationship-building, and program coordination enhances her ability to support and serve the community.In her free time, Ellen enjoys theatre, cycling, reading, Mah Jong, and pub trivia. She is also a dedicated volunteer with the Northern Virginia Chevra Kadisha. Ellen is honored to bring her empathetic approach and dedication to this meaningful work.
