Staff
For 30 years our family cares for yours.
Paul is a native New Yorker, having been born and raised in Buffalo. After taking a death and dying course in college, Paul became interested in funeral service. Enrolling and graduating from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service, Paul became New York State licensed in 1989. He also attained a Bachelor of Science degree from Medaille College in New York.
In 1998, Paul moved to Fairfield County in Connecticut where he first managed the Raymond Funeral Home in Norwalk and then the Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan. Always having desired to own and operate his own funeral home, Paul purchased the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home in November of 2011.
In March of 2018, Paul purchased a second funeral home, the Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home in New Paltz.
Paul is currently a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church, where he serves as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and a Parish Council board member. He is also a member of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus (Kingston Council #275) where he is a fourth degree knight, and both the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.
Paul lives above the Simpson-Hammerl Funeral Home in Kingston with his wife Jillian. When they are not serving the community, they enjoy exploring the Hudson Valley in their classic cars. They also enjoy spending quality time with their family.
Non-Licensed
Born in Kingston, New York and a life-long resident of Ulster County, Jillian Hammerl is a true local.
Coming from a background in marketing, promotion and banking, Jillian spent the last decade in Bank Operations at Ulster Savings Bank. In addition to her duties as Office Manager, Jillian also oversees marketing and promotion of both funeral homes. With the ongoing demand to keep up with today’s technology, Jillian has led the technological advancements at both funeral home locations.
In 2017 Jillian conceived the Simpson-Hammerl Final Ride Car Show, an annual car show held at our Kingston location the 3rd Saturday in September. This event provides our community with a fun-filled day at our funeral home complete with joy and laughter!
Married to Paul Hammerl in May of 2020, Jillian & Paul dedicate most of their time to both of their funeral homes. The Hammerl’s are also very involved with the community at large and when they are not serving the community, they enjoy their family: Jillian’s daughter Jada of Brooklyn, mother Marilynn of Saugerties, sister Pam and brother-in-law Pete of Guilderland, Paul’s sister Mary Beth and brother-in-law John of Atlanta Georgia, along with nieces, nephews and other family members. The Hammerl’s also enjoy exploring the Hudson Valley in their vintage automobiles.
Licensed Funeral Director
Kim came to the funeral profession later in life, having first worked as an archaeologist and then as a professor of English at
a university in Japan. She has always been interested in diverse cultures and traditions and had the opportunity to live abroad
in Spain, Belize, Honduras and Japan, and to travel extensively.
Kim was born in Bridgeport Connecticut and earned her Bachelors in Spanish and Business at St. Francis College in Pennsylvania, her
Masters in Anthropology/Archaeology at the University of Connecticut in Storrs and her Mortuary degree at American McCallister in
New York City.
She enjoys reading, writing, handicrafts, watching movies and cooking cuisines from around the world.
