Our Staff

Stephen Dawson earned his high school diploma from the East Leyden High School in 1977. He further pursued his studies at Bradley University in Peoria, IL and graduated with a B.A. degree in Speech Communications and Theatre Arts. He also attended the Players Workshop of Second City to learn the art of improvisation. To prepare for the family business, Stephen attended the Worsham College of Mortuary in 1982 to get an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. He also holds a certificate from the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), Illinois Crematory Operators Certification Program, is a Certified Cremationist through the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA), a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP), member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), and is certified through the Green Burial Council.

Stephen owns and manages Monarch Crematorium with his wife Tammi. Stephen has been the past president and the current secretary of the Funeral Directors Services Association of Greater Chicago; former secretary of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association. He is currently the Secretary of School District 84 school board of Franklin Park. Stephen and his wife Tammi are long time members of  St. Paul Evangelical Covenant Church of Franklin Park.  Showing his love of sports, Stephen is a former Thunder soccer coach. He enjoys spending time with the family, is a certified scuba diver, a holds an A.S.A. sailing captains certificate. He also plays the keyboard for the musical group Looney Train.

Timothy Dawson represents the 4th Generation of the Tiedemann Family to embrace the vocation of Funeral Director. Tim is a graduate of East Leyden High School and went on to receive his BA in Communications from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 2011. After entering the workforce and still doing some maintenance work for the Family Funeral Home, Tim enrolled in Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Receiving his Degree in Mortuary Science in 2015, Tim became a Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director, returning to his lifelong home above the Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home. 

Tim is married to his wife Claire (2017) and they are the proud parents of Theo and Isla. Claire is an outside sales representative in the Food Service industry. Tim and Claire are kept company by their pet cats Jack and Vincent, and their dog Hank. 

Tim enjoys playing Rugby with the Chicago Riot RFC team. He's available 24/7 with the possible exception of  Deer Season and Turkey Season. Tim is extremely proud to be the 4th Generation of his family to enter this very important vocation. 

Tammi Burke Dawson is a registered nurse. She received her education from the Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois and Triton College in River Grove, Illinois. She had been working with the Out Patient Surgical Unit with Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, Illinois,  until the hospital closed in 2019; in addition to helping around the funeral home.

If you see her moving around quickly, you can trace it back to her family heritage which made its mark in the sport of speed skating. In fact, her father, Charles Burke, participated in the 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics. Since 2013, Tammy has been the Lead Nurse with Honor Flight Chicago, the organization that brings Veterans to Washington DC to the War Memorial Site. She has been a volunteer for Honor Flight Chicago since 2011.

Kevin is a lifelong resident of Elmwood Park, graduated from Elmwood Park High School and went to Worsham College of Mortuary Science where he received his certification in 1995. Kevin also is on the FDSA Board of Directors and holds the position of Vice President. Kevin has over 20 years of experience as a funeral director and embalmer and has a great sense of pride and dignity while meeting the needs of families and would provide them with a sense of comfort, confidence and consistency with a personalized service.

Kevin enjoys playing golf, loves old muscle cars and is a die-hard Cubs fan. When not busy working or running around on his days off work he likes to vacation somewhere on a lake in the middle of nowhere relaxing.

If Erin's name sounds a bit familiar, it's because she is Tammi Burke Dawson's sister. It is likely that Erin may be the first voice you hear when contacting Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home. Born and raised in Northbrook and a graduate of Glenbrook North High School, Erin and her husband Jerry make their home in Grayslake where they raised their two, now grown, children. Her parenting duties now are centered around a full figure Min Tin dog named Louie who takes Erin on long walks. Erin and Jerry are big live music fans. Erin is a  self-professed Parrot Head and never misses Jimmy Buffet when he gets anywhere close to the area. She also loves the Blues and many other genres of music. Erin's career has always included hospitality and greeting people, in addition to accounting, and administrative duties. Her favorite chapter of her career of course is her present position as Administrative Assistant at Sax-Tiedemann, followed closely by driving the beverage cart at a local golf course where everyone was thrilled to see her. We're thrilled to see her here too. 

Clyde Dawson grew up in the Morgan Park neighborhood on Chicago’s south side. He met Jean Tiedemann at Grinnell College where he earned a B.A. degree in Biology. In 1956, he began working with his father-in-law, Peter Tiedemann and pursued further studies at Worsham College of Mortuary Science.

Now retired, he is still very active in the community. Clyde is a member of several organizations, including the Franklin Park Kiwanis Club, The Franklin Park Social Club, and the Leyden - Laurel Masonic Lodge. He was also a former member of the School District No. 84 School Board for 30 years. Clyde is an active member of St. Paul Evangelical Covenant Church.

Born into the family business, Jean Tiedemann Dawson lived in the funeral home since it relocated to Belmont Avenue in 1936. Jean is the youngest child of Peter Thomas Tiedemann and Irma Tiedemann (nee Freie). She graduated from Leyden High School and attended Grinnell College where she met her husband, Clyde. Jean held a B.A. degree from Elmhurst College. One of her most notable achievements is having served as President of St. Paul Evangelical Covenant Church.

Jean regularly does volunteer work for the Women’s Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her appreciation for the arts can also be seen in her active participation in the Bell Choir.