Our Staff

John "Jay" Rutski, a licensed Funeral Director for thirty five years has been serving our community's families at Applebee Funeral Home since 2003.

A native of Kingston, NY, Jay studied Mortuary Science at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. Upon completion in 1988 he returned to his hometown where he served his residency at Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home.

In 1993, Jay returned to the Capital District, working for the well respected Frederick Funeral Home in Albany, NY. Throughout his career Jay has been privileged to work with and learn from some of the most highly regarded funeral professionals.  Jay has continued the tradition of serving families with the most professional and compassionate care and in 2023 purchased Applebee Funeral Home with his  longtime friend and co-worker Tom Pratt.

Jay lives in Delmar and is active in many community activities   He is a communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar where he serves the parish as a lector and altar server and is past president and longtime member of the Delmar Kiwanis club.

Tom has been a licensed funeral director for 22 years.  Before purchasing Applebee Funeral Home in 2023 with his friend and co-worker, Jay Rutski, he worked part-time for Peter Applebee for over 15 years and full time for Mark & Jane Levine at Levine Memorial Chapel.

Tom is a graduate of La Salle Institute ’90 and HVCC ’03.  He is a US Marine Corps Veteran, a communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church as well as a member of the book Club.  Tom has been married to Jennifer Pratt for 30 years and they have 3 children; Mackenzie, Delaney, and Brady.  

Peter Applebee, owned and operated Applebee Funeral Home from 1980 until his retirement in 2023.  He was the third generation owner of his family’s landmark business at the Four Corners in Delmar.  

Peter is a lifelong resident of Delmar and has been a licensed funeral director since 1968.  Peter attended Bethlehem Central Schools graduating from Houghton Academy (Allegany County, New York) in 1964.  In 1966 Peter enrolled in the now-named “Simmons Institute of Funeral Service” in Syracuse.  Peter was honorably discharged from the United States Army after serving from 1969 to 1971.  

Peter remains an active participant in the Bethlehem community.  He is a life member of the Delmar Fire Department for over 35 years serving as the department treasurer, a fire police and fire department lieutenant. A longtime member of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, he was recognized in 2008 by the Chamber for the more than 100 years of operation of the funeral home. He has been a long time member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

Peter has been married to the former Nancy Sharkey for over fifty years and is the father of two sons and the proud grandfather of three granddaughters.