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What does a Funeral Director do? - Part 2

What do Funeral Directors do for Families? 2) Time Management There are many logistical elements to planning a funeral, and while “Time Management” may not show up on anyone’s Top 5 List, it...
By Nathan McKinlay
In Straight Talk
Wednesday, September 22, 2021

What Does a Funeral Director Do? - Part 1

Throughout the year, our team leads tours and presentations for  numerous Victim Services Groups, PSWs, DSWs and nursing students. We cover a number of subjects, which may&...
By Nathan McKinlay
In Straight Talk
Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Groundbreaking Held for Memorial Forest

From left are Randall Van Wagner, of the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority; Roberta Dickson, sister of the late John Skakel; and Nathan McKinlay, of McKinlay Funeral Homes Ltd. The first m...
By Chatham Daily News
In In The News
Monday, August 30, 2021

Canada Day This Year

People today are wrestling with their sense of patriotism. Our global economy, and social networks have been thrown askew over the last 16 months. Borders have closed and protectionism has taken a ...
By Jacob Rowe
In Straight Talk
Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day. It can be seen as a day of brunches and family gatherings as well a day of reflection and loss. It can be a mixed bag of emotions, with many having lost their own mothers now taking t...
By Nathan McKinlay
In Straight Talk
Saturday, June 12, 2021

Poppa Gale

No two days are ever the same at the Funeral Home. Throughout the course of a year, we engage in numerous conversations with people about their loved ones. We hear countless life stories – the good...
By Nathan McKinlay
In Straight Talk
Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Woodlot Preservation

Woodlot preservation is a divisive topic these days. Chatham-Kent Council approved a motion last Monday evening, enacting a bylaw aimed at preventing clear cutting - for the next 120 days at the ve...
By Jacob Rowe
In Straight Talk
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
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Previous Posts

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is a special day where we get to openly celebrate our life partners. There are many who celebrate this day with energy, while many others may sooner have a quiet dinner at home. For...

Featuring Kim Pidgeon

To call Kim Pidgeon a jack-of-all-trades would be an understatement. Kim is skilled in so many areas and is an essential part of our team. Whether he is working out a plan on the parking lot, assis...

Featuring John Brennan

If he does not know you by name, he likely knows you by shoe size. John Brennan was the owner of Simply Shoes in Blenheim and Chatham before taking a much-earned retirement and joining our team. He...

Featuring Tom Aarssen

We all know those people who put 100% into everything they do. Tom Aarssen is definitely one of them. Tom came with a lot of experience, having previously worked as a Funeral Director Assistant in ...

Featuring Marg Kloostra

We were very fortunate to get to know Marg Kloostra over the years. We would see her working regularly at Rossini’s restaurant in Chatham, and she would often work our staff parties when we tried t...

Featuring Brian Rumble

Brian Rumble is one of those guys that everyone seems to know. He worked for most of his career at Canpar before retiring and trying his hat at car sales at Chatham Nissan for several years. Whethe...

Featuring Joe Driscoll

If you’ve ever lived in Ridgetown, you likely know Joe Driscoll. Joe worked with us at the Funeral Home for 7 years, before taking a 4 year hiatus. We are thrilled that he is back! Joe can often be...