It’s the spring of 1933. Twenty-three year old Gilbert MacIntyre opens the doors to his life’s dream, a funeral parlour to serve the local community. In addition to providing funeral services, he runs the local ambulance from the same location. Five years later he shifts operations to Dublin Street so he has room for his growing family (who lived upstairs above the business). Now, 88 years later, Gilbert MacIntyre & Son is a family business with Gilbert’s son, Michael Sr., working alongside his own children, Michael Jr., Peter, Andrew, and Stephanie. The locations have grown to include two chapels and the types of services have evolved with the times, but what remains constant is the legacy of care Gilbert set out to achieve. That has not wavered in nearly a century.
While many funeral homes are amalgamating with corporately run interests, Gilbert MacIntyre & Son remains family focused.
“Our family becomes your family, and vice versa,” explains Michael Sr. “As a family-owned business we are conscious of the financial costs borne by the people we serve. It is important that we provide consistency as we are dealing with the same families we have since the start.” This means the man discussing pre-need services with Michael Sr. likely saw his own father or mother interact with Gilbert. There is great comfort in this during an hour of need.
At 18, Michael Sr. started working alongside his father.
“He was my idol. We had a great relationship. Even when we disagreed, we never argued,” says Michael Sr. “He taught me the fundamentals of business: be honest, do the best you can, and be involved in the community. Let people know who you are outside of the funeral home and when they need you, they will remember you.”
Michael Sr. has witnessed many changes over the years.
“At the beginning of my career, visitation was still in people’s residences,” he reminisces. “Now it’s in a funeral home during set hours. Another change I have seen is pre-need services where people pre-plan (and in some cases pre-pay) for their own funeral. In my dad’s era this was unheard of! However, it is important as it really helps the family. They discuss their wants and needs and even pick out a casket. The burden of planning and paying at the time of death is removed. Now, we have a person dedicated to pre-need services.”
He continues, “Celebration of life, remembrance… those are words that were not used before. In some ways it feels like death has become an inconvenience for people. They must cancel something to attend a funeral. It is important to remember that death is part of life and while it is fine to celebrate a life well lived, there is a time and place for mourning. Mourning leads to healing. Celebrating 10 months after is not the same as mourning at the time with the support of family and friends.”
With decades of experience in helping families mourn the passing of loved ones, Michael Sr., shares, “We know death is not easy. It’s not easy for the person knowing they are passing, and it’s not easy on the friends and family that have to deal with it. But dealing with it is important. Don’t hide your grief. Don’t be afraid to cry; men especially are embarrassed to cry, but it’s a release. There is nothing to fear – there is nothing wrong with tears. We all lose people we love. With the support of your friends and relatives, you can face the day.”
Gilbert MacIntyre & Son help families along the grief journey by being open to the continual evolution of funeral service. Where cremation and closed caskets were once taboo, they are embraced as options today. The team discusses how an urn can be portable for families not wanting to move away from where a loved one is interred. They learn about cultural traditions and incorporate them when appropriate into services.
“At this age I wonder how many more changes are coming to this industry?” smiles Michael Sr., “But whatever those changes are, our funeral home is ready to adapt and keep serving families.
Gilbert MacIntyre passed in 1994, but his legacy remains alive and well in Guelph’s oldest and longest-running funeral home. Now the second and third generations continue the tradition they are best known for – a family business serving other families with compassion and care during their greatest hour of need.