In Minden, Ontario in the year 1874, John Welch started a blacksmith and cabinetmaking shop that evolved into the making of coffins. Eventually, this evolved into providing funerals. John's youngest son Frank Welch became a licensed Funeral Director in the early 1930's.
In the late 1920's and early 1930's, the Funeral Profession was rapidly changing as the preparing of the body (embalming, dressing, casketing), visitations and funerals gradually moved from being held in the home and at the local churches to the site of the Funeral Home. Funerals were at one time held in the living room of the Welch homestead, (the white house beside the current funeral home), which is the present home of Kirsten, Barry, Alex and Mac. Frank Welch then built a small chapel near the current house which was torn down in 1989 as part of an expansion program. He also built a garage behind the chapel which was also used as a preparation room. Bit by bit, rooms were added until there was a chapel, a visitation room, a storage room, a preparation room and a casket selection area. This is now all condensed into one building.
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In October 1972, Frank Welch died and his niece and her husband, Corrinne and John Fleming assumed ownership of the Funeral Home. In November 1975, the business was purchased by Gordon and Donna Monk (being the first people other than the Welch family to own the funeral home). Gordon licensed in 1958 and was employed by large funeral homes located in Ottawa and Toronto. The funeral home was operated by them until their son, Cameron in 1984, and daughter, Kirsten in 1986, became qualified as Funeral Directors and joined the firm. In 1986, the Monks purchased an existing funeral home (Nisbetts) in Bobcaygeon.
As the business grew and expanded, it was decided in 1989 that the Funeral Home (Minden Chapel) be enlarged to include a second visitation room , a lounge, a kitchen, an office and was completely redecorated and is now approximately 10,000 sq. ft. in size. As of the spring of 1995 adjustments were made to provide a third visitation room, a family centre, a private arrangement office, thus enabling us to accommodate four individual funeral visitations, service clubs, fraternal associations, and luncheon/receptions. To date, we constantly try to update and improve our facilities to accommodate the needs of our families.
Regrettably Gordon passed away on September 18, 2006 and Donna has continued to work with us.
Our family now celebrates it's 37th year in business, and we remain committed to providing compassionate and caring service to the community. We actively participate and support many organizations, associations, and committees related to the community, and our profession.
Why are we the most preferred funeral home serving Haliburton and Victoria Counties? The difference is in the Details. We take pride in the fact that we go above and beyond what is expected of us by our families. "Service Above Self."
