The ownership of a Sarnia funeral home will transition to another long-standing, locally owned funeral provider at the end of summer.
McKenzie Blundy Funeral Home President and Owner Katherine Scimmi has announced her retirement after serving the community for nearly three decades, and Smith Funeral Home and Family Centre will assume ownership on August 29.
Scimmi told Sarnia News Today retiring has been in the back of her mind for a while.
"I just turned 70 and I think I've had a five year plan [to retire] for 15 years," Scimmi said. "I just started thinking more about it, and thinking about life in general, and it was time to start enjoying different things in my life. So, the opportunity came up and it just worked out perfectly."
The location, at 431 Christina Street North, will remain in operation as Smith Funeral Home and Family Centre - McKenzie Blundy Chapel.
"This building and this funeral home has a long history," Scimmi said. "The house is from 1880. Don McKenzie and Paul Blundy [both Royal Canadian Navy Veterans] came back from the war and decided to open this funeral home together [in 1946]. When Don retired, and Paul became mayor and retired, Grant McKenzie [son of Don McKenzie] took over and she came on board in 1997."
Scimmi said she started as the secretary, moved up the ranks and bought the funeral home in 2005.
"I have an awesome team that work here and [they] have all been here for quite a long time," she said. "Unfortunately, they aren't staying on, but hopefully that will be a conversation between them and Smith's on whether they take them on. It's just the way some business deals are put together that they don't necessarily take on the staff."
Scimmi said the staff hold a wealth of information on the history of the Victorian-era home and the clients they've served, so acquiring them would be a benefit.
"I have three full-timers and the balance are part-timers. There's 10 of us in total. Most of my part-timers... this is a second occupation for them. They're retired and they were looking for something to do that had meaning in their lives and that's how they came to us," Scimmi said.
She said it has been a privilege for the past 28 years to work alongside a dedicated team to serve families with dignity, respect and compassion during some of their most difficult moments.
"I just want to thank all my staff and the community at large for putting their faith in us all these years and giving us the opportunity and the honour to serve them," Scimmi said.
She's looking forward to the next steps in her journey.
"I just want to spend time with my grandson, and my daughter, and son-in-law and my parents are still here, god bless them, and take care of them and maybe do some traveling with my husband. We're staying in the community, we love it here and we don't have any reason to move," Scimmi said.
In a media release, Smith Funeral Home and Family Centre Managing Director and Owner Scott Smith said they're honoured to carry on the tradition of excellence that Katherine and her team have maintained.
“Our shared values and strong community roots make this a natural fit, and we look forward to supporting families with the same trusted care," said Smith.
Smith Funeral Home was founded in 1980 by the Smith family.
It was fully taken over by Don, Laurene, and Scott Smith in 2001 and is owned and currently operated by Scott Smith and Emily Whitely.