*UPDATE* April 21, 2008

We are proud to announce that the slate roof has been installed. All of the shingles were

reclaimed from the Blenheim United Church. They are an identical match to the shakes

already on the roof of the funeral home. Special thanks to Ton Wiltenberg for his talents

in both securing and installing this beautiful heritage feature on our new addition.

April 14, 2008

Progress is really evident now as brickwork is complete. Bricks were reclaimed from a house just

outside of town and appear to be a perfect match. Windows are in place, rooftop HVAC

systems are now operating, and all interior framing is done. All electrical work is in place.

Drywall, audio/visual system wiring, and acoustic ceiling system are next in line.

March 11, 2008

Canopy of roof is now complete and ready for slate shingles. Rooftop and insulation

work continues while installation of new electrical service is just about complete.

March 5, 2008

Framing and exterior walls are now complete. Roof is being installed this week

so that 2 rooftop HVAC units can be delivered. Insulation is also being applied.

February 27, 2008

Steel infrastructure is now in place and ready for wall framing.

February 8, 2008

Excavation of the site has been completed and concrete forms are now in place.

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Groundbreaking Signals Start of Funeral Home Expansion

(January 28, 2008, Blenheim, Ontario)

Construction of a completely new wing of the McKinlay Funeral Home in Blenheim is now officially underway. Several visitation suites will be erected on the west side of the existing building and will more than double the current size of the funeral home. The addition will also serve as a new chapel for the funeral home, to provide seating for several hundred people during services. 

“A great deal of planning has been done to ensure that this addition will provide the citizens of Blenheim and surrounding area with an extremely versatile, bright, and modern funeral home,” said owner Robert McKinlay. “We have also taken special measures to ensure that the exterior of the new addition will naturally blend with the existing historic building. The style of the exterior has been designed to replicate the prominent features of the existing funeral home.” 

A new front entrance is also part of the construction project, allowing the building to be fully-accessible and barrier-free. The front porch will be rebuilt with a larger entrance door, and a completely new graded sidewalk from the main entrance to the parking lot will eliminate the need to use stairs. A fully-equipped Reception Centre is also planned for the funeral home, to provide a space for families to use in between visitations or following funeral services for catered gatherings. The existing facilities will receive a complete makeover with new flooring, furnishings, and decorating. A Family Centre is also in the works to allow for a special meeting space for funeral arrangements, pre-arrangements, Family Care conferences, and clergy consultations. 

The project is being managed by Vertec Contractors Ltd. and local tradesmen and suppliers have been retained to complete all work associated with the new addition and renovations. Vertec expects that the new construction will be complete in 4 months and special care will be taken to ensure that there is no interruption to funeral services during the project. All work will be scheduled around funeral services and visitations to ensure that families are properly served while the project is underway. An Open House to showcase the completed facilities will be planned for mid-Spring. 

McKinlay Funeral Homes Ltd. is a family-owned and family-operated company providing funeral services in Ridgetown, Chatham, Blenheim, and surrounding Chatham-Kent for the past 40 years.

l-r rear: Britany Wilson, Elbert Forsten, Kelly Russell, Mike Sullivan, Sherry Burri, Tom Houston

front: Lexi Mardling, Kate Mardling, Kelly Mardling, Collin Mardling, Rob McKinlay