Mackey Funeral Home buys Stoddart Funeral Home

Linden Mackey, owner of the century-old Mackey Funeral Home in Lindsay has bought out Stoddart Funeral Home, Lindsay’s other venerable funeral institution.

Shain Fletcher, the sole owner of Stoddart, quietly sold his shares of the funeral home to Mackey this spring, after discussions of keeping the funeral home locally owned and operated.

The Mackey and Stoddart families had long cooperated throughout the years, with Fletcher even training at one time under James Mackey and the late Linden and Gordon Mackey, according to the Stoddart website.

“Our families lived and dedicated their lives to supporting the communities they worked with,” Linden Mackey tells the Advocate.

“They were engaged in these communities, volunteering, participating in the local events, supporting the charities and organizations with a pledge only a family operated business can provide.”

Mackey says when he was “proud” and “honoured” to acquire Stoddart Funeral Home.

It’s “an excellent business and beautiful historical building.”

Mackey says growing up he knew the Stoddart family and friendships continued with Fred Tanner and Shain Fletcher, the co-owners at the time until Fletcher took over by himself in 2013.

Alison Lynch, who started as co-op student with Mackey’s, has taken over as manager of Stoddart’s.

“I am excited to embark on this new chapter of my working career,” says Lynch, who adds says she is looking forward to “continuing the tradition of trust the Stoddart Funeral Home has been known for.”

As in the past, according to Mackey, Stoddart’s will remain as they always have, a separate organization.

He encourages people to call Stoddart’s or look them up online.

“Drop in if you want to see the changes we are doing and introduce yourself to Alison,” although Mackey reminds people to wear a mask during the pandemic.

For cremation services Mackey says both funeral homes will work only with the local crematorium at Riverside Cemetery.

“We collectively have worked with over 100 of the local cemeteries to offer burial services and the endless options of celebrations of life are beginning to be a specialty of ours.”

Mackey says he sees this combining of forces of the two funeral homes as a continuation of the journey his grandfather and grandmother took when they arrived by train from Oshawa in 1916 to set up Mackey Funeral Home in Lindsay.

“We continue this journey and dedication to the communities we live and work in.”