Jamieson’s Funeral Service celebrates 75 year milestone

Moray Jamieson, his family and staff recently celebrated 75 years of service in their thriving three-generation family business. The festivities took place in Glenboro on August 13 and in Holland on August 15. Contrary to what one might expect from an anniversary for a funeral service, the well-attended events were filled with laughter, fun, and a few beverages. Although the open invitation was from 4-6 p.m., visits continued well beyond that time. “It was truly wonderful to reconnect with everyone and see old friends catching up. Conversations were still going strong at 9 p.m.” Moray’s wife and office manager, Arlie Jamieson shared beaming with the recollection.

Summarizing 75 years of any business is not an easy task but as with any successful venture it began with a dream, dedication, constant learning, and a lot of hard work. After talking to Moray and family, it is easily understood the celebration was not for the successful business alone, but rather more for all the relationships built throughout the years as they guided their clients through the most difficult of times.

The legacy began in 1939 when 13-year-old William (Bill) Jamieson of Holland started working with Willard “Bill” Scharff at Scharff’s Funeral Home in Holland. Bill’s initial duties involved washing vehicles, but he soon expanded his role to assist with funerals and the ambulance service. Under the guidance of Bill Scharff, Bill Jamieson eventually obtained his funeral director’s license. In 1949, he moved to Glenboro and established Jamieson’s Funeral Service.

The following year, in 1950, Bill and his father, Alex Jamieson, constructed the original funeral home on James Street (later moved 50 yards to Lyall Street). The facility included a visitation area, office, preparation room and a garage for the ambulance and funeral coach.

During the 1950s, it was common for funeral homes to also operate an ambulance service. Recognizing Glenboro’s need for such a service, Bill introduced the first transportable ambulance service to the area. This service continued for 36 years, during which Bill became a founding member of the Manitoba Ambulance Association, serving as president for several years. Jamieson’s was one of the last private operators still operating with commercial body ambulances (Cadillac, Oldsmobiles, Buicks etc). After the service was taken over by the province, Moray continued on as the Ambulance Coordinator for Glenboro.

Bill and his wife Elvina raised four children; Larry, Araina, Moray and Marlo. Both Larry and Moray followed in their father’s footsteps by helping out as school boys. Just as their father learned the business, both boys began with washing cars, cleaning and helping out where ever necessary. Two generations later the tradition carried on when Moray and Arlie’s children, Dayna and Turner also began helping out in the family business. Dayna shared initially she had no plans to carry on the family tradition. Following a few years of working in tourism in Hawaii and the Cayman Islands, Dayna returned home and began working alongside her dad at the funeral home. “Dad called me over one day to tell me that the Canadian College of Funeral Service’s had rolled out an accelerated program; enabling me to complete the 2 year course in 1 year. He then said I had a day to decide,” she explained. Although it wasn’t her first chosen career, she commented that maybe it was fate . “It really is an honour to be a third-generation funeral director.”

Larry began his apprenticeship under his dad’s wing, finishing with Mordue Bros. Funeral Home in Winnipeg in 1970 where he became manager until he left the business in 1975.

Moray took a slightly different path than his older brother and played junior football for a season with the Winnipeg Rods following highschool. “There wasn’t a scholarship the following year so in 1978 I entered into a 5-year apprenticeship program at Brockie Donovan in Brandon.”

Moray earned his embalmers’ license in two years, then two years with funeral directing. The province had just introduced a new mortuary schooling program, enabling Moray and 5 others to graduate a year ahead of schedule in 1982. Moray returned to Glenboro in 1981 to work in the family business and attained his directors license under the direction of his dad, Bill. During the three years spent in Brandon, Moray would come home on the weekends assisting his dad with the funeral home as well as ambulance service.

In 1989, Moray, his wife Arlie, and their two children, Dayna and Turner, moved to Kamloops, B.C. Moray worked with Schoenings Funeral Home for a few years before the family decided to return to the prairies. They missed the small-town lifestyle, preferred the country way of operating a business, and Moray wanted to work alongside his aging father to ensure the succession of the family business.

For many years, Bill often spoke of his dream to purchase the funeral home in Holland, but it wasn’t realized until 2010, a decade after his passing in 1999. In that year, Moray fulfilled his father’s dream by purchasing the business, bringing the journey full circle to where it all began.

Moray and Bill spent many years sharing another goal, which was to build a funeral home with a chapel. Despite Bill suffering a severe stroke that limited his speech, it didn’t stop communication between father and son, enabling them to finish the design prior to Bill’s death in 1999. Construction for the 4,000-plus-square-foot building began shortly after, and it opened to the public in the spring of 2000.

Over the past 75 years, the Jamieson family has adapted to numerous changes in the industry. When asked which change has had the most significant impact, the answer came quickly: “The biggest change, without a doubt, is the shift from traditional funerals to Celebrations of Life, which has brought more personalization through video tributes.”

While technology has also played a role in these changes—Jamieson’s boasts an impressive website and state-of-the-art tribute technology—they have preserved the special touch and traditions that have defined them for decades. Moray and Dayna still conduct home visitations, and they continue to post funeral cards in local towns—a practice that has become rare among funeral services today.

“It all comes down to being kind to people, humble and providing the best service possible,” said Moray in a recent interview with the Canadian Funeral News magazine.

Moray and the entire Jamieson family were smiling during both 75th Anniversary celebrations as they shared memories and caught up with everyone. When asked if there were moments of melancholy, Moray pondered and said very thoughtfully, “It did bring a feeling of achievement and pride to our entire team. It was a mix of emotions as I could imagine how pleased my father (Bill Jamieson) would be to see his granddaughter, Dayna Webster, continue the legacy of compassionate service which he initiated.” 

PHOTO CAPTION: Founder Bill Jamieson’s grandaughter, Dayna Webster stands with her parents, Arlie and Moray Jamieson as the trio celebrates 75 years in business as funeral directors for the area. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK