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Logan
Funeral Home, Since 1887
London's
Longest Serving Funeral Home
Over A Century of Professional Service
In 1887, George E. Logan founded the funeral home to fulfill a needed
service for the London Community; based on the highest ideals of his
profession.
George
E. Logan came from Thorndale to begin what is today, London’s
longest serving funeral home. The George E. Logan Funeral
Home was located on Dundas Street, beside what is known today as
Kingsmill’s (within a block of the courthouse). At that time
horses were extensively used in the funeral profession, and families
were beginning to use the facilities of a Funeral Home, rather than
their residences.
Because the stable was attached to the
Funeral Home, it was decided a new location would be more desirable,
and the firm was moved to the East Side of Richmond Street, just north
of Dundas Street.
With the increasing demand for still
larger facilities, the property at our present location was purchased
in 1920. Early in 1922, one of the few buildings in Ontario
that had been built purposely for a Funeral Home was opened, along with
the local ambulance service. And the Logan Family made their
residence on the second floor of the funeral home. For many
years the Logans Ambulance Attendants also made their residence above
the funeral home.
The new Funeral Home included a
permanent Chapel that provides the family with reverence and dignity at
all times. Large and small gatherings can be accommodated
with equal ease and grace, in a church like atmosphere. A
separate room for the family is provided for those wishing privacy.
In 1935 George E. Logan passed away and
was buried in Woodland Cemetery. George’s two sons, Harold G.
Logan and A. Everett Logan, carried the business on under the high
ideals set down by their father; until 1962 when Harold died and the
business was sold. George’s daughter Ivy continued to play
the organ at the funeral home for many years after the funeral home was
sold.
George A. Furtney commenced a lifelong
vocation in the funeral directing profession as an apprentice with the
Evans Funeral Home, where, at the age of 20 years of age, he was the
youngest graduate in the history of the Canadian School of
Embalming. Positions with Funeral Homes in London and Toronto
led to a partnership in a New Toronto firm, Arthur B. Ridley Funeral
Home, in 1957.
He sold that interest in 1962, when the
opportunity to move back to London arose and he purchased the Logan
Funeral Home. Mr. Furtney purchased the Firm from the Logan
Family and continued to uphold the high principals and ideals so well
established by his predecessors. It was late in that same
year the Bennett & Pincombe Ltd. Funeral Home was purchased by
Mr. Furtney. Leverne Pincombe brought his valued assistance
and knowledge to our staff. Bill Bennett left the funeral
business and entered into the Anglican Ministry and attended Huron
College. In 2002 Bill’s son Bob became the Suffragan Bishop
of Huron.
Employed by the Logan Funeral Home at
that time was Wendell Alton who is now a retired longtime casket
supplier to the Funeral Industry. Mr. Stewart Rice started
with George Furtney in 1962 and remained with the Logan Funeral Home
until his retirement in 1997. Mr. Rice passed away in 2007.
Recognizing the importance of
parking, George Furtney purchased the houses at 369 Dundas
and 2 homes at the rear of the funeral home on King Street, in 1963 and
1965. These 3 homes were removed to make room for expanded
parking and the increased demand upon the funeral home use.
In 1972 a two-storey glass and brick addition was added onto the front
of the Funeral Home, allowing for a larger entrance and foyer area. As
well as a large portico to allow for covered entrance into the Funeral
Home. The new structure was designed to blend with the
original building while affording an airy, brighter décor and providing
a commodius receiving foyer and lounge.
A continuing program of renovation and improvement has added
a large measure of comfort and convenience to a considerable depth of
experience offered by the management of this vital community service.
In 1976 George purchased the Evans
Funeral Home and thus established the Furtney Funeral Homes, Logan
Chapel and Evans Chapel. Along with the Evans Funeral Home,
the Logan Funeral Home now provided the City of London with the two
longest serving Funeral Homes. In 1987 a NEW Evans Funeral
Home was constructed on the original site at 648 Hamilton Road
providing London with the first modern funeral home in recent history.
In 1988 George Furtney passed away after
a lengthy illness. George’s wife, Joyce, remained on as
President of Furtney Funeral Homes until October 2002.
In 1991, in George’s memory, Furtney
Funeral Homes established the Furtney Funeral Home Memorial Forest,
which continues to this day. Every family that the Logan and
Evans Funeral Home has the honour of serving, has a tree planted in
memory of their loved one, at no cost.
In 2002, James D. Squires, with over 30
years as Manager of the Logan and Evans Funeral Homes, purchased the
two funeral homes from Joyce Furtney, and continues to provide the same
high level of service that our families have been receiving for over a
century.
Completing the transition of the new
ownership, in 2006, Mr. Squires welcomed longtime employee David W.
Pizzey as partner in the ownership and operation of the Logan and Evans
Funeral Homes.
In 2011 Mr. Squires and Mr. Pizzey
constructed a NEW Logan Funeral Home on the existing site at 371 Dundas
Street. This project, 3 years in planning and over 1 year in
construction, is the most modern funeral home of its time in London
while at the same time being energy efficient and all constructed on
one level. Its construction allows the entire funeral home to
be wheelchair accessible, includes a large chapel and 4 large
visitation rooms. 2 of the rooms are adaptable to be opened
up to become 1 large or 2 smaller reception lounges. A full
service kitchen is also available to caterers to prepare warm and cold
receptions. Community rooms are also available for charitable
and non-profit groups to hold their meetings. The entire
building has a built in sound and high definition video system that
will allow for quality closed circuit TV and the ability to broadcast
services over the internet in high quality. Also providing
video ‘Memorial Tributes’ to the families we serve.
It is Jim and Dave’s wish to be able to
provide the families that they serve with the best service available
while at the same time continuing on with the tradition that has made
the Logan Funeral Home and the Evans Funeral Home the two longest
serving funeral homes in the City of London, now with two of the newest
facilities.
Jim, his wife Rose and their 3 daughters
Chrissy, Jennifer and Stephanie have made London their home for almost
40 years and have been actively involved in Rotary, Business Clubs,
sports and churches, appreciating this wonderful city.
David W. Pizzey has been serving
families in funeral service since 1989 as Manager and Funeral Director
of the Evans Funeral Home and Logan Funeral Home in London.
This experience has allowed Dave to gain a wide knowledge and
appreciation for many different cultures, faiths, customs and
rituals. His wife Lisa has also been a Manager in the
hospitality industry since 1989, working at many major hotels in London
as well as the London Convention Centre and London Life. With
this vast customer service experience the Pizzey’s, along with their
children Kirstyn and Kyle, hope is to continue the excellent service
the funeral homes have been providing the London Community and
surrounding area. Through local involvement in churches,
service groups, charities, Masonic Lodge and sports, the Pizzey Family
would also like to show our support and dedication to this wonderful
community..
The Logan Funeral Home takes great pride in
providing professional services
to Our Community and recognizes the loyalty the Community offers in
return
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Evans
Funeral Home, Since 1924
More
than 85 years
of Professional Service.
The original Clifford L. Evans Funeral Home, 648 Hamilton Road, is one
of London’s longest serving Funeral Homes and among the finest service
in the city. The Funeral Home was started as a community service to
east London and the Hamilton Road area, almost 90 years ago.
A second Evans Funeral Home was a London Landmark, and the building
still exists today, and was located at the Northwest corner of Central
Avenue and Richmond Streets. It was established to provide
service for the central, north and west end sections of London.
Clifford L. Evans was the originator of ‘Lower Price Funerals’ in the
City of London. Giving families the best service available
for the most reasonable price. This theory still prevails
today where the Families of the Evans Funeral Home get the best service
for their dollar.
George A. Furtney commenced a lifelong vocation in the funeral
directing profession as an apprentice with the Evans Funeral Home,
where, at the age of 20 years of age, he was the youngest graduate in
the history of the Canadian School of Embalming. Positions
with Funeral Homes in London and Toronto led to a partnership in a New
Toronto firm, Arthur B. Ridley Funeral Home, in 1957. He sold
that interest in 1962, when the opportunity to move back to London
arose and he purchased the Logan Funeral Home.
In 1976 George A. Furtney, then owner of the Logan Funeral Home,
purchased the Evans Funeral Home and thus established Furtney Funeral
Homes, Logan Chapel and Evans Chapel. Along with the Logan
Funeral Home, the Evans Funeral Home now provided the City of London
with the two longest serving Funeral Homes.
In 1987 George Furtney realized his dream as he constructed the new
Evans Funeral Home, the building that exists today, at 648 Hamilton
Road. The new building is modern in every way, with ongoing
improvements being made to be able to provide our families with the
continued best service available. The building is wheelchair
accessible and includes a large chapel and a large visitation room that
can be broken down into 4 smaller visitation rooms, if
needed. The entire building has a built in sound system and
closed circuit TV, so that every service is viewable to every person
inside of the building.
A short year after the new Evans Funeral Home was opened, George A.
Furtney passed away after a lengthy illness. Still he
survived to see his dream of a new funeral home come to
reality. George’s wife, Joyce, remained on as President of
Furtney Funeral Homes until October 2002.
In 1991, in George’s memory, Furtney Funeral Homes established the
Furtney Funeral Home Memorial Forest, which continues to this
day. Every family that the Logan and Evans Funeral Home has
the honour of serving, has a tree planted in memory of their loved one,
at no cost.
In 2002, James D. Squires, with over 30 years as Manager of the Evans
and Logan Funeral Homes, purchased the two funeral homes from Joyce
Furtney, and continues to provide the same high level of service that
our families have come to expect.
Completing the transition of the new ownership, in 2006, Mr. Squires
welcomed longtime employee David W. Pizzey as partner in the ownership
and operation of the Logan and Evans Funeral Homes.
Jim, his wife Rose and their 3 daughters Chrissy, Jennifer and
Stephanie have made London their home for almost 40 years and have been
actively involved in Rotary, Business Clubs, sports and churches,
appreciating this wonderful city.
David W. Pizzey has been serving families in funeral service since 1989
as Manager and Funeral Director of the Evans Funeral Home and Logan
Funeral Home in London. This experience has allowed Dave to
gain a wide knowledge and appreciation for many different cultures,
faiths, customs and rituals. His wife Lisa has also been a
Manager in the hospitality industry since 1989, working at many major
hotels in London as well as the London Convention Centre and London
Life. With this vast customer service experience, the
Pizzey’s hope is to continue the excellent service the funeral homes
have been providing the London Community and surrounding
area. Through local involvement in churches, service groups,
charities, Masonic lodge and sports, the Pizzey Family would also like
to show our support and dedication to this wonderful community.
The Evans Funeral Home takes great pride in providing professional
services to
Our Community and recognizes the loyalty the Community offers in return
‘Our Family Helping Yours’
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