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“As a father in the funeral profession, to the connections he has built over the
you missed out on a lot of your kids’ years. “But I think each funeral home,
stuff because you weren’t available. I can no matter where it may be located, will
remember being called out at 1 a.m. to have those connections because of your
do a transfer and then returning home employees.”
to shower and go back to bed, only to He says Coutts Funeral Home itself is
be called out again an hour later,” says an institution in Cambridge and has
Bob, adding that things changed once a maintained strong ties to the community
local company began providing a transfer thanks to years of exceptional service by
service for most funeral homes in the its staff.
area. “The hours are a lot better today
than when I started.” “If you have never been to a funeral
However, that isn’t the only change he has home before, I think people might be very
surprised by what we have to offer,” says
witnessed in his long career, noting that Bob, who, after 60 years in the business,
cremations and fewer church services has never dreamed of doing anything
have become the norm as more people else. “I have no desire to find other work
“I asked him if he needed a reference, opt for a ‘celebration of life’ approach to because this has been so good to me.”
and he said, ‘No, you’ve been highly honor their loved ones.
recommended’,” recalls Bob, who “I think the younger generation doesn’t “Coutts has always been home to me
welcomed the opportunity to join the have that church connection,” he says, because I lived upstairs for 23 years,” he
team at the renowned family business adding that, like many funeral homes, says, laughing that he was never late for
located in one of Cambridge’s more Coutts removed the pews in its chapel to work.
historic buildings. create more of a reception space to serve Even though he technically retired seven
Located on St. Andrews Street, the facility the varying needs of clients. “There are years ago, Bob continues to work part-
became a funeral home in 1937, but it also fewer visitations and more closed time when things get busy or if clients
originally started as the private home caskets.” request his service.
of lawyer Aemilius Irving and his family, But with these changes have come many “I’m very happy to have had this
constructed between 1852 and 1854. enhancements in the industry. At Coutts opportunity to continue to do this after
By 1872, the property became known as Funeral Home, to ensure clients can my wife died,” he says, adding that his
the Warnock Estate after being purchased access the help they need, an extensive sons often urge him to slow down. “But
by Galt business leader Adam Warnock, list of resources is available on its website this gets me out of the house, and it keeps
founder of the Galt Knitting Company, to assist with not only funeral planning me busy and connected.”
which later became Tiger Brand Knitting. but also the grieving process. For Bob, being a funeral director has been
Harrold W. Gray eventually took over the “I’ve seen an awful lot of changes, but more than a career-it’s been a calling that
property in the late 1930s, establishing I also have met an awful lot of nice has allowed him to touch countless lives.
the Gray Funeral Home. It became Coutts families,” says Bob, referring to the many “I’ve been blessed to do what I love and
Funeral Home when Wilfred purchased clients that often ask for him directly due to be part of such a caring community. I
the business in 1947, adding several couldn’t ask for more.”
additions over the years to make it the
largest funeral home in Cambridge.
Since then, Coutts has been a staple in
the community, ensuring the needs of
generations of families are well taken
care of during one of the most vulnerable
and emotional moments in their lives.
“The best part for me has always been the
satisfaction you get from helping a family
through a difficult time,” says Bob of his
chosen vocation. “You guide them the
best you can and be polite and caring. But
there’s a limit to what you can do because
you can’t get involved yourself; it then
starts to affect your job.”
He says the toughest part of the work
was the hours, especially when he was
a young father and lived in the large
apartment above the funeral home with
his wife, Karen (who passed away in 2015),
and their two sons.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK

www.cambridgechamber.com Summer 2024 29