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Our History
Prior to 1946 there was no organized funeral provider on the Sunshine Coast. As the story goes, there was a cedar shed at Mt. Elphinstone Cemetery where the deceased were transported for temporary storage (the shed was cool under the shade of the massive cedars and fir trees). During this time, it was the community, family members and volunteers who provided transportation for the deceased, grave digging and burials.
In 1946 Wally Graham operated a Barber Shop and a Hardware Store in the house on the premises of the current Devlin Funeral Home. At this time Wally Graham called himself a Funeral Director and the “Funeral Parlour” was in the living room of his house - above the current funeral home. Access to the funeral parlour was located in the alleyway through the back door of the house. In the photo above (taken in the early 50’s) you are able to see the premises with a barber pole in the upper left corner, a hearse and a limousine parked out front, as well as the
only ambulance in the area parked on the ramp. At this time there were double doors into Mr. Graham’s living room where the casket would enter and be placed. Most funeral services at this time were burials and the deceased would be present for the service that took place in the Graham’s living room. What was then the garage and the morgue is now the Chapel and arrangement room.
In 1959 Mr. Graham sold the funeral parlour to John Harvey, formerly from North Vancouver Funeral Chapel. Mr. Harvey operated under the name of Harvey Funeral Home. He subsequently constructed the current garage, offices, washrooms and morgue as well as an addition to the house including the bedroom wing.
In 1971 Mr. Harvey sold the Funeral Home to Roy Parkins formerly of Mt. Pleasant Undertaking Co.. There were no changes made to the name or the building. Three years later, in 1971, Mr. Parkins sold the Funeral Home to Dan Devlin formerly of Vancouver, Surrey & Abbotsford funeral services. The company became Devlin Funeral Home as it is known today.
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