ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Corbett Funeral Home Ltd. is proud to introduce a third generation of local independent ownership.

 

Twenty years to the day after Steve Parker achieved the pivotal professional milestone of owning his own business, he ushered in the next generation of local owners.

 

A funeral director with four decades of service to Cambridge and area families, Parker joined the staff of Corbett Funeral Home shortly after the locally-owned business opened its doors in the 1980s. Some eighteen years later, he would be the hand-picked successor to the founders and took on ownership of the firm in February 2006.

 

Now, two decades on, he has chosen to continue the traditions of local ownership and succession from within, selling his interest in the business to some those he has mentored. Funeral Directors Kevin Medeiros and Sarah Mazmanian have both been with the firm for several years and as of the beginning of February have become the new owner-managers of Corbett Funeral Home Ltd., which operates both Corbett Funeral Home and Lounsbury Funeral Home in Cambridge.

 

Both Mr. Parker and his successors offered assurances to the community and their customers that the change will not disrupt day-to-day operations in any way. Those relying on the assistance of the funeral homes will see little if any change, they say. “You can expect service as usual delivered by the same seasoned and trusted team.” Furthermore, those with existing prearranged funeral plans or prepaid funding in place, should know that all of their arrangements remain with the firm, and are entirely secure. Those with questions or concerns are invited to contact either of the firm’s locations.


The new owners – both Cambridge natives - are graduates of the Funeral Service Education program at Humber College and Ontario-licensed Class 1 funeral directors.


Kevin Medeiros attributes his career choice to an early loss and the subsequent experience he had at the very funeral home he now owns. “My dad passed away in 2006. We used Corbett’s and the staff was amazing and so helpful in guiding us through such a dark time. That stuck with me and eventually I realized I wanted to do that for others.”


His partner Sarah Mazmanian has a similar story to tell. For her it was the loss of her grandmother. “I saw this as a deeply meaningful way to help people. I truly enjoy my work. It is both very rewarding and a privilege to care for those who need our help.”


Away from work, Kevin - who speaks fluent Portuguese - has become very involved in Cambridge’s Portuguese community, volunteering with traditional events, Portugal Day and several cultural festivals.


Sarah, who started leaning piano at the age of 4, continues to find respite in music. Achieving honours in her piano studies with the Royal Conservatory of Music, she also taught herself how to play the violin in high school, and still enjoys playing fiddle when time permits.


The business partners are also partners in life. The couple have a busy year ahead, taking on the challenges of business ownership while making plans for a wedding in the spring of 2027.

For his part, Steve Parker takes his leave with some short-term plans to travel and genuine confidence that the business he has dedicated nearly 40 years to, is in good hands. “Sarah and Kevin are ready,” he says. “They are young and dedicated and I’ve had the privilege of watching them mature into excellent funeral directors, which is still the most important aspect of this job. They have a great team alongside them and really strong personal and professional support backing them. They are the future of the business and the profession.”


Corbett Funeral Home Ltd. was established in February 1987 by veteran funeral director Vic Corbett and his partner Richard Makcrow. Just a year into their venture, the pair would hire their eventual successor, Steve Parker, as a funeral director with the firm. Upon Mr. Makcrow’s retirement in 2006, Parker would take the helm as owner and managing director. The local business would continue to build a strong relationship with the community grounded in trust and reliability and in July 2015 would expand with the acquisition of Lounsbury Funeral Home in Hespeler, Cambridge. 


Today the Corbett business is privileged to be the funeral services provider of choice for more Cambridge and area families than any other firm.