When Jim and Tracy Cochrane took over Ferris Funeral Home in September, they were aware of its rich and colorful local history, which can be traced back more than 130 years.
“It’s a funeral home that’s rich in history,” said Jim, who had started at Ferris Funeral Home in 1992 when he was still in high school, later attending post-secondary school and working in Toronto where he met Tracy.
They moved together to Simcoe as licensed funeral directors with Jim working full-time since January 1999. Tracy started part-time, initially focusing on funeral pre-arrangements, working evenings and weekends.
“At that time, there was another licensed funeral director here so there wasn’t an opportunity for both of us to be full-time,” said Tracy, who is also a full-time office manager for Norfolk Family Eye Care.
“So we’ve been here a long time,” said Jim, noting they did not need to make drastic changes after the retirement of David Ferris, who was co-owner in 1979 and sole owner since 1984.
“Forty-three years he (Ferris) owned the funeral home here and he did a lot for people that a lot of people didn’t know about. He was a very kind and generous man.”
Jim said he had taken on a bigger role at the funeral home in recent years.
“This was something that David and us, we had in the plans for a long, long time… even as far back as 1999,” he said. “That’s the nice thing, that it’s going to someone else that’s local. We are the 100 per cent owners of Ferris Funeral Home, it’s 100 per cent family. That’s important because people want local people. We’re new (owners) but we’re not new, so you’re going to see the same people when you walk in the door. The tradition’s still here. And the big thing for us is family.”
The Cochranes are also committed to dealing with Canadian companies.
“We’ve got to support our own people.”
Some things the Cochranes wanted to change have been done over the years.
“You have to change with the times,” said Jim. “Are we continuing to change? 100 percent, yes.”
Recently they updated all of the audio-visual equipment and now it can be conveniently operated through their phones and iPads.
“Just keeping up with the new technology. We’ve had to adapt and learn as we’ve gone along, constantly upgrading things, redecorating.”
Their funeral home also includes part-time staff.
“Lots of part-time staff, which we could not operate without them. They are an invaluable asset to us.”
HISTORY
Past owners of Ferris Funeral Home included HH Hoffman (1880s), Wallace W. Walsh (1920) and Floyd W. Walsh (1944), Marvin M. Veale (1949), and David W. Ferris (1984).
In 1937 the funeral home relocated in Simcoe from the corner of Norfolk and Argyle streets to its present location at 214 Norfolk Street South.
In 1986 the former private residence underwent major renovations and in 1994 another ambitious rebuilding and expansion project allowed them to accommodate the largest of funerals, while visitation rooms could be downsized for more intimate settings. The building received an extensive facelift, its carbon footprint was reduced and the parking lot was expanded.
“As technology advances, we will continue to stay current,” Tracy noted.
The funeral industry has also changed over the years. When Jim started in 1992, he estimated cremations were about 1-2 per cent of their business. Today more than 70 percent of their business is cremation.
“It’s really changed, but a lot of people are still having services – they’re just having cremation instead of burial,” said Jim. “We offer all sorts of services – it’s whatever people want. But cremation is the biggest part of our business today.”