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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2014
Sargent and Sons Funeral Home By Sherry Aalto It is interesting to think about all the things that families commit to, to create a well founded business that will survive for generations. One such business is Sargent and Sons Funeral Home, located at 21 North Court Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Fourth family generation of Sargent and Sons Funeral Home continues to provide a very much needed and professional services that have become very well known in Thunder Bay and throughout the region. Sargent and Sons Funeral Home is a superior full funeral service home that accommodates to every possible wish in helping families celebrate the life and the memory of their loved ones. Sargent and Sons Funeral Home has been established in our community for 90 years (January 2014) and involves four generations of family dedication, not just to those in need of these services, but also to the community. This alone, certainly tells us that they are exactly what they have
always exemplified to be…sincere and caring professionals in their business and devoted community members. In short, family business history and involvement in the community is key link to acquiring established well respected recognition. In 1922, Lewis Sargent, then of Fergus, Ontario founded a funeral home at the Lakehead known as Thompson and Sargent Funeral Directors. He officially settled in Thunder Bay in 1924 in order to become more involved in the day to day operation of the establishment. The funeral home was originally located in the Nelson Block on Cumberland Street, but by 1925 the business had grown and was moved to a home built on Court Street circa 1880 by Richard Vigars. In 1940, a complete new facility was built and opened, which is the present day operational site. Lewis Sargent’s son Frank, became a member of the staff and between his father’s acquisition of the business in 1923 and 1925, broadened his knowledge of the business and apprenticed with the Winnipeg firm of Clarke-Leatherdale. In
1926, he wrote the examinations of the Canadian School of Embalming, passing with honours. Lewis Sargent bought out his partner, renaming the firm Sargent and Son, in partnership with his son, who at age 22 took over management of the firm. Lewis continued as the head of the firm until his death in 1946. In 1960, Frank, who was deeply involved in community affairs, especially in the sporting world of curling and hockey, welcomed his son James into the business, making him the third generation of Sargents to become involved in the funeral profession. Prior to his death in 1988, Frank served in various capacities including president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. He was a past president of the Port Arthur Golf and Country Club, member of the Gyro Club of Port Arthur and Port Arthur Lodge IOOF and Scottish Rite Thunder Bay Lodge A.F. and A.M. Like his father before him, Frank also took an active part in the Port Arthur Curling Club, of which he was a past president. Jim Sargent is fast following in his
father Frank’s footsteps through his community involvement and has served as chairman of the Northern Cancer Research Foundation, The United Way and was vice-president of the Protocol for the Canada Summer Games in 1981. He has also been involved in business associations and is past chair of both the Ontario Funeral Service Association and the Ontario Board of Funeral Services. Jim also sits on The Funeral Service Education Advisory Board at Humber College Thunder Bay’s ONLY long-established funeral home still owned by its founding family, now in its fourth generation, both of Jim’s sons are involved with the firm; Michael completing his schooling in 1994 and Greg in 1999. As times change, so do the needs of the community. Realizing this, Mr. Greg Sargent and his brother Mr. Michael Sargent, both Great Grandsons of Lewis Sargent, sought to expand their present location to be of better service to the community and region. From conception to
completion, the renovation involved six years of detailed architectural design and construction, which involved the acquisition of the property attached to the main structure of the funeral home. This expan-
Part of the new construction involved a new funeral chapel which is the largest funeral chapel in North Western Ontario and has seating for over two hundred (200) people, but more can be accommodated, if
sion was an exciting and very much welcomed project for the Sargent Family.
necessary, for up to two hundred and seventy-five (275) persons and then there is
Tom Jones, Corporation, General Contractor was hired as the general contractor, beginning the project began in December of 2012. The new phase of the renovation began in February 2013 with the tearing down of the old interior and completely rebuilding it. Parker Jones of Tom Jones Corporation, along with Greg and Michael Sargent, worked directly together with L. A. (Leonard Alfred) Wood Architect Firm, of Thunder Bay, to deliver a precisely the vision of the expansion and all its’ detailing, including being 100% handicap accessible. The project was completed in September of this year (2013). .
standing room as well. Also incorporated into the design are television monitors elevated on the walls to present slides shows. Greg and Michael personally selected all the colours and design style to create a relaxing and comforting atmosphere. The new funeral chapel has comfortable cushioned pew chairs which easily attach to each other to accommodate guests or detach from each other to create a more open area at the wishes of the family. Continued Next Page