Our History

Our History

In 1886, a gentleman by the name of Mr. James H. Romp used eight teams of horses to move a hotel from St. John's Valley to, what is now the corner of Pelham Street and Church Hill, in Fonthill. Instead of reopening the building as an inn, Mr. Romp opened the doors to Fonthill's first funeral home/ furniture store.

In 1924, the funeral home was sold and renamed to the "Drake and Barron Funeral Home". The business operated under this name for 35 years until 1959, at which time the "Dixon Funeral Home" was established. To meet the needs of a growing community, Mr. and Mrs. Dixon expanded in 1974 to our present location, just about a kilometer down the street from the original funeral home.
After serving Fonthill for over 30 years, the Dixons sold the funeral home to a Mr. Frank Collins in 1992. Two years later, ownership changed hands again and the Dixon Funeral Home was purchased by the Arbor Corporation.

In August of 2000, Jim and Maureen Pedlar purchased the business, returning it to the family owned funeral home the community had grown accustomed to. There were more changes on the way and the funeral home was renamed to the "James L. Pedlar Funeral Home - Dixon Chapel", in recognition of the funeral home's history.

In August of 2010, Tina Moessner purchased the business from the Pedlar family after working alongside Jim and Maureen for a number of years.  She remains focused on the tradition and personal service that this community has come to expect.

In July 2020, Tina decided to change the name to Pelham Funeral Home to honour the community that we live in.  She wished to focus on a name that highlights our beloved town, the community we serve. As Pelham expands, we want the residents to be reassured that "Pelham Funeral Home Ltd." will be here in your time of need as your local independent, family-owned funeral home.

We feel very privileged and honoured with the trust you place in us.



 What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honouring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and cremation options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honour their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honour your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counselling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honour your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.
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