Our Story

The Dermody Story

In 1922 Percival Xavier Dermody started his Funeral Director Apprenticeship with a local Hamilton undertaker named Bill Gormley. The next year he got his Funeral Directors license, and in the late 1920's Dermody became a partner with Gormley.

In 1933 Percival became the owner of the funeral home and renamed it to P.X. Dermody Funeral Home. Percival's son Bill Dermody worked in the business all his life. In 1948, he got his Funeral Directors License and joined his sister Felicitas - one of the area's first women funeral directors - in their father's business. Serious health problems sidelined Bill in 1969, and the next year he leased the business (but not the name on the buildings) to Bill Markey, a friend and fellow funeral director.

The Markey family ran the business as Dermody-Markey and later in the 1980's as Markey-Dermody. In the 1980's the Markey's had decided to focus their operations in the East end and closed the two original P.X. Dermody locations on King Street East and East Avenue South. When their twenty year lease expired on December 31 1989, the Dermody family took back the properties.

In February of the next year Paul Dermody, his mother Mary and brother Bill re-opened P.X. Dermody Funeral Homes. The past eight years have witnessed significant growth for their family owned and operated business with the re-establishment of the two original locations (including the renovation and re-opening of the funeral home at 1919 King Street East ) and the opening of a new location at 796 Upper Gage Ave.

For more information please contact 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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