Four Generations of the Curry Family
Have Faithfully served Nova Scotia

The Curry Family name is well established in the funeral profession of Nova Scotia.

It all began in 1908 when the family patriarch, William (Will) Curry, an enterprising businessman, established the family funeral business in Glace Bay, Cape Breton.

This was an era when the undertaker would conduct most of his business in the homes of the deceased and when the black carriage hearse was drawn by four jet-black horses dressed in fine harness adorned with red plumes.  Will Curry passed on his acumen to succeeding generations and today four generations of the Curry's carry on the tradition and dedication to funeral service in a number of communities in the province.

Shortly after opening his Glace Bay business, Will Curry opened a second operation in New Waterford.  At the time of his death in 1947, at the age of ninety-two, Curry's Funeral Homes were soundly established in Cape Breton and two of his sons were following in his footsteps.

Son Charles L. (Charlie) carried on the family business in Glace Bay and New Waterford where he devoted his entire life to his chosen profession.  In spite of poor economic times, Charlie and his wife raised and educated fourteen children.  It was in this home environment that Charles L. Curry Jr. (Chuck) was introduced to a career in funeral service at an early age.

Following Charlie's death in 1961, his wife, Mary E. (McLaughlin), a registered nurse, carried on the family business with the help of her young sons.

In the fall of 1962, she acceded to a request from Antigonish Mayor "Doc Rocks" MacNeil (with a population today of five thousand), to provide an ambulance service for that community.  In January of the following year, her son, Francis X. Curry, arrived in Antigonish to operate Curry's Ambulance Service.

Antigonish is the home of St. Francis Xavier University, moved from Arichat on Cape Breton Island in 1855.  It is one of the few universities in Canada offering the Celtic languages, literature and history.  The town also hosts the Antigonish Highland Games (staged annually since 1861) each July, featuring the best in Scottish music, dance and sports.

Its original name was Dorchester and was settled by British infantrymen in 1785.  The town was renamed Antigonish from the Mi'kmaq word Nalegitkoonachk, meaning "where branches are torn off".

In the fall of 1964, Frank Curry returned to the funeral home in Glace Bay to apprentice in embalming.  At that time, mother Mary asked her son Chuck to take over management of the Antigonish business for six months while she sought a permanent replacement for Frank.  That six month assignment for Chuck has now extended to thirty-six years and counting!

May 1, 1966 was a red-letter day when the doors of Curry's Funeral Home were officially opened on Church Street in Antigonish with Chuck as manager and Hilman Payne as licensed embalmer.  Brother Frank received his embalmer's license in 1968 and returned to Antigonish to work with Chuck in the business, thus beginning a thirty-year partnership in funeral service.

In 1970, Chuck, having earned his embalmer's license, joined Frank and their mother to incorporate the business under the name of Curry Bros. Funeral Directors Ltd..  The firm continued to service the community under that ownership structure until 1977, when Chuck and Frank bought their mother's shares and became equal partners in a business and profession that they both loved and to which they are strongly committed.

The Curry's purchased a large parcel of land at 135 College Street in the center of the town in 1990 and set forth developing plans for a new and modern one-story funeral service facility.  In June of 1994, a spacious and well-appointed funeral home, of their own design, was officially opened on a corner lot that provided for easy public access and generous visitation parking.

On March 31, 1995, the Curry family mourned the loss of their beloved mother at the age of eighty-nine years. Through her generous love and commitment, she instilled in her children and high standards and values that are the signature of the Curry family business.  Curry's Funeral Home in Glace Bay continues under the ownership of her son, J. Michael Curry.

On February 28, 1997, Chuck and his wife Joanne purchased Frank's shares of the Antigonish business.  Frank owns and operates a successful funeral firm in Cornwall, Ontario.

On March 1, 1998, Chuck and Joanne initiated a name change for their funeral business, establishing C.L. Curry Funeral Services Ltd. for the beginning of their new partnership.

Joanne has taken an active role in the day-to-day operation of the company and earned her funeral director's license in 1998.

In April, 2008 Patrick rejoined the family business in Antigonish after spending seven years in funeral service in Ontario.  Their long-time employee, Frank Cormier, who holds both a funeral director's and embalmer's license assists them.

Chuck was the first vice-president of the Funeral Service Association of Canada for the 1998-1999 term and secretary treasurer of the Canadian Independent Group of Funeral Homes.

Chuck and Joanne have three children: Patrick, Rosemary and Tom.