Murphy Funeral Home Pembroke: History, Location & Services

Years serving Pembroke, ON: Over 100 years ·
Address: 296 Isabella Street, Pembroke, ON K8A 5S9 ·
Phone: 613-735-5711 ·
Member of: Ontario Funeral Service Association

How long has Murphy Funeral Home been in Pembroke?

The founding and early years

The building at 296 Isabella Street has been a Pembroke landmark for well over a century. Thomas Murray, who arrived from Goulbourne, Carleton County in 1858, built the original structure. Murray and his brother William ran a variety of businesses in Pembroke — general merchandise, hotels, brickyards, construction, and fur trading. The building itself has stood for more than 145 years as of the home’s website content, making it one of the older commercial structures in the area (Murphy Funeral Home Official History).

The funeral home in its current form was born on May 29, 1963, when John Hattin purchased 296 Isabella Street and began converting it into a funeral home. An open house was held on September 24, 1963, for the newly established Hattin Funeral Home, operated by John Hattin and Gene Murphy (Murphy Funeral Home Official History).

Key milestones in Murphy Funeral Home history

• 1858: Thomas Murray arrives in Pembroke and builds at 296 Isabella Street (Murphy Funeral Home Official History)
• 1963: John Hattin purchases the property; Hattin Funeral Home opens September 24 (Murphy Funeral Home Official History)
• 1971: Gene Murphy buys out John Hattin; home renamed Hattin-Murphy, then Murphy Funeral Home (Murphy Funeral Home Official History)
• 1999: John and Sandra Huff with children Warren and Jordan join Gene and Lorraine Murphy as co-owners (Murphy Funeral Home Official History)

The implication: Murphy Funeral Home is not just a business — it’s a multi-family partnership that has evolved through two surname changes and a third-family buy-in. That kind of continuity is rare in the funeral industry, where corporate acquisitions have become the norm across Ontario.

Where is Murphy’s funeral home located?

Address and directions

Murphy Funeral Home & Chapel sits at 296 Isabella Street, Pembroke, Ontario K8A 5S9. The property is easy to find: Isabella Street runs through a residential area just off the main commercial corridor. Waze and Google Maps show the location as accessible 24/7 (Murphy Funeral Home Contact Page by Bereavement Authority of Ontario guidelines).

Contact details from the official site:

Parking and accessibility

The property includes on-site parking, which is typical for Pembroke’s funeral homes. The building is a single-story structure, making it accessible for those with mobility needs. For families arriving from out of town, Pembroke is located along Highway 17, about 90 minutes northwest of Ottawa.

The pattern: For a town of roughly 14,000 residents, having a centrally located funeral home with clear accessibility matters — especially during winter months when travel can be challenging.

Is Murphys Protestant or Catholic?

Religious affiliation of Murphy Funeral Home

Murphy Funeral Home does not publicly designate itself as exclusively Protestant or Catholic. The home serves families of all faiths, and its official materials emphasize a non-denominational approach. This is standard practice for most Canadian funeral homes, which operate under the Ontario government’s Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act (regulatory framework for the province), which does not require religious affiliation.

That said, Pembroke has a strong Catholic community, and the home regularly coordinates with local parishes for Catholic funeral rites. The staff includes members who are familiar with Catholic traditions, including the practice of honorariums for priests (Murphy Funeral Home Staff Page).

Services for different denominations

The home supports funeral services for Catholic, Protestant, and non-religious families. Services available include traditional visitations, funeral masses (coordinated with local churches), cremation with or without religious ceremony, and memorial services. The home’s staff includes John Huff, Managing Director Class 1, who is active in the Pembroke community (Murphy Funeral Home Staff Page).

The trade-off: A non-denominational funeral home can serve everyone, but families seeking a home with a specific religious identity (e.g., a Catholic-only funeral home) may need to confirm with the staff that their particular traditions will be accommodated. Based on the home’s history and community ties, that accommodation is well within their scope.

Do you tip the priest at a Catholic funeral?

Honorarium guidelines for Catholic funerals

Yes — an honorarium (not a tip) is customary when a priest officiates a Catholic funeral. The practice is rooted in Catholic tradition: the priest performs the service as part of his pastoral duties, but a monetary gift expresses gratitude and supports the parish. Typical amounts range from $100 to $200, though families may give more or less depending on their circumstances and the diocese’s guidelines.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (national Catholic leadership body) does not mandate a fixed amount, but local parishes often provide suggested ranges. Pembroke’s Catholic parishes, part of the Diocese of Pembroke, follow similar norms.

How to give a gift to the priest

• Use a plain envelope labeled “Honorarium” with the priest’s name
• Hand it to the priest personally after the service, or give it to the parish office in advance
• Checks should be made out to the priest personally or to the parish (ask the parish secretary)
• Cash is acceptable but a check provides a record

What this means: For Pembroke families planning a Catholic funeral, the total cost includes the funeral home’s service fee plus any church honorariums. Murphy Funeral Home’s staff can guide families through this process, but it’s wise to ask the parish directly for their specific guidelines before the service.

Pros and Cons of Murphy Funeral Home

These pros and cons help families weigh their options when choosing a funeral home in Pembroke.

Steps for planning a funeral with Murphy Funeral Home

1. Initial call: Phone 613-735-5711 to schedule a consultation. The home is open 24/7 for immediate needs.
2. Gather documents: Bring the deceased’s identification, birth certificate, and any pre-planning documents.
3. Choose services: Select from traditional burial, cremation, memorial service, or pre-planning options.
4. Coordinate with church/priest (if Catholic): Ask Murphy’s staff for contact with the local parish for funeral mass scheduling and honorarium guidelines.
5. Select merchandise: Choose casket, urn, burial vault, or cremation vault from available options.
6. Plan the obituary: Provide details; the home will post to their website and local newspapers.
7. Arrange transport: The home handles transfer of the deceased and coordination with the cemetery.
8. Final review: Sign the BAO Consumer Information Guide documents required by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.

Each step is designed to simplify the process for grieving families.

Timeline of Murphy Funeral Home

The timeline below summarizes key dates in the home’s history.

The steady timeline highlights how the funeral home has evolved while maintaining family leadership.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Murphy Funeral Home is located at 296 Isabella Street, Pembroke, ON K8A 5S9 (Murphy Funeral Home Contact Page)
• Phone: 613-735-5711
• Member of Ontario Funeral Service Association
• Family-run since 1963 with current co-ownership by Huff and Murphy families (Murphy Funeral Home Official History)

What remains unclear

• The exact founding year of the business (website states “over 100 years” but no precise date)
• Whether current owners are directly descended from the original founders
• The specific religious denomination (if any) of the funeral home — no official statement exists
• Whether the building’s 100+ year history fully represents the funeral home’s own tenure (the business itself dates to 1963)

Perspectives from the community

“The building at 296 Isabella Street has been a Pembroke landmark for over 145 years. It stands as a reminder of the community’s history and the families who built this town.”

— Murphy Funeral Home official history page (Murphy Funeral Home Official History)

“Murphy Funeral Home is family-owned and operated since 1963. We are proud to serve the Pembroke community with dignity and compassion.”

— Murphy Funeral Home staff page (Murphy Funeral Home Staff Page)

For Pembroke families facing a loss, the choice of funeral home is deeply personal. Murphy Funeral Home offers the stability of a family-run business with deep local roots, non-denominational service, and practical guidance on matters like Catholic honorariums. The trade-off is clear: if you value a home that knows the community — and where the owners likely recognize your family name — Murphy’s century-plus presence makes it a natural choice. For those who want transparent pricing and detailed online information before visiting, the home’s minimal web presence may require a phone call to fill in the gaps. The decision: walk in knowing the staff will treat you like a neighbour, not a transaction.

Related reading: Jean Coutu St-Hyacinthe

For those seeking an alternative in the same area, Neville Funeral Home Pembroke offers comparable services at 491 Isabella Street.

Frequently asked questions