Pleasantview Funeral Home & Cemetery

03/19/2026

Funeral Home Joke of the Day......

While writing an obituary, one funeral director asked:
“Do you have any grandchildren?”

“Yes,” the woman replied.

“Do you have any great-grandchildren?” he asked.

“No, they’re all pretty equal,” she answered.

😂

03/18/2026

✨ Meet Rachel! ✨

Rachel began her journey with Pleasantview in 2011, where you would have found her working on the cemetery side of our operations. After a short break, she returned to Pleasantview in 2020—this time on the funeral home side—as a Funeral Director. In total, Rachel has dedicated 10 years of service to Pleasantview.

When Rachel isn’t at the funeral home, she loves spending time with and visiting her three adult children and her grandchildren, who bring her so much laughter and love. When the kids are busy, Rachel enjoys reading, being near the water, listening to music, and immersing herself in her photography.

🎉 Today is Rachel’s birthday! 🎉
Join us in wishing her a very happy birthday!

03/18/2026

When a death occurs, it can be hard to know where to begin.

Our team is here to offer clarity and compassion, and guide you through each step.

We help you understand what to do next and explore the types of services available, including traditional funerals, celebrations of life, graveside services, and memorial options. Together, we'll create a meaningful tribute that reflects the life being honoured.

Every detail is handled with care, so you can focus on the people who matter most. If you need support or are unsure of what to do next, we are here for you.

03/17/2026

The True History of St. Patrick’s Day.....did you know?

Every year on March 17, the world turns a little greener—literally! From parades packed with leprechauns to rivers dyed emerald. But beyond the shamrocks, green attire, and pints of Guinness, there’s a rich history behind this beloved holiday.

St. Patrick's Day hasn't always been a raucous affair, celebrated with huge parades and green beer. As the feast day of Saint Patrick, it was and still is a holy day in Christianity. The day was first established in 1631 as a modest religious holiday, and honouring Ireland's patron saint. Because it fell right in the middle of Lent, people began using it as a reason to celebrate and take a break from the restraints and abstinence of the period leading up to Easter.

St. Patrick was a real person! Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, known for bringing Christianity to the country. St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday. Although we typically celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a focus on Irish culture and heritage rather than its religious significance, the holiday has Catholic roots. St. Patrick's Day is a religious public holiday in Ireland and has been for over 1,000 years.

Wearing green clothes became a common symbol and also to avoid getting pinched by leprechauns. Leprechauns were initially written about in 19th-century Irish fables. They were described as short men who just happened to be exceptional shoemakers. After making their money, they hid their coins in pots of gold at the end of rainbows.

P.S. According to folklore, the reason leprechauns like to pinch on St. Patrick's day is because, well, they can! Also, their actions serve as a reminder to make sure you're wearing green, which makes you invisible to the mischievous, mythical beings. If you're wearing any other color, you're easier to spot, and susceptible to a little squeeze.

03/16/2026

🎉 Meet Dave — and help us wish him a very Happy Birthday! 🎉

For the past 10 years, Dave has been a dedicated and hardworking member of our Pleasantview Memorial Gardens Cemetery property crew. Before joining us, he spent years working in the transfer service industry — proof that you really can’t take the death industry out of the man! 😉

If you’ve ever visited Pleasantview, chances are you’ve seen Dave on one of our big machines — cutting grass, plowing, watering, or tackling whatever the day calls for. It’s rare to spot him anywhere but on equipment, and that’s exactly where he loves to be!

One thing Dave does not love?
👉 Rogue artificial flowers that blow off graves and get tangled in mower blades. (If you ever hear a loud sigh across the cemetery grounds… it might be Dave discovering more wire in his mower! 😅)

Beyond his outdoor work, Dave is also our go‑to welder, fixing and fabricating whatever the shop needs to keep things running smoothly.

When he’s not at Pleasantview, Dave enjoys life at a slower pace — out on his boat with a fishing line in the water, making the most of the time he shares with his wife, Denielle.

✨ Join us in celebrating Dave and wishing him an amazing birthday today! ✨
We’re grateful for all that he does and for the energy he brings to our team every day.

03/16/2026

Halton Police have shared new information and additional recovered items from the recent mausoleum thefts across the GTHA. Families are encouraged to review the recovered property album https://bit.ly/40Tfcnj and contact mausoleumthefts@haltonpolice.ca if you recognize an item. Our thoughts have been with all those impacted, and we remain committed to restoring the sense of safety and reverence this resting place stands for.

Investigation Update: Mausoleum Theft Investigation

Since announcing arrests in November, investigators with the Halton Regional Police Service have laid 18 additional charges in a series of thefts targeting mausoleums across the Greater Toronto Area.

More than 140 people have contacted investigators and 26 stolen items have been returned to families, but many recovered items remain unclaimed.

Investigators are asking the public to review our online photo album of recovered property to help identify and return items to their rightful families.

View the photo album here: https://bit.ly/40Tfcnj

If you recognize any items or believe your family may have been affected, please contact investigators:

mausoleumthefts@haltonpolice.ca

03/13/2026

🛳️Funeral Fun Fact Friday⚓️

The aftermath of the Titanic sinking involved a massive, somber recovery operation managed primarily out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with specific, often class-based, protocols for handling the deceased.

The "Funeral Ship" and Recovery
The CS Mackay-Bennett: This cable-laying ship was hired by the White Star Line to recover bodies. It departed Halifax with 100 wooden coffins, 100 tons of ice, and only enough embalming fluid for 70 bodies.

Class-Based Treatment: Due to limited supplies, the crew prioritized embalming first-class passengers (often for insurance/estate purposes) and putting them in coffins. Second-class victims were wrapped in canvas, while third-class passengers and crew were often buried at sea.

"No Prominent Man" Left Behind: The captain of the Mackay-Bennett noted, "No prominent man was recommitted to the deep," meaning they ensured wealthy victims were brought back to land.

116 Sea Burials: The Mackay-Bennett recovered 306 bodies, but had to bury 116 at sea due to advanced decomposition or lack of supplies.

Ship-Shaped Graves: 121 victims are buried in Fairview Lawn Cemetery, with many headstones arranged in the shape of a ship's hull.

50+ Unidentified: Roughly 42 to 43 of the victims buried in Halifax remain officially unidentified, with gravestones listing only the date "April 15, 1912" and a recovery number.

Titanic Restaurant: The Five Fishermen Restaurant in downtown Halifax was once Snow’s Funeral Home, which handled many of the Titanic victims.

03/12/2026

Thinking about the future isn’t easy, but planning ahead is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family. Pre‑planning ensures your wishes are honoured and helps ease emotional and financial stress during a difficult time.

By making important choices now, like whether to choose burial or cremation or which type of service you want, you can spare your family uncertainty and distress later. You can also lock in today’s prices and protect them from rising costs.

Planning ahead offers clarity, comfort, and protection. If you’re ready to explore your options, our team is here to guide you with care.

03/12/2026

🎉 Meet Neil — and help us wish him a very Happy Birthday! 🎉

For the past 5 years, Neil has been an essential part of both Pleasantview Funeral Home and our sister location JJ’s Funeral Home in Welland, working as a Funeral Director Assistant. He’s truly a man of many hats — helping with everything from bartending and pallbearing to gardening, painting, services, and more. In the summer, you’ll find him caring for the lawn at JJ's, and in the winter he’s out keeping JJ’s clear and safe with his plowing.

Before joining us, Neil spent 32 years in the newspaper industry, and he still proudly says he has “ink in his blood.” He loved every single day he worked at the paper.

During retirement, when he’s not helping our teams, Neil enjoys all things sports and is a huge history buff — he’s visited countless historic sites over the years.
Neil has been happily married to Diane for 47 years, and they share a beautiful family with three granddaughters and one more on the way, expected to arrive in mid‑April.

Neil, thank you for everything you do for Pleasantview and JJ’s. Your hard work, talents, and dedication never go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for you.

🎂 Please join us in wishing Neil a very happy birthday! 🎉

03/11/2026

🐦✨ The Swans Are Back! ✨🐦

Our beautiful swans are thrilled to be out of their winter homes and back to frolicking in their natural habitat! They were so excited to return that they spent the morning stretching their wings, showing off their stunning feathers, and gliding through the water like they’ve missed it just as much as we’ve missed them.

They’re already enjoying the warmer days, the sunshine, and all the friendly faces stopping by to visit. 🌷💛

Spring is just around the corner, and our swans are more than ready for it — and we are too!
Come by and say hello! 🦢💕

03/11/2026

Some loves stay with us far beyond the moments we shared. They become part of our story, our strength, and the quiet comfort that follows us through every season of life.

Even when they're no longer here, the love they gave continues to guide, soothe, and remind us that love that has been felt this deeply can never truly end.

03/10/2026

Spring has officially sprung! 🌷☀️

We’re soaking up the sunshine and loving all the changes happening around the property. Signs of spring are popping up everywhere, bringing a much‑needed boost of energy to all of us who’ve been eager for nicer weather and a chance to get outside.

There’s something incredible about watching nature bounce back each year — it knows exactly what to do, season after season, and it’s such a beautiful transformation to witness. We might have one more snowstorm left in us (because… Canada 😉), but at least the end of the cold is finally in sight!

Hope everyone is feeling refreshed, energized, and enjoying the warmth. Here’s to brighter days ahead! 🌼✨