New ownership for Memories Chapel funeral home

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This article was published 23/11/2023 (891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The ownership of Memories Chapel funeral home in Brandon has changed hands.

Co-founder and funeral director Brent Buchanan has passed the torch to Michelle and Scott Major and Brian and Raquelle Baker.

“Transferring a funeral home from one owner to another can be overwhelming, with various entities involved. But in the end, both parties are pleased with the outcome,” Buchanan told the Sun. “Over the last 24 years, we have had the opportunity to grow the business from nothing to a major entity… We have been an asset to the city.”

Buchanan said he wishes the new owners all the best, as they are expected to take the business, located at 330 18th St. North, to new levels.

“The exciting thing is that we are seeing the transition from generation to generation,” he said. “It is time to move into a retirement phase and for younger people to come in and stamp their identity on this business and make it even better than what it is.”

Following the ownership transition, Michelle Major said the new operators will aim to continue the funeral home’s legacy while embracing new visions and values.

“Our goal is to keep Memories Chapel a family-run, local business whose priority is to provide caring, compassionate services to families and their loved ones,” Major told the Sun. “We want to ensure everyone is treated with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve.”

Having worked for the last few years as a funeral director at another organization in Brandon, Major said she has built connections and a strong reputation within the area.

Community engagement remains a focal point for the new owners, she said, noting that the team at Memories Chapel are all members of the Brandon community.

Smooth employee transitions and preserving positive client experiences, she added, are paramount.

“Most of the existing team at Memories Chapel will remain with the change in ownership. We’ve been shadowing the previous owner over the past two months, learning the ins and outs of the successful company they have built.”

Buchanan co-founded the company with Craig Hayward and Vern Schneider in May 1999.

“The three of us had a vision to have funeral service – our version of funeral service – in the city of Brandon. We’ve had the opportunity to serve the community and been blessed with a tremendous response from the public, from the community of Brandon and in the area,” he said.

“It has been a journey with many ups and downs, but that’s business.”

Schneider retired seven years ago, and now the two remaining founders are excited to see new owners “take over and carry on what we’ve started,” Buchanan said.

As Brandon bids farewell to the former owners, Michelle Major said the community should be assured of her team’s continued commitment to supporting families during their most challenging times.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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