Two Fort Erie funeral homes bought by Texas-based company

Two long-running funeral homes in Fort Erie have changed ownership, with Williams Funeral Services at 722 Ridge Road North and Benner Funeral Services at 1005 Benner Road sold by Ward 3 councillor Darren Flagg to Houston-based Service Corporation International.

Flagg, who said he’s “excited” about the new ownership, will continue as manager at both locations, and all current staff will remain.

Service Corporation International (SCI) approached the Fort Erie businesses as part of an effort to expand its Niagara presence, which, according to Flagg, aligned with the operational needs and long-term planning of both funeral homes.

“Funeral services, like a number of other entities, are being required to change as customer and consumer needs change,” Flagg told Fort Erie Radio. “We are going to be able to focus on the care of our families and allow the corporate ownership to focus on the business aspects of it.”

Williams Funeral Services traces its origins to 1909 in Ridgeway and has served the Fort Erie area for more than 115 years under several names and at multiple locations before being purchased by Flagg in 2013.

Flagg emphasized that residents should not expect any major changes to the way services are delivered, with the exception that there are some planned improvements to the facilities.

Planned work includes expanded audio and video capabilities, exterior upgrades and parking lot renovations at the properties, with the goal of improving comfort for families. Branding and website changes are also expected to reflect SCI’s ownership.

Flagg acknowledged concerns about American ownership of a long-standing local service but pointed to the company’s Canadian footprint and experience.

“While they may be headquartered in Houston, they have a very large Canadian presence and are very attuned to the way that families and services are conducted here,” said Flagg.

SCI, founded in 1962, operates a network of more than 1,900 funeral homes across eight Canadian provinces and 44 U.S. states.

No timeline has been set publicly for the renovations, and Flagg said the funeral homes will continue operating as usual during any improvement work.

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