Our Story

Our Story

Our Heritage

The funeral home was originally owned by Lloyd Cosby. At that time the funeral home was located on the main street of Gravenhurst where Knapps Gravenhurst Furniture now exists. As were many funeral homes during the early years, funeral homes were affiliated with furniture shops and ambulance stations. During the 1920s 30s 40s & early 50s, the main street business was a half funeral home and half furniture shop.

In 1955 Lloyd Cosby sold the furniture portion of his business to Allen Knapp. Mr. Knapp carried on the furniture business in the same location as his son Gregg & his wife Colleen Knapp has continued to do so. In 1958 Lloyd Cosby relocated the funeral portion of the business to its present location at 215 Bay Street, just a block away from the original foundation.

The building which was constructed during the winter months was completely encased in plastic so as not to slow down the construction process during the cold climate. Local tradesmen worked year-round on the massive brick building. In 1967 Mr. Cosby sold the business to a funeral director from Toronto - Joe Cavill. 

Joe Cavill along with his wife Muriel ran the funeral home until Joe died in 1984. Joe had many passions and was a talented carver and woodworker. Examples of this talent can be seen throughout our Bay Street location.

In 1981 Joe & Muriel’s daughter Cathy obtained her funeral director's license and has continued in her father's footsteps. 

On February 1st, 2012 Bruce and Cathie Turner. then owners of Reynolds Funeral Home "Turner Chapel", Bracebridge purchased the W.J. Cavill Funeral Home. 

February 1st, 2017, the Turners retired and sold the business to Canadian-owned, Park Lawn Corporation of Toronto. 

Affiliations

The Cavill-Turner Funeral Home has strong professional affiliations. This mandate has provided us with an association of trustworthy forward-thinking funeral directors who are as committed to consumer's needs, as they are family's needs. This unique blend has shifted the focus back to service and value. The network synergism provides us with a daily advancement of service standards and experience resources to draw.

Bereavement Authority of Ontario