Our Staff

From the very beginning, Carson Funeral Homes has responded sensitively to the needs of people, and after over 50 years, the tradition of trust and care continues.

The staff at Carson Funeral Homes live and work within our community as our friends and neighbours, supporting various service clubs, local churches and community organizations. All of our staff are trained in grief counselling, being aware of, and responding to, the individual needs of every family we serve. Every person and every funeral is different. Many of our funerals are still quite traditional. The funeral services which we provide, help bring families comfort in a time of grief. Yet, many people today are asking for more personalized services, including the display of mementos, pictures, live music and a service held in non-traditional settings. Being sensitive also means helping to organize the right funeral within a family's budget.

But our relationships don't end with the funeral service. We follow-up for several months with people who are in need of grief counselling, and will refer them to professional assistance if required. We also help secure any advice that may be needed with estate and legal issues.

The pre-planning of funerals is also becoming more common, and our professional staff is on hand to offer assistance. Pre-planning a funeral can help prevent the stress that family members face when arranging the funeral of a loved one. It can be very hard on a family to suddenly have to make decisions about a funeral, especially if the death was unexpected.

Our staff are here to meet your needs and help you to plan the funeral that best suits your family's traditions and values, whether through a unique and personalized service or a more traditional one. We are here for you.

Funeral Homes Administration

• Bob Carson - Founder August 11, 1941 - January 21, 2014

  

  Bob Carson, owner and President of both the Lynn Chapel of Carson Funeral Home in Midland, and the Doolittle Chapel in Orillia, worked in the funeral industry for almost 50 years. He and his wife Ann, and their 3 sons, Rob, Dan, and Dave, called Simcoe County home for over 30 years.
  
  As a 17-year old, Bob was drawn to the funeral service profession due to the kind and caring treatment his family received following the death of his father. He began working full-time for Humphrey Funeral Home in Toronto shortly afterwards, simultaneously working towards his Funeral Director’s License in the evenings. Bob and Ann purchased a small funeral home in Brooklin, Ontario, near Whitby, in 1975, which they ran for several years before purchasing the Doolittle Funeral Home-Crawford Chapel in Orillia in 1982. In 1995, Bob and Ann purchased the Lynn-Funeral Home in Midland, again promising to continue the care and service that the Midland area had come to expect from James Lynn, a tradition of service and care in a family-owned environment.
  
  Bob was very active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge and the Shrine Club. He was also past-president of the Orillia & Area Chamber of Commerce, and a past member of the Board of Directors for both the Georgian Bay Lung Association and the Salvation Army.

  Message from Bob Carson

• Ann Carson - President

  

  Ann Carson has been involved in the funeral service profession with her husband for over 25 years. She and her husband Bob, and their three adult children Rob, Dan, and Dave, have called called Simcoe County home for almost 30 years. In addition to working with her family at both the Lynn Chapel of Carson Funeral Home in Midland, and the Doolittle Chapel in Orillia, she is a very active member of the community. Ann is involved in the Quota Club, the Women’s Business Association and Breast Cancer Recovery.  Since Bob's passing in 2014, Ann and her son Dave carry on the family business in the way that Bob envisioned.

• David Carson - Owner/Manager, Licensed Funeral Director

  

  David was raised in Orillia and attended Hillcrest Public School, and then O.D.C.V.I. where he graduated with honours in 1998. Following high school, Dave continued his education at the Royal Military College of Canada where he obtained an Honours degree in Business Administration as well as receiving a Queens Commission as an Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. After serving as a reservist in the military for several years, Dave decided to follow in his father's footsteps and enrolled at Humber College in August of 2004. He worked at Ward Funeral Home while attending school, and completed his apprenticeship at Turner and Porter Funeral Home in Toronto. Dave graduated with honours and received his funeral directors license in June of 2006. 
  
  Dave has always been very active in his community, and currently serves as President of the Orillia and District Chamber of Commerce.  You may also recognize him from his time on the Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation where he was a board member for 5 years, or from a variety of other charitable events which he is a fixture at year over year.
  
  Dave looks forward to his continuing commitment to the city of Orillia and all the families that he has the privilege to serve.

L. Doolittle Chapel - Orillia, Ontario Canada

• Jon Griffiths - Licensed Funeral Director/Preplanning Specialist/Aftercare Counsellor

  

  Jon Griffiths has been been involved in funeral service for over 30 years. He has been a licensed funeral director for over 25 of these years. In 1990 Jon received his Diploma in Funeral Service Education from Humber College of Applied Arts & Technology in Etobicoke and Obtained his Ontario Funeral Director's License from the Ontario Board of Funeral Service. After completing his apprentiship at McKersie Funeral Home in Milton, Ont., Jon moved to Orillia in 1990 to pursue his career in Funeral Service and joined the Carson Funeral Home family in 1997.
  
  Jon is very active in the Orillia community, getting involved in many of his children’s activities including,  being a Beaver Leader and a Scout Leader for Scouts Canada, officiating for his daughter's swim club, (The Orillia Channel Cats) and has coached for his son and daughter's T-Ball teams. He is also a 25 year member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #34, Orillia. Jon was on the Board of Directors for the Orillia Kiwanis Club and the past Vice President of the Orillia Channel Cats Swim Club. He is a former member of the Orillia Y's Men's Club After being diagnosed with MS in 2006 he has become a huge supporter of the MS Society of Canada, participating in the MS Super Cities Walk to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Jon resides in Orillia with his two children, Jon Jr. and Lya. In his spare time Jon enjoys quality time with his family, traveling, swimming, long walks, gardening, bowling, baseball and has a passion for hockey.

• Paul Gaudio - Licensed Funeral Director/Aftercare Counsellor

  

  Paul was born and raised in London Ontario. At the age of 18 he left home to peruse a calling and attend Humber College and take the Funeral Service Education Programe. 32 years later he still enjoys and is passionate about caring for and helping people at their most difficult of times.

  Paul’s career started with his apprenticeship in Toronto and stayed employed by the same company while working in Whitby Ontario for 23 years. On to pursuing his love interest later in life Paul moved north to Orillia. He spent a few years in Barrie until settling in at Carson Funeral Home in Orillia which was a life long achievement, working for a family owned firm in a fantastic smaller community close to all the north country has to offer.

  Enjoying a simpler life, Paul enjoys many outdoor activities including boating, fishing, dual sport motorcycle riding, hiking and skiing.

• Sue Morris - Funeral Director's Assistant/Community Outreach Coordinator

  

  Sue Morris is a long time resident of Orillia. Having retired from a career providing home daycare, she joined the Carson Funeral Home family in 2006 in the capacity of Funeral Director's Assistant, Receptionist, and Administration. Sue works on our Educational Seminars as the Community Outreach Coordinator to ensure that our families are educated and are able to make knowable decisions about pre-planning. Sue believes in our mission that “Being Prepared Made Simple” really is helping our families to be truly informed. Sue is married to David Morris and they have two sons, Tyler and Zachary and daughter Inlaw Marlee, Additionally, Sue is actively involved in volunteer work throughout the Orillia community. She currently works with Mariposa House Hospice, and Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament, Breast Friend’s Cancer Peer Group, Orillia Jr. Lacrosse ,and is an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #34, Orillia and has volunteered for the Orillia Scottish Festival for many years. Sue is co-founder of the Guardian Angels Christmas Wish Dinner. In her spare time, Sue enjoys scrap booking, baking, reading and spending time with her family.

• Bill Schieck - Funeral Director Assistant

  

  Originally from Kingston, Bill moved to Orillia in 1981 after joining the  O.P.P.  Bill spent his policing career in the Orillia area and retired in 2012 after 31 years of dedicated service.  Bill married Theresa Simpson and they had 2 boys, Bill Jr. and Michael.  Bill joined the Carson team in July 2013, as a funeral Director Assistant.

  ”It has been wonderful to join such a caring and compassionate group of people assisting families in their time of need.”  

  Bill has managed his sons hockey team, been a member of the Masonic Lodge, and has been a travel agent   for 25 years, assisting family and friends and the community with their travel vacations.  He enjoys trips to the casino, traveling the world, and spending time with his family and their 2 dogs.

• Ed Godden - Funeral Director Assistant

  

  Ed is originally from Toronto. After receiving a Masters degree from University of Toronto, he co-founded Robert Land Academy, Canada’s only boys private school with a military theme. Ed left Robert Land after 7 successful years to join the Ontario public service. He enjoyed a number of productive and interesting jobs, managing various adult education and apprenticeship programs. He finished his career as the Academic Manager of the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst for 12 years.

  Ed has lived very happily in Orillia for 15 years with his wife Tracey, son Mason and daughter Claudia. He considers working for Carson Funeral Home a continuation of his public service. “It’s an important service for everyone and nothing feels better than helping people through some of their most difficult days. Especially in this kind of professional and caring environment.”

• Sheila Ego - Receptionist

  

  Sheila Ego was raised in Jarratt, Ontario. Sheila attended public school in the area and graduated from Park Street Collegiate in Orillia. She then proceeded to Georgian College in Barrie where she received her diploma as a legal secretary. Sheila has recently retired after 35 years as a legal secretary at a law firm in Barrie. She joined Carson Funeral Homes in September, 2013 as a part time receptionist. Sheila is married to Robert Ego, as well as a member and elder, Sunday school superintendent at Willis Presbyterian Church in Jarratt. Sheila enjoys working alongside her husband on the farm doing strawberries and maple syrup. She is on a 10 pin bowling league in Barrie and in her spare time enjoys reading and going for walks.

• Karen Whitaker - Receptionist

  

  Karen was raised in Uptergrove and attended ODCVI High School in Orillia, She graduated as a registered nurse from Georgian Collage Orillia and worked for 4 years in Geriatrics at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Karen is married to Scott and has 4 children and 3 Grandchildren. Over the years Karen has provided Daycare has worked for a catering business and has volunteered playing the piano at schools, churches, nursing homes, and at the Hospital. Karen currently does Housekeeping and cares for many seniors. In her spare time Karen is active in her church, loves spending time with her family, gardening, baking and walking her 2 active beagles. We are happy to have Karen as a part of the Carson Family team, Karen loves being able to help people in their most difficult time of need.

J.H. Lynn Chapel - Midland, Ontario Canada

• Don Penrose - Funeral Director Assistant

  

  Don was born and raised in Toronto. In 1971 after graduating from Community College Don became a Police Officer and worked for The Metropolitan Toronto Police Service, Penetanguishene Police Service. In 1996 Don was amalgamated into the OPP and worked in Midland General Headquarters, retiring in 2008 as a Detective Sergeant.

  Don in active in the community. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Board and Chair on the Stewardship Community at St Paul’s United Church. Don also volunteers at the Guest house.

  Don has two daughters, and three grandchildren with whom he loves spending time with. Don can be found on Georgian Bay in the summer with his wife Sharon, sailing Symmetry II when he is not working.

  Don’s life experiences have contributed to his understanding of compassion and assisting people in crisis.

• Mike Morris - Funeral Director Assistant

  

  Mike was born and raised in “Steel Town” aka Hamilton, Ontario. After graduating from high school, Mike worked in several of the cities industrial plants. Looking for a change in 1974, he began his 35 year career with the Ontario Provincial Police. Mike has worked in communities in North Western, Eastern, Western and Central Ontario. In 1995, he was posted to Midland as the Detachment Commander and retired from Central Region Headquarters Crime Unit in 2007 as Detective Staff Sergeant.
  After retiring Mike has worked at the Brooklea Country Club in Midland and has been self employed as a private investigator.

  Mike has been active in his community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Penetanguishene General Hospital and presently serves on the Board of Directors for Mikey’s Place for Autism

  A dedicated family man, Mike has been married to Maybritt for 42 years. They have have two daughters Melissa and Nikki, and 4 wonderful grandchildren to keep them on their toes. When they are not soaking up the Florida sun, they are love to spend as much time as they can chasing them around

  This next phase of his professional life has enabled him to continue to provide compassion and support to the same local communities he policed for so many years.