October marks the 100th anniversary of Ridley Funeral Home, which prides itself in being one the oldest businesses operating in South Etobicoke.
Old photographs show the area around Ridley, at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W., surrounded by large trees and forests, when the company was opened in 1921.
Lake Shore Blvd. W., then Highway 2, was a two-lane road that was travelled by horse and buggy traffic when the company started. Streetcar service was introduced to the area around 1928.
The business was started in the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Fourteenth Street location by former Beeton, Ont., undertaker William Baycroft and was called W.E. Baycroft and Sons Funeral Home. It was sold in 1947 to Art Ridley, and renamed Ridley Funeral Home.
A long-time client for the home then was the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, which was built in 1888 and operated until 1979. In its prime, it housed 1,391 patients on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd. and Kipling Ave., which is now part of Humber College.
Over the decades Ridley has held services for generations of families in the community ranging from those with prominent positions to the many working people of every race and nationality.
The home saw busier times during an era when thousands of residents worked at Campbell’s Soup, Anaconda Steel, Goodyear Tire, W. & A. Gilbey, George Williams Shoes, Continental Can and so many firms that have since disappeared.
“The business has changed a lot over the years,” says Brad Jones, who today owns the firm. “We are still a family-owned funeral home and we still live here.”
Jones says the COVID-19 virus has led to smaller services in the chapel, with Celebration of Life services being held at a later date and the streaming of services so family and friends can view from at home without a risk of contracting the virus.
He plans to celebrate the company’s first century with a big party once the virus subsides.
Ridley is well-known by many families in the area and grief-stricken residents describe their service as a ‘one-stop’ shop when it comes to handling the funeral services of their loved ones.
“’We are a full service funeral home that provides one-stop shopping,” Jones says. “We love the people and are part of the community.”
His staff usually work with the families to help them cope during the mourning process.
“We reach out to the families and help them in their grieving process,” Jones explains. “We believe in helping people as they embark on their journey.”
He says his staff ‘pride themselves on making our facility feel like a second home, a true place for peace, comfort, and warmth.’
“One of the greatest things is that we learn about people and get involved in helping them through their dark times,” he vows. “We keep the families involved and regularly follow up with them.”
Area resident Brian says Ridley staff provided a source of strength and inspiration when his mom passed and he had to plan her services.
“There are so many things that have to be done when someone passes,” Brian recalls. “They were there to help us during the entire process.”
Elizabeth Shields thanked Ridley and staff for their 100-years of service in helping the community.
“My family has been a part of your family for many years whether it be personal reasons or for the church,” Shields wrote on social media. “Enjoy this historic moment.”
The Ridley staff is very active in helping many agencies and programs that improve our way of life.
The home is a proud supporter of the Franklin Horner Community Centre and is involved in a program to serve heat and ready meals for seniors. Ridley can be reached at 416-259-3705.