Our Valued Staff

We understand how difficult it is to lose a loved one. Our compassionate and caring team work hard each and every day to make sure that the members of our community and beyond are taken care of during such a difficult time. For advice on what to do when a loved one is dying, making funeral arrangements, pre-arranging your own funeral, or anything else, please feel free to contact us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We promise to work with you and your family in your time of need to create the perfect memorial service for your loved one. We will be here for you today, as well as tomorrow.

Hugh McPhail, Owner / Funeral Director Email: brettfuneralchapel@gmail.com Office Phone: 705-778-2231 Hugh is a man who enjoys family, friends, faith, fishing and water sports.  He is also a third generation funeral director, who graduated from Humber College in 1973 and has been working in the funeral industry for over 40 years.  Hugh and his wife Dena are in their 17th year of ownership of Brett Funeral Chapels Ltd.   Hugh enjoys dealing with people, always striving to be a help to others, and he has found being a funeral director presents many opportunities to do just that.

Dena McPhail, Owner / Funeral Director's Assistant Email: brettfuneralchapel@gmail.com Office Phone: 705-778-2231 Born and raised in Peterborough, Dena spent many summers at her family cottage on Belmont Lake.  She married Hugh, her high school sweetheart, in 1973 and they resided in Peterborough until 1998.  During that time, she enjoyed working with people in the private and public sector.  Later she was privileged to become a stay-at-home mom to raise their 3 children and is now enjoying her 4 grandchildren. In 1998 she returned to the outside work force as a funeral director’s assistant when she and Hugh purchased Brett Funeral Chapels and moved to Hastings.  They moved to Havelock in 2010 when their son in law Robert and their daughter Amanda joined them in the family business.

Robert Edwards Email: robert.edwards@bellnet.ca Robert has been involved in Funeral Service since 1999.  He received three awards during his education at Humber College.  Graduating in 2002 with Honours  and receiving honours on the Board of Funeral Service licensing exam he began working in Peterborough.  Gaining experience and further training at one of Peterborough's most prestigious funeral providers, he worked for  seven years before coming out to work at Brett Funeral Chapels in Hastings, and Havelock.  He and his wife Amanda live in Hastings and have two children.  Robert enjoys being outdoors and spending time with Amanda and the children.  Robert  and Amanda both graduated from Kawartha Lakes Bible College in Peterborough with a two year certifcate program prior to choosing this career path.