Haverstock's serve a wide Cape Breton region
In 1952, Angus Norman MacDonald (a native of Inverness), wife Dorothy (Dot) and their two children, Wendy and David, moved from Halifax, where he was employed by Cruikshank's Funeral Home, and established A.N. MacDonald Funeral Service in Port Hawkesbury, the first funeral service in the area. Previously, residents of the area purchased caskets from a local general store and did their own funeral arranging.
MacDonald died in 1963 and Dot continued to operate the funeral service, later incorporated under the name MacDonald Funeral Service Ltd.
In October, 1966, Dennis Haverstock and Gordon Thompson purchased the company. Thompson had worked with the company prior to the purchase and lived in Port Hawkesbury with his wife, Laura, and their two children while Haverstock and wife Carol moved from Amherst where Campbell's Funeral Home employed him. Haverstock and Thompson met in Halifax where the Halifax Funeral Home had employed them.
The purchase consisted of a residence on Pitt Street that became the Haverstock home, a small building next to the residence housing a display room, storage area and a preparation room and a garage on Granville Street. The purchase also consisted of four vehicles: a 1962 Pontiac funeral coach, a 1964 GMC panel used as a removal vehicle, a 1963 Pontiac station wagon used as an ambulance and a 1965 Pontiac Parisienne car.
Haverstock's quick, hearty laugh and a sharp wit have made him popular with both the funeral service and the people he serves. He is a past president of the Nova Scotia Licensed Embalmers and Funeral Directors Association and past general chairman of the Atlantic Provinces Funeral Directors and Service Convention when held in Sydney in 1983.
In 1968, the company expanded to Guysborough where a small storefront area was rented housing a small visitation room and display room. The company offered the services of the first licensed embalmer in Guysborough County.
In 1972, the partnership was dissolved and the name changed to Dennis Haverstock Funeral Homes Ltd., at Which time John Langley became their first employee. In addition, a small visitation room was added to the existing building on Pitt Street. Prior to this time, the Haverstock residence was used for visitations.
In 1973, a house and property was purchased in the Village of Whycocomagh and after renovations were made, a funeral home facility was officially opened in June, 1974.
In 1975, a house and property was purchased in Guysborough and after renovations were made, a much larger facility was offered in that area to replace the small rented space.
In 1979, property was purchased in Port Hawkesbury opposite the residence and funeral home on Pitt Street. A garage was constructed housing the vehicles, wash bay, and employee lounge and preparation room. Alterations were made to the funeral home, offering an additional visitation room and an addition was also made to the residence.
In 1985, property was purchased in the Town of Canso and another funeral home facility was offered to the area with the official opening held in January, 1986.
Renovations were later made to the funeral home in Guysborough and an addition made which provided larger facilities at that funeral home. Renovations were also made to the funeral home in Whycocomagh creating larger facilities there.
Property was purchased on Granville Street in Port Hawkesbury in 1988 and a new funeral home was built, featuring four large visitation rooms (two can double as a chapel), or all four visitation rooms can be used when required; two wash rooms, display room, arrangement offices, coffee room, smoking lounge, garage and area for preparation room if moved from the present Pitt Street location. It was a grand day when this facility was dedicated in October, 1989.
Carol's mother, Frances Dennis, made three needlepoint hangings of the Last Supper, one hangs in the funeral home in Port Hawkesbury, one in the Whycocomagh funeral home and one in the Canso funeral home. Each contains more than sixty thousand stitches.
Following construction of the new Port Hawkesbury funeral home, the old funeral home on Pitt Street was demolished and new offices were constructed on that site
The Carlo Mancini Funeral Home in St. Peter's newly built in 1994, was purchased in 1996.
In 1993, the Haverstock's lost their eighteen-year-old son, Garth, to Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. The funeral home in Port Hawkesbury is dedicated to his memory and a full length picture of Garth, when he participated in the Olympics Torch Relay for the XV Olympic Winter Games held in Calgary, 1988, is proudly displayed in the foyer.
In 2001, the company was purchased by John David Langley, a licensed embalmer and funeral director, long time employee and lifelong resident of Port Hawkesbury. John is a son of the late Martin and kay (Mac Donald ) Langley of Port Hawkesbury. John has two brothers Arthur Langley and Harry, married to Stephanie (Mac Innis ) Langley. Arthur joined the business shortly after as an office manager. Carol and Dennis stayed on to aid in the transition of the business. Craig Mac Lean formerly of Skye Glen and resident of Point Tupper employed part time since 1989 and full time since 1993 is an embalmer and funeral director with the company. Gerald Lumsden of Canso, with the company since 1986 as a caretaker also assists in conducting funerals. Sharon E. Burke of Sampsonville became a licensed funeral director with the company in May of 2004. Martin Flood, formerly of Newfoundland, a Nova Scotia licensed embalmer and funeral director joined the company in July of 2004.
