Our History & Staff

Our History & Staff

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
Here's a quick synopsis of our history in Town: The only 100% locally owned funeral, cremation & reception service in the Town of Essex.

Stew Kennedy passed away in 1994 and his daughter Ann took possession of the funeral home. Ann along with her husband Geoff  completed many major renovations and increased the level of care provided. 

On May 1, 2007, Tony and Jennifer de Ryk purchased the funeral home. Since then we added an array of services and added more staff. We even added a "one of kind" reception room. One that's unique in Essex.

Our Valued Staff

Tony de Ryk

The boss, creative genius & ceremony expert

Meet Tony de Ryk, the man who has been happily keeping Jennifer on her toes for over two decades. When he's not busy being an amazing husband, Tony can be found in his snazzy outfits, proudly defending the realm of good deeds and fellowship. He was a former star third baseman for the LifeTeen baseball team.


Since being retired from the ball park, Tony dedicates his time to being the epitome of a community-minded funeral director. Armed with a sense of humor, he knows how to bring a smile to your face even during the toughest times. Need someone to select the perfect pint of craft beer while watching the Blue Jays? Look no further, because Tony's got your back.


He understands the pain of losing a loved one and will go above and beyond to make your experience as best as it can be. Kennedy's Funeral Home is his labor of love, and don't be surprised if you spot Tony working tirelessly at all hours of the day. He's a true embodiment of dedication and compassion, making sure that each family receives the care they deserve.

Mrs. Jennifer de Ryk B.Sc

The REAL BOSS & Co-Owner

Jenn, a graduate of the prestigious University of Waterloo, is not only an ex-massage therapist and Kinesiologist from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, but also a master in the kitchen. Her ability to whip up delicious baked goods for visitations and funerals is truly a gift. They say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, and trust me, Jenn has commandeered that vessel with her culinary prowess.


But wait, there's more! Jenn also happens to be a magnanimous soul, she's been a pillar of support for many for countless years. Is there anything this woman can't do?


Oh, did we mention her side gig as a receptionist for Dr. Wilbee, the eye doctor extraordinaire in Essex? Yes, that's right! Jenn manages to juggle different jobs like a pro. We often catch ourselves scratching our heads, wondering how she manages it all. Perhaps she's mastered the art of time manipulation or has discovered the secret to cloning. We may never know.


Her most remarkable feat, however, is her ability to bend Tony, her lucky husband, to her will. When Jenn says "jump," Tony responds with an enthusiastic "how high." Talk about a harmonious relationship! They're like peanut butter and jelly, or salt and pepper - a perfect match. They eagerly anticipate their adventures with loved ones, cherishing every moment spent together.


And speaking of cherished moments, Jenn absolutely adores it when Tony graciously leaves his socks beside the bed. Ah, true love in its purest form. It's these small but endearing quirks that make their bond even stronger.



Regardless, Jenn is not just an amazing wife, but a force to be reckoned with. With her talent, dedication, and ability to tame Tony's sock collection, she brings joy and laughter to those around her. Kudos to Jenn for being a superhero in disguise and making the world a better place, one sock at a time.

Hope Smith

Funeral Director

Meet Hope Smith. Hope brings a new perspective to our business. Growing up in the funeral industry in Harrow, she brings a full understanding of how to treat families right. When not working, she can be found hitting a golf ball or playing hockey.

Mrs. Ann Perry R.N.

One caring & devoted lady

Ann is the daughter of Stewart Kennedy who founded our funeral home in 1938. She is married to Geoff and they continue to reside in Essex. Ann has been caught twice wearing two different shoes and we always take a photo so we can make fun of her. Both Ann and Geoff worked very hard to revitalize the company after Stew passed. From 1999 to 2009 they doubled the amount of families being served on an annual basis. Ann is super!

Geoff Perry

Funeral Assistant

Geoff managed the Kennedy Furniture Store in the 1970's. He was a Design Engineer and a Project Administrator, providing new, final assembly plants in Canada, United States of America and South America. This guy knows a little about everything. Geoff also has a talent for making his own wine!

Brian Rivest

Jack of all trades

Brian is our "jack of all trades". He retired from Weston's (Ready Bake) in Essex. Brian is married to Donna who retired from the Royal Bank . They have a son Nicholas, a daughter Erin and an awesome grandson A.J.


Brian wins several awards at our Annual Awards Banquet and Christmas Party. This year he brought home the "We'll never forget award". Truthfully though, Brian wins the same award every year.

Jim Rundle

Head of Global Security for Kennedy Funeral Home

Jim is retired from the Windsor Police Service. He is married to Bonnie and has two sons who live in Essex. He has won the 'Employee of the Year' award every single year. Some of the staff have suggested he may be involved in a plot to win every year. The Board of Directors (me, myself and I) launched an official investigation and found no evidence of wrong doing. An independent audit found that Jim has been cleared of all wrong doing in 'fixing' the employee of the year award.

Mrs. Marj Garrant

Greeter

Many of you will know Marj from working at the Essex Post Office. Now that she is retired, we talked her into working here! If you ever need a postal code, she's the person to talk to.

Mrs. Sharon Smith

Expert talker

Sharon and her late husband Sam are long time residents of Essex. Sharon is super nice and comforting. Let's be honest she knows everyone. Her late husband Sam (September 2014) was a Fire Chief and served 42 years with the Essex Fire & Rescue Service. We welcome Sharon to our awesome team. One thing though, we're not sure how much work she gets done when she's paired with Dianne!

Mrs. Tricia Bitzer

Newby greeter

Trish is the new member of our team. She's married to Matt and they have three awesome kids.


She's already been reprimanded for spilling wine on the bosses wall during a Christmas party (pre covid).

Mrs. Helen McLeod

Funeral Assistant/Greeter

Helen and her husband Murray own the famous McLeod Farms in Cottam. Since she has started working here the funeral home has never been so clean! Helen has a great sense of humour and we love having her aboard! Another thing, Helen and her family may be some of the busiest people you'll ever meet. Farmers - Electricians - Grandparents - Business owners - and now, funeral people!

Dianne DesJardins

The coffee lady

Dianne is one of the friendly people you meet during visitations. She was married to the late Raymond and she resides in Essex. Dianne makes the best coffee period, and happens to know pretty much anyone there is to know in Essex. Whatever you do, do not dump that last bit of coffee in front of Dianne!

Debra McMillan

Hair Stylist

Deb lives in Essex with her husband John. She has been looking after our hairdressing needs for many years and we love her to pieces. Deb loves attending our Christmas and staff parties.

Teri St. Pierre

Funeral Assistant

Welcome Teri! Our rookie.

Leanne Malenfant

Funeral Assistant

Welcome Leanne! Our other rookie, well just past the rookie stage.

Miss Emma de Ryk

Funeral Helper

Emma is a graduate of the French Immersion program at St. Mary's School in Maidstone. Emma recently graduated from Essex District High school and is the recipient of a scholarship worth $10,000 at the University of Windsor (if she keeps her marks up).


Tony takes full credit for her intelligence but the truth is it comes from her mother. She was a former Competitive skipping team member who traveled across Canada for competitions.


Emma absolutely gets her kind disposition from her dad! (In reality, we all know that it comes from her mom).

Connor de Ryk

Supervisor & the future of Kennedy's?????

Connor. What can we say about Connor. He definitely takes after his dad. He has quite the sense of humour for his age! Connor graduated from the French immersion program at St. Mary's in Maidstone almost from Essex District Highschool.


Connor is an employee of the funeral home and has only been fired 5 times. He has a heart of gold and it is nice to see him around washing cars and cleaning up. Connor helps with video editing now too!

Moose de Ryk

My wife's dog

Jenn talked Tony into purchasing another dog after our friends Mary and Dennis purchased his sister. Moose is really crazy, hasn't calmed down and I hate to admit it, but really entertaining. This dog is completely nuts but gives you a good laugh. Moose can swim across a lake, run 5k and still have enough energy to annoy Tony! He is very likely the funniest dog on the planet and is the topic of many conversations at our house.

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