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.

Eric Zadow, Managing Director Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 Eric has been full time with the Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer Funeral Home since August of 2004, obtaining a Funeral Director’s License in 2007, and was appointed Managing Director in April of 2012.  He is a graduate of both Humber College in Toronto and Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley.  He lives in Laurentian Valley with his wife, Katie and young son, Frederich; and is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pembroke.  His spare time is usually spent restoring his old home or old car.

Ron Hamilton, Funeral Director Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 Ron Hamilton, owner of the Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer Funeral Home in Pembroke from November of 2000 to June of 2011,  retired May 1, 2012.   He was raised on a dairy farm near Pembroke, the son of the late Maurice and Isabel Hamilton (MPP for Renfrew North from 1958 to 1975).  Ron began his career at Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer Funeral Home in July of 1965, obtaining a Funeral Director’s Licence in 1968.  Ron was Managing Director from 1992 until he and his wife Helen purchased the business on November 1, 2000.  Helen and Ron were married on June 21st, 1969, and have two married daughters and four grandchildren.  Ron was honoured to serve the families of Pembroke and area for nearly 47 years in their time of need.

Gerry Binhammer, Funeral Director Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 In 1963, Gerry Binhammer purchased the Malcolm and Deavitt Funeral Home. Gerry Martin Binhammer had served his apprenticeship in the funeral trade at Dreisinger Funeral Home in Elmira, Ontario. After he received his Funeral Director's Licence in 1954, he was employed at the McDougall Brown Funeral Home in Toronto, where he worked for ten years. Mr Binhammer married Doreen Kraychy in 1960 and the young couple was keen to establish themselves in the business when they moved to Pembroke in 1963. The Binhammers always had one clear goal from the very beginning of their many years in Pembroke: "We serve the needs of families after the loss of a loved one and our commitment is to serve with grace, sensitivity and love in a tradition of excellence".

Caitlin Renner, Funeral Director Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 Caitlin, the youngest of four girls, was born and raised in Clinton ON, a small rural farming community.  At a young age she aspired to be a funeral director.  To solidify these aspiration’s in her early years of high school,  Caitlin studied and researched the funeral profession and obtained a co-op position at her hometown funeral home.  Learning a lot about the business and herself throughout this co-op position she felt called to follow this path in life. She attended the Funeral Services program at Humber College in Toronto.  In 2007 she joined the Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer family as an intern which lead to her success in graduating her college program and obtaining her Funeral Director’s License in 2008. Moving 7 hours from home and not knowing anyone in or around the Ottawa Valley she was very nervous of making such a large move at such a young age.  She quickly fell in love with Pembroke and the area with its welcoming faces and miraculous landscape and is now proud to call it her home. She has always enjoyed cooking, baking and reading and has learned since moving to the Valley that she also enjoys various outdoors activities including hiking, fishing and boating, to name a few.

Donald Skinner, Funeral Director Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 Don has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1998, and brings a vast experience gained working with families in several funeral homes as well as from time owning a funeral home.  A graduate of Emmanuel Bible College (Bachelor of Theology), Don spent several years as a clergyman before embarking on a successful career in healthcare, finally entering the funeral profession, graduating with honors and multiple awards from Humber College.  Don’s hobbies include motorcycles, golf and fishing.

Joshua Vardy, Funeral Director Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 Joshua Vardy is a licensed Funeral Director at Malcolm, Deavitt and Binhammer Funeral Home. Joshua was born and raised in Belleville, Ontario where he went to both public and secondary school and worked as a co-op student at Burke Funeral Home. In 2010 Joshua left Belleville to pursue Funeral Services Education at Toronto’s Humber College. After his first year of schooling Josh became a proud member of the Malcolm and Deavitt team as an apprentice, in 2012 he finished his schooling, graduating with a diploma in Funeral Services and passing all board examinations with honours. When he isn’t at work Josh enjoys playing music and taking frequent hikes through the valley. It is with great pride that Josh serves the Pembroke community, and he looks forward to continuing the tradition of excellence at the Malcolm, Deavitt and Binhammer Funeral Home.

Lana Kretchman, Funeral Director's Assistant Email: info@mdbfuneralhome.com Office Phone: (613) 732-3637 Lana was raised in Pembroke and moved to Toronto at the age of nineteen where she completed a two year college program. Lana joined the Malcolm, Deavitt and Binhammer staff in April 2012 bringing with her 15 years experience in office administration and customer service.She met her husband Paul in Toronto and in 1998 they returned to Pembroke with their two children Brad and Vanessa. Lana has been a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pembroke for most of her life. Together with their family Lana & Paul enjoy camping and spending time in the outdoors.

Ron Lemke, Funeral Director's Assistant Ron was a barber in Pembroke in the late 50’ and 60’s before becoming ‘Ron the Barber’ at CFB Petawawa for 33 years.  During his years on the base, Ron received many awards and commendations from Base Commanders and Company COs.  Ron retired in 2001 and joined the staff of Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer in 2004 as a Director’s Assistant.  He and his wife Ann have been married 45 years and have two children and four grandchildren, all living in Western Canada.  Ron is also an active member of the Pembroke Pentecostal Tabernacle.

Ann Lemke, Receptionist Ann was born and raised one of a family of eight children from the Cobden area.  She had early career work at Foreign Affairs in Ottawa and AECL in Chalk River.  In 1966 Ann was winner of the Ontario Dairy Princes Competition and spent a year travelling Ontario, and to the British Isles as an ambassadress for the Ontario Dairy Industry.  In 1967 she married her husband, Ron, and together they have two children, Paul and Krista; as well a four grandchildren.  After 14 years at home, Ann returned to work, holding Executive Assistant positions for CEOs at both CCAC and the Pembroke Regional Hospital  She currently works part time for the Grey Sisters in Pembroke, as well as Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer.  Ann attends Pembroke Pentecostal Tabernacle, where she has sung in the Singing Christmas Tree production every year since it began in 1992.  She also enjoys gardening, cooking and reading.

Joyce Schultz, Receptionist Joyce was born and raised in Pembroke.  She is married to Ken Schultz and they have two children, Nancy & Mark who both reside in Ottawa.  She is a grandmother to four grandchildren.  Joyce is the parish administrative assistant at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pembroke.

Beth Loback, Receptionist Beth was born and raised in Pembroke, just a few blocks from the funeral home.  She and her husband Myron run a small glass business in the city.  Her three grown children and four grandchildren keep her busy.  She enjoys photography and spending time searching our beautiful landscape in Renfrew County.

Betty Rowe, Organist Betty Rowe has been our chapel organist at Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer since 2007.  Music has always been a big part of her life.  She is the organist at Greenwood United Church and enjoys working with the staff of Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer.

Gail Saar, Hairdresser Gail grew up in the countryside of Pembroke and is a graduate of Kemptville College and the Marvel Hairstylist Course.  Gail took over the hairdressing at Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer in the early 1980s from her mother, Eva, who was hairdresser here for many years prior.  Gail now works in private homes, as well as at Heritage Manor Salon alongside one of her three daughters, Alison – also a Marvel graduate – who also has her own salon and occasionally fills in for us as the third generation hairstylist at Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer.