Our Staff

Lisa Murphy

Managing Director

Amy McMahon

Funeral Director

Amy graduated as Valedictorian from French River District Secondary School in 1999.  She began her career in funeral service at Park Lawn Cemetery, Crematorium & Mausoleum in Sudbury where she became a licenced Cremation Operator. Six years later, she was accepted into the Funeral Services Education at Humber College in Toronto.  She completed her apprenticeship at Martyn Funeral Home in 2008, where she continued as full-time funeral director until joining the Opatovsky Funeral Home team in January 2022.   

In the fall of 2009, Amy received the Northeastern Ontario Funeral Service Association Award.  

Amy is a member of the Powassan Curling Club, plays in many baseball, volleyball tournaments, curling bonspiels all of which raise money for local programs and projects, she volunteers on the Slo-pitch baseball executive in North Bay, and has helped raise thousands of dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society, Northern Cancer Research and the Daffodil Lodge with the Mike Lalonde Baseball Charity Tournament each September.

Amy was born in Hamilton, Ontario, the daughter of the late John Doyle (Sheryl), and late Darlene (nee Skinulis) She is married to Bruce McMahon and has two stepchildren Cyan and Justyce.  

Brianna MacKenzie

Funeral Director Intern

Brianna is a Funeral Director Intern and recent graduate of the the Funeral Service Education Program at Humber College.

Leslie Crowe

Funeral Director Assistant

Leslie joined the Opatovsky Funeral Home in June 2018 as a Funeral Director's Assistant.  Drawing on her previous experience as a Paramedic she quickly became an integral part of the team.    

Rick Callery

Funeral Director Assistant

Rick was born and raised in Sundridge, and attended school here. He later went to Toronto and attended Chicago Technical School where he studied to be a Diesel Mechanic. He returned to the north and worked in the trucking industry for more than 25 years. 

Rick married his wife Lynda in 1970 and now they have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Rick and Lynda reside in Sundridge. 

Deciding to change careers, Rick continued his education, and trained for Clergy Ministry and was ordained with Anchor Ministerial Fellowship in 1992. Rick has Pastored Higher Heights Christian Fellowship, in South River for over 23 years and has worked with the Opatovsky Funeral Home for over 18 years.   

Rick served as Padre with Sundridge Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 495 and has also served on the Anchor Ministerial Fellowship Board of Directors for 12 years.

Jeff Coleman

Funeral Director Assistant

Joined the Opatovsky Funeral Home April 2018.

Jeff is originally from Ottawa, he and his family have lived in the Burk’s Falls area for 18 years. Jeff retired in September 2017 after a 30 year career with the OPP.  

Greg Rutledge

Funeral Director Assistant

Greg grew up in Belleville, Ontario and joined the OPP in 1984. He served at Renfrew and Armstrong detachments and moved to Burk's Falls in 1994. He retired as Detective Sergeant in June 2014. Greg has been married to Jane for 19 years and has two teenage daughters. 

After retiring from the OPP Greg joined the Opatovsky Funeral Home in 2015.

Sam Brownlow

Funeral Director Assistant

Sam was born and raised in St. Catharines. He married his wife Clara in 1963 and they have one daughter. He worked in the industrial heating and boiler making industry, serving a 5 year apprenticeship to become a fitter. He progressed to layout developer and worked his way up into management before retiring to Burk's Falls in 1990. He then continued to utilize his various skills with other companies eventually forming his own business.   

Sam volunteers for many community events as he enjoys meeting and helping people. 

After retiring from his business he joined the Opatovsky Funeral Home in 2006 where he was a valuable team member until his third retirement in 2020.  However, you will still find Sam in the funeral home checking on the staff from time to time.