Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Lisa Murphy
Managing Funeral Director
Lisa Murphy arrived in Burk’s Falls in 1990. Her family had decided to make their home here. After graduating from the Funeral Services Education Program at Humber College and working in funeral homes in both Oshawa and St. Catharines, Lisa returned to Burk’s Falls in 1994 when she accepted a position to work as a licensed funeral director with the Dempster-Allair Funeral Home, later becoming the manager. In 2006 Lisa accepted a position with the Opatovsky Funeral Home to continue as managing director.
Lisa is a member of the Executive Board of Directors for Fell Homes, a past member of the Our Community Works Committee, a past member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Almaguin Palliative Care Team, a former leader with the Pathfinders group in Almaguin District as well as a volunteer for many community events.
Naomi Woodall
Funeral Director
Naomi was born and raised in South-Western Ontario, between Clinton, London and Woodstock. She graduated from Laurentian University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Biology. Not knowing what direction to take she took her mother's advice and worked with a local funeral home in Norwich, Ontario and fell in love with the profession.
She attended the Funeral Service Education Program in 2009 and following completion was offered her internship at the Opatovsky Funeral Home. Graduating from the program and receiving her License in 2011, she was then asked to stay on and offered a position as a junior director.
Naomi has fallen in love with the area, the communities and has made her home in Sundridge.
David Opatovsky
Funeral Director / Former Owner
Born in Fort Erie, Ontario, David grew up in the village of Crystal Beach. He began early in his life working long hours. At ten years of age he started working part time during the school year and full time in the summer.
During his teens he got to know the local Funeral Director and started helping out with minor duties. He began his post secondary education pursuing Business Administration to become an Accountant but was drawn back to the Funeral Profession and truly loved the feeling of helping people in what is quite often the most difficult time of their lives.
He continued his eduation and became a Licenced Funeral Director in 1988. He purchased the Moore’s Funeral Chapel in Sundridge in 1989 and quickly found his wife Barbara, marrying her in 1990. They have three wonderful children who have kept them quite busy. David solely ran this location until 2001 at which time he joined the Ontario Provincial Police as a police officer to fulfill a desire he had since he was a young boy. This allowed David to hire another Funeral Director and he continued policing, and operating the funeral home until 2006 when he purchased the Dempster-Allair Funeral Home in Burk’s Falls. David had to step down from policing with the two locations but was fortunate enough to be honored with a Provincial Accolade award from the Ontario Provincial Police for community service which will be treasured forever.
After purchasing the location in Burk’s Falls, David decided to change the names of both locations to the Opatovsky Funeral Home - Moore Chapel in Sundridge and the Opatovsky Funeral Home - Dempster Chapel in Burk’s Falls. The name change was to show continuity of the locations and also keep the names of his well respected predecessors on each building as well.
David has volunteered for many organizations and boards and continues to work alongside with Lisa, Naomi and all the part time staff as one big happy family taking care of the needs of families in the Almaguin Highlands whenever they call upon him and plans on continuing to do so for many years to come.
In April 2018, the funeral homes were sold to Park Lawn Corporation. David remains an integral part of the Opatovsky team.
Leslie Crowe-Harrison
Aftercare Coordinator/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. Not long after Leslie took over care of the Aftercare Program and now facilitates the estate program the funeral home provides to the families we serve.
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.
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.
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.
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.