‘Real progress’ in funeral home reconstruction coming

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Petrolia/North Enniskillen firefighter arrive on the scene of a fire in the upper apartment at Needham Jay Funeral Home in Petrolia in August.

It will be a few more months before a Petrolia business will be able to return to its building.

In August 2022, there was a fire at Needham-Jay Funeral Home on Petrolia Line. The owner, Steve Mailloux, had hoped to be back into the Petrolia chapel in six months. But in a social media post, Mailloux says it will be some time yet.

“Damage was much more extensive than initially thought and we have encountered a few surprises along the way given the age of our building,” he says.

“I feel we are at the point where some real progress will soon begin. Permits for the rebuild have been submitted and the tendering process has begun.

“I am hopeful that in the next few weeks we should begin to see trades people on site and everything starting to be put back together,” he added.
The funeral home has been working from its Wyoming chapel since the fire.