We have worked hard to make sure that our team is made up of a talented, diverse and special group of people who have a passion to serve our client families. We hope that by allowing each of our team members to choose their own photo, a little bit more of their unique personalities will shine through and you will be able to get to know them that much better.
The Cardinal Team
Born and raised in Toronto, Jim began working in the family funeral business as a teenager. He became a licensed funeral director in 1982 and became president of Cardinal Funeral Homes in 1984, following the death of his father. Jim has held leadership positions in many funeral and bereavement-related organizations, among them: the Toronto and Ontario boards of Bereaved Families of Ontario; the Funeral Service Association of Canada; Open Dialogue; the Ontario Funeral Service Association. Outside his professional field, Jim has had volunteer roles with the Hospital for Sick Children’s Unforgettables Fund and has coached his children’s T-ball, little league and hockey teams. A professional musician, making music remains an important hobby for Jim, along with gardening, scuba diving and golf. As of October 2019, Jim has officially retired from day to day operations of the company but remains connected as Chairman and majority shareholder.
Email: j.cardinal@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Jimmy is the fourth generation of the Cardinal family who has chosen to be a funeral director serving the families of Toronto. Jimmy began working at the funeral home during summer breaks from school in 2003, and it didn’t take him long to realize that joining the family business was unquestionably for him. After completing his studies in Economics at McGill University, he attended Humber College to obtain his Funeral Director’s License and graduated in 2012. In 2018 Jimmy was promoted to the position of President of Cardinal Funeral Homes as his father began to wind down his career and take a less active role in the day to day operations of the company. Along with his brother Andrew, Jimmy looks forward to carrying on the Cardinal family tradition of caring and compassionate service as we approach our 100th anniversary. Outside of work, Jimmy enjoys cheering on the Leafs, travelling with his wife Amy, spending time with his French Bulldog Gus and is a Past President of the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals.
Email: Andrew@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Andrew is the fourth generation of his family to work at the funeral home, and his passion for helping others has been growing ever since he started working during school breaks beginning in 2004. After earning a Bachelor’s degree with Honours from Dalhousie University majoring in Theatre, he obtained his funeral director’s license at Humber College in 2013. Andrew is proud to carry on the family tradition of serving the community with care and compassion and appreciates that he is able to see the tangible impact of his efforts on grieving families on a day to day basis. In his spare time, Andrew likes to exercise, compete in axe throwing, ride his motorcycle, meditate, indulge in gourmet cookies and spend time with friends.
Email: kim@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
“For as long as I can remember, being a funeral director is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Kim says. She feels it is an honour that families entrust the care of their deceased family members to her. “I will do everything I can to ensure the funeral is meaningful and perfectly organized.” After graduating with Honours in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kim pursued a funeral services diploma, graduating in 2007. She had already joined Cardinal the previous year as an intern. Her interests are reading, listening to music, camping and volunteering for charities that help animals.
Email: kevin@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Originally from Chatham, Kevin worked his way through University working at a local funeral home. He soon learned that his passion was serving families in their time of need and returned to school to become a funeral director, receiving his license in 1991. In his spare time Kevin is very involved in the local community, his church and is a Past State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus. He is also an avid Argos fan and loves to take long trips on his bike.
Email: christine@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Christine has been a licensed funeral director since 2015. After deaths in her personal circle and the different approaches from professionals towards the family and friends, she felt called to be a funeral director when she saw the positive effect a funeral director that cares can have when someone dies. When not at work Christine spends her free time reading, crafting and baking and has a passion for history, museums, learning and good food.
Email: clara@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Like many of the families we serve, Clara was born in the Azores, but raised in Toronto. She decided to become a funeral director as a second career, after being exposed to the field through a friend and family. She is a member of Toronto and Ontario funeral services associations and finds it very gratifying to help families through the emotionally difficult time when a loved one has died. When not at Cardinal, Clara likes to read, travel and “do nothing”.
Email: katherine@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Kathy joined the Cardinal’s team in 2003. She works with families both before and after they need a funeral. A licensed funeral pre-planner, she helps people organize their funeral plans, so that their families will be spared the task when the need arises. She also delivers Cardinal’s Extended Family Services Program, helping families who have just experienced a loss to wind up the deceased’s affairs. With her fluency in Ukrainian and her professional expertise, Kathy is a godsend to many of our clients. She finds her work gives her “a really good feeling at the end of the day”. In her free time, you’ll find Kathy enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.
Email: debbie@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Prior to Debbie receiving her Funeral Directors license in 2013 she graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She was first introduced to funeral service while in high school but decided to obtain her arts degree first. After receiving her degree she worked part time at a local funeral home in the east end of Toronto. It did not take long for Debbie to realize that this was the career for her because Debbie loves to help people. She graduated from Humber College Funeral Service program in 2013 with Honours. When Debbie is not at work she loves to spend time with her family, watch movies, read, cook and scrapbook.
Email: aaron@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Toronto native Aaron joined Cardinal in 2005 and still finds the camaraderie of team to be exceptional. He likes working for families in their time of need and says his goal is always to take away their anxiety and stress about planning and experiencing a funeral. “The nicest thing a family can say to me is, ’thank you for making this so easy.” In his free time, Aaron enjoys cycling, movies and playing the guitar.
Email: b.szocik@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Like so many of Cardinal’s funeral directors, Bill was inspired to make this his life career after the death of someone very close to him – his father. A native Torontonian, Bill graduated with a Diploma in Funeral Service Education in June 2003, receiving the John Finn Memorial Award for outstanding achievement. “The thing I like best is knowing that I can help make the funeral process just that little bit easier like the funeral directors did for my family when my dad died.” When not at work, Bill enjoys spending time with his family.
Email: jessica@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Originally from Hagersville Ontario, Jessica moved to Toronto to pursue her career in the funeral profession. She received her funeral director's license in 2005 and began working at Cardinal as a funeral director in 2009. With additional certification in Supply Chain Management, she took on the role of Purchaser from 2011 to 2022 before returning to her original position as a funeral director serving families in need. When not at work, Jessica spends her time with her husband and their daughter. She is also an avid traveler with a love for old films.
Email: john@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Born in Manila, Philippines, John and his family immigrated to Toronto when he was in his late teens. He became a funeral director as a second career after working in the financial industry. He graduated from Humber College in 1998 and served families as a Funeral Director in Scarborough, Ontario for several years. After John returned to financial services for the second time, he found that his heart was still longing for a sense of fulfillment. This prompted him to go back to funeral services as he realized that helping and being an encouragement to grieving families was his true passion. Aside from being a seasoned Funeral Director, John finds joy in the great outdoors. He enjoys rock climbing with his son and daughter, paddle boarding, mountain biking and camping with his family.
Email: justin@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Born into a Portuguese family, Justin Silva Rebelo first started with Cardinal Funeral Homes as a co-operative education student while in high school. It was not long until Justin realized that he wanted to follow in his mothers footsteps and become a licensed funeral director. He received his funeral directors license in 2012 after completing his internship at Cardinals. He has now returned where he says ``I feel at home in the surrounding Portuguese community and I am very proud to serve families during the most difficult time in someone's life, when they have to say goodbye to a loved one``. When not at work he has an interest in cars, sport and spending time with family and friends. Justin is a proud Portuguese speaking funeral director and is eager to continue helping families alongside his mother.
Email: mark@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Mark was thrilled to join Cardinal Funeral Homes after graduating from Humber College with honours in 2016. After his younger sister and Dad died, he knew becoming a funeral director was the right thing for him. Mark says, “One of the last things my sister did was wish me success; I define that as being fortunate enough to do what I love.” Mark’s favorite thing in the world is being Uncle Mark to his nieces and nephews. He thinks if you throw in indulging in some junk food, this is a recipe for a great time! Mark also loves to cook and watch cooking shows such as The Great British Bake Off as well as discovering great new local places to eat.
Email: jude@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Jude’s career in funeral service started with a position as a service counsellor at Pine Hills Cemetery in Scarborough. She felt a connection with so many of the families that she assisted in selecting graves and creating markers/monuments and quickly realized that funeral service is where she belonged. So she headed to Humber College to earn her funeral director’s license, graduating in 1996 with honours. Jude counts it a privilege to have helped so many families over the years to plan, honour, remember and celebrate the lives of their everyday heroes.
Email: eva@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Eva has been a licensed director in Toronto since 2013. She is passionate about her commitment to all of the families she cares for. Being able to guide families through an intensely difficult and stressful time is something she takes a great deal of pride in. An avid traveler, Eva has explored countries such as Colombia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Belize, Panama, and Ireland.
Email: m.langdon@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Michael has been a licensed Funeral Director since 2013, after searching for a meaningful career. He is patient and understanding and takes a lot of pride in his work, providing care and support for families. Born in Toronto, raised in Newfoundland, and settled back in Toronto since 2007, Michael spends his spare time refining his collection of vinyl records, and supporting his favourite team - Arsenal Football club.
Email: patrice@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
After graduating from the Funeral Services Education program at Humber College, Patrice pursued his wish to work as a Funeral Director with a focus on the embalming trade. His fortunate and fulfilling career in funeral service eventually led him to work for the Cardinal family, beginning in 2019. “I am dedicated to serving those suffering from the loss of a loved one as well as, most importantly, directly caring for the person who has passed away.”
Email: colleen@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Born and raised in Toronto, Colleen became a Funeral Director as a second career after working in Ornithology for several years. The sequential loss of two close family members lead to some soul searching and upon the “joking suggestion” of her recently passed Nana, Colleen applied to work in a funeral home.
In 2016 she graduated from the Funeral Services Program at Humber College and has dedicated her career to ensuring families and their loved ones are cared for with the utmost dignity and respect.
In her spare time Colleen enjoys gardening and camping with her partner Adrian; as well as reading and relaxing with their many parrots and two cats.
Email: katie@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Originally from Newfoundland, Katie now lives in Toronto with her partner and their dog. She became a licensed director in 2020 and joined the Cardinal team in 2021. Katie loves to read and is especially fond of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. When she isn't serving families, she likes to tend to her many plants or do something crafty, such as beadwork or crochet.
Email: glen@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Glen has been a funeral director since 1986. Spending his 25 years in his hometown area of the Niagara Region, he later moved to Toronto in 2012. Working through many chairs and appointments in the Niagara District Funeral Service Association, Toronto & District Funeral Service Association, Knights of Columbus and Lions Club were all apart of Glen’s community involvement.
In 2014, he co-founded a national charity known as Home Hospice Association (HHA). As a co-founder his largest contribution can be seen in the continued education and training of individuals to become Death Personal Support Worker (Death Doulas), and with Infant and Pregnancy Loss care and support.
Glen recognizes the mental, physical and emotional impact that the funeral profession has on one’s being. His release from all of that can be found in his passion for motorcycling and black & white photography. “My motorcycle is my sanctuary…it's a place where I can be in my own head and recharge”.
Email: joyce@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
Meet Joyce, one of the most down to earth, compassionate people you will ever meet. Relating to families that come through our door, providing that listening ear and providing comfort. Joyce brings with her a wealth of diverse life experience that she draws on to look after each family like they are her own.
Over the past few years, she has been a donor and sponsor for the Boat Rally for Kids with Cancer in support of Sick Kids, a charity so dear to her heart.
Joyce joined Cardinal in July of 2017 and has been a great asset to our families as she looks after each detail to make sure they receive the kind and compassionate service during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
`` A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal ``
- Steve Maraboli -
Email: vera@cardinalfuneralhomes.com
After working for many years in the advertising field, Vera decided to make the decision to change careers and pursue work in the funeral industry.
Vera’s previous work experience is something that has added great value to the team at Cardinal’s. Specifically, her skills in co-ordination and communication enable Vera to adapt to the new challenges each day and ensure families wishes’ are reflected for each visitation and service. Vera has also made herself integral with overseeing large scale office projects that ensure the front office runs efficiently.
Working along side with her colleagues brings her great joy in making a contribution to helping the people in our community.
Born in Azores and immigrated to Canada in 1985, Paula joined Cardinal Funeral Homes in June 2018. She has a background as a hair stylist and now takes great pride in helping create clean and beautiful spaces for both the staff and the families we serve. In her spare time, she loves to dance and get together with family and friends.
