Living Among the Monuments: The Chandler Family at Pine Hills

A black-and-white photograph of an undeveloped rural roadside in winter, with patches of snow scattered across uneven ground in the foreground. A dirt road runs along the left side of the image, with an early automobile parked near a line of utility poles. Wooden fence posts, a leafless tree, and open fields extend into the distance, with farm buildings faintly visible on the horizon.
A black-and-white photograph of a rural brick farmhouse with a gabled roof and a small wooden addition on one side, set on an open field with patches of snow on the ground. Leafless trees, a fence line, and utility poles surround the property, suggesting a winter scene in an early 20th-century rural setting.
A black-and-white photograph of a small rural settlement showing a one-storey house with a hip roof and front porch enclosed by a wooden fence, alongside a large wooden barn and outbuildings. A dirt road runs across the foreground, with utility poles and overhead wires cutting across the scene, leafless trees nearby, and patches of snow on the ground, suggesting a winter landscape from the early 20th century.

In the early days of Pine Hills Cemetery, life and work were inseparable. Superintendent Mel Chandler and his family lived in the white house just inside the Kennedy gates, a common practice in the 19th and early 20th centuries when superintendents were expected to always be on call. Living on site ensured security, maintenance and availability for funerals or visitors outside regular hours. As cemeteries professionalized, standardized work schedules eventually replaced the need for staff housing, but for families like the Chandlers, the cemetery was truly home.

Mel Chandler left his own mark on Pine Hills. Seeking to bring colour and life to the grounds, he introduced pheasants to the landscape, a bold idea that delighted visitors and became a fond memory for many.  

“I remember as a young child seeing beautiful pheasants around Pine Hills,” recalled one former staff member. “Customers loved the sight of those colourful birds.”

For those who grew up around the cemetery, the memories run deep. One family member shared: 

“My grandmother worked as a nanny for the Chandler family for about 20 years, and I visited often. It was a thrill to see all the hustle and bustle at the cemetery. We’d sneak into the old barn and play upstairs until my uncle or the workers found us and chased us out, worried we might get hurt. My parents were great friends with the Chandlers, and my brother and I were close with their daughters, Carol and Pat.”

Back then, Pine Hills was a lively place. Mel managed operations from the Birchmount office, while foreman and longtime groundskeeper Lloyd Shaddock ran the outside crew from the equipment yard near the Kennedy gates. Together, they kept the cemetery immaculate.  

It was a time of pride, precision and community, a legacy that continues to echo through the grounds today. 

Source: Pine Hills Cemetery Staff 

Photos courtesy of Mount Pleasant Group

  • MPG staff member