Linda Lee's Historical Journey in Death Care

Linda Lee’s journey into the funeral service industry began as a teenager when her father became a business partner in a funeral home. At the time, there was a need for a funeral home dedicated to serving Toronto’s Chinese community, so her father stepped in to provide this essential service, establishing the Wing On Funeral Chapel near Spadina’s Chinatown. This early exposure to the world of funerals set the stage for a groundbreaking career.

“Through my father, I got an inside look at how things worked,” said Linda. “During university, I worked part-time at the funeral home, driving the flower car and assisting as a funeral director’s assistant. That’s when I started thinking it might be a career path for me.”

But the road wasn’t without its challenges. Certain cultural taboos surrounding death in the Chinese community at the time meant Linda’s interest in a full-time career in the industry was difficult for her family to accept at first.

“My father didn’t think it was the right career for a girl,” she said. “In Chinese culture, some people have strong beliefs that being involved in anything related to death can bring bad luck. But I enrolled in Humber College’s Funeral Service Education Program anyway, and when I did, my father became very proud of me.”

At age 25, Linda made history as the first Chinese-Canadian in Ontario to complete the program and receive her funeral director’s license.

“Once I got my license, it was something my dad really took pride in,” said Linda. “I didn’t grow up with an in-depth understanding of Chinese burial rites or the superstitions around death, but I learned along the way while serving the Chinese community in Toronto.”

For a decade, Linda worked with her father at their funeral homes, offering services to Toronto’s growing Chinese population. Even after the homes were bought out by larger corporations, Linda continued to support the operations until she found herself at a crossroads.

“I got married, had a baby, and during my maternity leave, the corporation I was working for decided to shut down our location” said Linda. “That’s when I joined the Mount Pleasant Group in 2001.”

Her career at MPG blossomed. Linda was promoted to Funeral Operations Manager in 2006 and played a pivotal role in managing several locations, including the opening of the Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre. One of her key responsibilities was to help grow the company’s outreach to Chinese communities and clientele, providing culturally sensitive funeral services.

“When I started, there were only two Chinese funeral employees working for The Simple Alternative,” she said. “A big part of my role was to serve Chinese families in their language and according to their traditions. It was a great opportunity to build those relationships, and I’m proud of how much we’ve grown.”The shift in the industry has been remarkable, especially when it comes to gender representation in the funeral profession.

“When I first went through the program, only about 30 per cent of funeral directors were women. Now, I’d say it’s around 90 per cent,” said Linda, whose brother, Glen, is also a funeral director at MPG. “This year, all of our interns are women. The shift from a male-dominated field to one that is predominantly female is incredible to witness.”

Reflecting on her career, Linda notes that her path wasn’t as difficult as many would assume, despite the cultural taboos.

“I grew up speaking English and didn’t really internalize the taboos around death. To me, it wasn’t a taboo, so choosing this career didn’t feel like a barrier to overcome. I think for many in the community, seeing a young Chinese woman choosing this path was surprising.”

Looking at the growth of MPG and the funeral industry as a whole, Linda is proud of how far things have come.

“It’s been incredible to watch the business and our team grow over the years. To look back now and see the journey, I can’t help but be amazed. I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to help bridge cultures and provide a valuable service to the community,” she says. “And it’s exciting to think about where we’re heading next.”