When most children are asked what they want to be when they grow up, they respond with jobs like “veterinarian”, “hockey player”, “teacher”, “nurse” or maybe even “astronaut”. But Trevor J Tracey was different; he knew he wanted to be a funeral director.

“We lived next door to a cemetery, and my uncle was the local grave digger,” said Trevor. “So, I would travel with him and meet every undertaker around the province.”

It was in one of these meetings that Trevor would be introduced to his future mentor, a funeral home director based near his home in Cape Breton.

“Every kid has a Wayne Gretzky, and my Wayne Gretzky was a funeral director,” remembered Trevor, noting the impact his mentor had on the community. “He was sincere and genuine; I grew up wanting to be like him.”

After spending time working for other funeral providers, Trevor decided to branch out on his own. He had a vision for a different kind of funeral home, one that prioritized service and personalization. He developed a unique business model with a smaller location and reduced vehicle fleet that allowed him to lower the fees for his services, making them more affordable.

He also wanted to offer a friendlier, one-on-one style of service to help guide families through the challenging process of funeral planning. Trevor noticed that in the funeral business, many clients were being told what to do for arrangements that might not reflect the life of the person being remembered.

“I realized one day while working with a family that people continued to tell them what they ‘should’ be doing and not asking what they need us to do for them,” recalled Trevor. “We need to be making it more about what they want."

When he meets with clients, Trevor builds a trusting and personal connection to make sure they’re getting everything they want for the service.  

When it came time to choose a banking provider, he chose CUA for those same reasons - trust, individual connection and personalized options that would support the unique needs of his business.

“I knew a manager personally,” said Trevor. “I used to bring his grandmother groceries. I really trusted him, and never looked back.”

Now CUA staff know him by first name and answer any of his business banking questions. “I just pick up the phone and can call any of the branches where I do my daily banking, it’s always a first name basis and it’s very personable,” said Trevor. 

CUA has supported T.J. Tracey’s Cremation and Burial Services since he opened the doors at his first location and has been instrumental in providing business advice and personalized product options to support his business goals.

"It was CUA 100%, right from day one,” explained Trevor. “From what started at my kitchen table to where we are now.”

His hard work has paid off. Since opening in 2015, T.J. Tracey Crematorium and Burial Specialists has grown to three locations across the Province (Glace Bay, Sydney and Halifax), with 12 full-time and six part-time employees.

Alongside his personal connection to clients, he recognizes the importance of staying positive and motivated for his staff. Trevor believes authenticity and consistency are the reasons for his success.

“I couldn’t do it without my employees,” said Trevor. “I am so fortunate; they treat the business as if it’s their own.”

Even though the funeral business can be sad, Trevor is able to find joy in what he does through supporting families and making sure their needs are met in a way that best celebrates their loved ones.

“Back in the day, funeral homes were dark, gloomy and quiet,” said Trevor. “But now, people bring in their pets and prized possessions. We even had someone bring in their motorcycles!”

“As sad as this business is, when a family leaves feeling okay about what they’ve just been given, that’s what the reward is,” said Trevor. “Believe it or not, it’s a very rewarding profession.”

For more information on banking with CUA and business financing solutions, visit our website or contact one of our knowledgeable Commercial Account Managers. If you have a CUA success story to share, email us; we would be happy to tell it.