History
Proudly serving Kamloops and the surrounding areas since 1888, the dedicated staff at Schoening Funeral Service Ltd. are committed to meeting the evolving needs of today’s families through caring expertise and innovative ideas. We have built the foundation of our reputation upon the principles of service excellence, community involvement and respect for the families we serve.
Schoening’s has always been a family owned and operated establishment and was purchased by George Wright in 1961 from Don Schoening. George created a legacy of service and trust within the business community and his outgoing and considerate manner were well known to the people of Kamloops. The family tradition continued when George’s interest in serving the community was passed on to two of his children; daughter Sandra Irvine and son Paul Wright who joined the firm in 1977 and 1984.
George Wright passed away in 2002 leaving Paul and Sandra, who currently serve as Managing Director and Administrative Manager, to continue the family tradition of service excellence and community involvement.
Schoening’s in the Community
“Always be prepared to give something back”
One of the many legacies left to the firm by George Wright is the belief that if you take care of your community, your community will take care of you; George’s words were, “Always be prepared to give something back”.
Schoening’s actively contributes to many organizations and associations in Kamloops including: Thompson Rivers University Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Kamloops Hospice Association, Kamloops Brain Injury Association as well as donating to help support, “A Communities in Bloom Legacy Project”, the Kamloops Community Forest along the Thompson River. Also, Schoening’s is proud to support Kamloops’ most prominent healthcare facility, Royal Inland Hospital, with donations totaling over one hundred thousand dollars.
Paul Wright is an active member in the community and frequently gives educational lectures to students at Sprott Shaw Community College as well as, assisting with the training of hospice and palliative care workers. Also, Paul has been involved with Thompson Rivers University and has served as a Foundation Board Member for ten years and Board Chairman for four years.
Both Paul and Sandra are involved in funeral organizations on a provincial and national level; Paul served as president of the Funeral Service Association of British Columbia and the Funeral Service Association of Canada, while Sandra has held several positions on the Provincial Association board and has recently completed her term as President of the Funeral Association of British Columbia.
Merritt Funeral Chapel
In 2009, Paul Wright of Schoening Funeral Service was pleased to announce plans to restore and renovate the historic Merritt Funeral Chapel in Merritt B.C. The Chapel has been a historic fixture amongst the community of Merritt for many generations and was purchased by George Wright from Mr. John Bann in October of 1988. In May of 2010, the renovations were completed. The staff at Schoening’s is happy to see the building restored and to continuing its longstanding service history in the Nicola Valley.