Funerals
Proudly Serving Ontario Families with Dignified Funeral Care
Ontario families don't have far to go for compassionate, experienced funeral care. Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory is just up the road in Shelby, and for six generations our family has served communities across Richland County with the same steady presence that's defined us since 1895.
Carli (Fichter) Bailey now leads the funeral home as the sixth generation of the Barkdull family, continuing a legacy her mother, the late Lesli (Barkdull) Neal, was proud to carry before her. For Ontario families, that means working with people who've spent generations learning how to walk alongside a grieving family, not a corporate chain running through a script.
Funeral and Cremation Services for Ontario Families
Every service we offer is built around flexibility, because no two families need the same thing when they're saying goodbye.
Traditional Funeral Services
Visitation, formal service, and burial, coordinated from start to finish so your family isn't left managing logistics on top of grief. We work regularly with churches and cemeteries throughout the Ontario and Mansfield area.
On-Site Cremation Services
Our on-site crematory is the only one between Mansfield and Norwalk, meaning Ontario families never have to wonder whether their loved one has left our care. Everything happens here, under direct supervision, from start to finish.
Burial Services
We assist with cemetery coordination, casket and vault selection, and full service planning, moving at whatever pace works for your family.
Tailored Farewells
If your family wants something that doesn't look like a standard funeral, we'll help build a service around a loved one's interests, faith, career, or personality instead.
Veteran Services
We help arrange military honors, flag presentation, and VA burial benefit coordination for Ontario's veteran families.
Advance Planning
Many Ontario residents choose to document their wishes ahead of time. We offer preplanning consultations over the phone or in person, whenever it's convenient for you.
The Short Drive From Ontario
Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory is located at 33 N Gamble St, Shelby, OH 44875, about 9 to 10 miles from Ontario. The drive takes roughly 15 minutes via SR 39 North, one of the shortest trips of any community we serve. Whether you're near The Ontario Center off Richland Mall or closer to US 30, the route is quick and direct.
Our staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call (419) 342-6356 anytime you need immediate assistance.
A Trusted Neighbor for Ontario
Ontario grew up alongside Mansfield as a hub for retail and industry, home to The Ontario Center and once anchored by a major General Motors stamping plant that shaped the local economy for decades. Despite that growth, Ontario has held onto a close, practical community feel, the kind of place where people still know their neighbors and expect to be treated like more than a transaction.
That expectation is exactly what we bring to every family we serve, whether they live five minutes from our door in Shelby or a short drive away in Ontario. We consider it a privilege every time an Ontario family chooses to place their trust in us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve Ontario, or only Shelby residents?
We regularly serve Ontario and the surrounding Richland County communities, and we can coordinate services at churches or cemeteries near Ontario if that's more convenient for your family.
How far is your funeral home from Ontario?
It takes about 9 to 10 miles, roughly a 15-minute drive north on SR 39.
Is cremation handled at your facility or somewhere else?
Cremation is handled entirely on-site at our Shelby location. We're the only crematory between Mansfield and Norwalk, so your loved one stays in our direct care.
Can Ontario families set up preplanning without visiting Shelby first?
Yes. We're glad to begin pre-planning conversations by phone and can schedule an in-person visit whenever you're ready to finalize details.
What should I do if a loved one passes away right now?
Call
(419) 342-6356 immediately. Our staff is available 24/7 and will help coordinate the next steps without delay.
