... Our Staff --  We're Here to Serve You!               

Paul P.B. MacKay - Born in Star Lake, NY, Paul attended Clifton-Fine Central School until which time J&L Steel closed and his family relocated to Pennsylvania and later Maryland. Paul attended Catonsville Community College, outside of Baltimore, Maryland, where he earned his degree in the Mortuary Science Program in 1992. He served his apprenticeship in Williamsport, Maryland with the Osborne Funeral Home from 1992-1993 and received his Funeral Directors License from the state of Maryland.

In 1993, Paul took a position at the Stauffer Funeral Home in Frederick, Maryland ( large firm serving over 500 families per year) and was employed there until he returned to the North County in June 2003.

Paul joined the Lawrence Funeral Home staff in April 2004 and received his New York State Funeral Director’s license June 2004.  He is the Manager and proud owner of the Lawrence Funeral Home.

Paul is President of the St. Lawrence County Funeral Directors Association; member of the St. Lawrence Lodge # 111 F&AM, associate member of the VFW Post #1231 and the Canton Lions Club. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time on his property in Russell, hunting, fishing, sugaring and spending time with family.

Paul resides in Russell, New York with his wife, Charmaine and their children Gage and Sydney Coffey and Cooper MacKay.

"I take pride in every aspect of our business."  

paul.lawrencefuneralhome@gmail.com

Elmer Denesha - Started his career in the funeral business in 1941 when he served as an apprentice at the Kentfield Funeral Home. He worked at the funeral home until 1942 when he joined the Navy and served overseas for two years in the Pacific. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked with his father for 2 years then returned to work at the Kentfield Funeral Home. Elmer graduated from the Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science and received his Funeral Director’s license in 1951.

In 1955 he bought the former Kentfield Funeral Home in Dekalb Junction, New York and changed the name to the Denesha Funeral Home. He owned and operated the Denesha Funeral Home in Dekalb Junction as well as operating the Denesha Gardner Funeral Home on Court Street in Canton until 1987.

Elmer joined the Lawrence Funeral Home staff in 2000 and thoroughly enjoys his work and had made many friends throughout the years in the funeral profession.

Elmer died June 10, 2014 at his home in DeKalb Jct.  He will be fondly remembered by his friends at Lawrence Funeral Home.

Barry Walch - Barry has been a practicing funeral director since 1979, after starting his formal training in 1976. He was a funeral director with the White Funeral Home in Conway, NH.  At that time they also operated the emergency ambulance coverage for that town so he served as an EMT as well. Barry has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Colby College, Waterville, Maine; An Associate’s Degree in Funeral Service from New England Institute of Anatomy and Funeral Studies, Boston, MA, and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire.

Barry came to Canton in 1989 to join the faculty of the Mortuary Science Program at SUNY Canton.   A year later he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor, and in 1995 assumed the position of Program Director.

Barry has been affiliated with the Lawrence Funeral Home since 1991, assisting in all aspects of funeral service as his schedule at the college allows.  He also serves as a State Director of the New York State Funeral Director’s Association, and is a Founding Director of the New York State Tribute Foundation (a philanthropic association committed to helping the public with issues of loss and grief). 

Barry resides with his wife Rhonda in Canton, New York and is a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Canton.

Non-Licensed Support Staff

Sharon Lawrence, Funeral Consultant and Dear Friend
William Webb, Dear Friend and Funeral Attendant
Charmaine MacKay, Owner's Wife and Funeral Attendant
Gage M. Coffey, Charmaine's Son and Future Funeral Director

(Due to New York State regulation, we are unable to provide biographical information regarding funeral home staff who do not hold a Funeral Directors license.)