By Casey Neill
One of Dandenong’s oldest funeral homes is getting a makeover.
The Le Pine team moved into a portable office on its Princes Highway site and return to the refurbished chapel and offices in February.
Branch manager Ian Maxwell said the old facilities had been gutted and it will be “basically brand new”, including a 200 seat chapel and catering spaces.
“I think it will be the best funeral home in Melbourne when it’s finished,” he said.
“It was a long time overdue.
“It’s exciting to offer families the best possible place that’s available.”
Mr Maxwell has worked at Le Pine since 2002 but his personal association with the service goes even further back.
“When my father died, it was Garnar and Sons,” he said.
The business that is Le Pine Dandenong today started as JW Garnar in the late 1800s, became WJ Garnar and Son and was sold to Le Pine in 1950.
“A lot of other family members have gone through,” Mr Maxwell said.
JW referred to James William, a father of seven who was killed in a bull attack in 1913.
During the late 1800s he’d worked as an undertaker at 10 Walker Street, Dandenong, ran a mortuary in nearby Crump Lane and was also involved in a blacksmith business based in Lonsdale Street.
The family name was originally spelled Garner but James altered it to Garnar to distinguish himself.
His widow Margaret continued the family business after his death and in 1927 James’s eldest son, William James, and grandson Len, 15, took over the business.
They changed the business name from JW Garnar to WJ Garnar and Son.
The business relocated and operated from 44 Walker Street and it was behind this premises that Garner Lane was located until 2009.
Len eventually replaced his father and continued to run the business until he sold it to Le Pine Funerals.
