Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.
Rick grew up in Aldershot and has been a resident of Waterdown since 1993. He is a graduate of McMaster University and Humber College. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1994 and owner of the Funeral Home since 2004. He lives in the resident apartment above the funeral home with his wife Denise, and their daschund Charlie. They have three married children, Danielle and Tyler Heemskerk, Matt Ludwig and Samantha Ludwig, and Jilliann and Adam Vandervelde. Rick is a Past President of the Ontario Funeral Service Association and of The Rotary Club of Waterdown, and a Past Chairman of the Canadian Christian Business Federation and is a member of Streetlight Christian Church in downtown Hamilton. He currently serves on the Funeral Advisory Committee for the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.
Greg is a longtime resident of Flamborough, raised in Millgrove. While a student at Waterdown District High School he did a 6 month co-op with Ron, Keith and Rick (then Kitching-Steepe Funeral home) where he developed an interest in Funeral Service. He is a graduate of Humber College and received his Funeral Directors License in August of 2005 while working with Turner & Porter Funeral Directors in Toronto. He was happy to accept an offer from Rick to join Kitching, Steepe & Ludwig in January of 2006 and return to serve his hometown. Greg lives in Waterdown with his wife Melissa and their children. He is Past President of the Rotary Club of Flamborough A.M. and was a volunteer member of the Millgrove Cemetery Board.
Garnet lives in Waterdown with his wife Rachelle and their children, and he was raised nearby in Ancaster. He is a graduate of both the University of Ottawa and Humber College, where he took the Funeral Service program. He is a member of Fellowship Church, and currently serves on the leadership team there. He has been with Kitching, Steepe & Ludwig since 2011, and became a licensed funeral director in 2012. Garnet is a member of the Steering Committee of the Waterdown YFC Youth Centre.
Diane was born in Aldershot and raised in Hamilton. Ever since a young age, Diane aspired to be a Funeral Director and after completing the Funeral Service Program at Humber College, she received her license in 2005. Diane gained experience in Hamilton and Burlington, before joining the team at Kitching Steepe & Ludwig in October, 2014. A proud Hamiltonian, Diane resides in Stoney Creek with her husband Donavan and their son.
Kayla was born and raised in Hamilton. She earned a B.A. in English at McMaster University before attending Humber College in 2019 to become a Funeral Director. Kayla has been a licensed funeral director since June 2021 and joined the funeral home in February 2022. Kayla loves to hike, puzzle and spend time with her nieces and nephews. Kayla and her husband Matt now live in Ancaster.
Ron was born and raised in Clinton and has lived in Waterdown since the early 1960s. He formerly owned the Funeral Home with his wife Eleanor for over 40 years, before it was purchased by the Ludwigs. Ron enjoys semi-retirement at his home in Waterdown, is a long time member of St. James United Church where he participates in the choir, is a Past President of the Waterdown Lion's Club, and currently serves as a volunteer with the Halton Police Services. Ron has the distinction of being a licensed funeral director for over 50 years, a graduate of the Canadian School of Embalming. He was honoured by the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to the community.
Denise is an honours graduate of the Mohawk College Bereavement Program, and is a trained Funeral Celebrant. Since 2004 she has been employed with Kitching, Steepe & Ludwig Funeral Home, where she is passionate about journeying with those navigating the Pathway to Healing. As part of her position, she runs a 10- week Caring for You Support Group, Suicide Group, Perinatal Group, Monthly Drop-in Sessions, Pet loss support, and Individual Counselling. Denise also runs yearly community events such as a Handling the Holidays Memorial Service as well as grief seminars.
Denise has completed numerous training programs and seminars in the area of grief counselling, such as Death Notification by MADD, Safe Talk, Traumatic Loss, and Complicated Mourning, and has been honoured with a Death & Grief Studies Certificate by respected author and educator Dr. Alan Wolfelt. Her Facilitator Training Program was completed with TV host and international bereavement speaker Dr. Bill Webster. She is a member of Bereavement Ontario Network and the Bereavement Resource Council.
In addition to her work with the funeral home, Denise is also a long-time Mary Kay representative in the Waterdown area and volunteered with the "Look Good, Feel Better" cancer assistance program, both of which allowing her to use her skills and empathy to help people in her community.
Keith was born and raised in Strabane, where he lived most of his life. He was a graduate of Guelph University and Humber College. He became a licensed funeral director in 1972 and worked in Waterdown for over 40 years. Keith was a long time volunteer member and former treasurer of the Strabane Cemetery Board as well as a member of Strabane United Church. Keith passed away on November 18, 2020. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by the whole community.
Henry was a licensed funeral director for over 40 years, during which time he also owned and managed his own funeral home. He was a long time resident of Burlington, where he also lived with his wife Grace. Henry passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 25, 2015, in his 70th year. He will be greatly missed.