Meet Our Staff

It takes a range of skills to meet the needs of those we serve but from our professional staff of funeral directors and embalmers to our administrative and support staff, drivers, receptionists and preplanners, all of our team have one thing in common. They understand that serving those who rely on us - whatever that may entail - is everyone's first priority and the reason we come to work every day.  How can we help you?

Dean Brombal
President & Managing Director

Dean Brombal was born and raised in Guelph, where his family is well known for their association with the fashion business. "As a child I was always taken along to the funeral home with my parents to pay final respects to family or friends – it is just what we did." This family practice sparked an early interest in funeral service that lead to a high school co-op placement with a local funeral home and eventually to Humber College. Dean became a licensed funeral director in 1996.

In early 2023, after more than 25 years serving Ontario families in several communities, Dean fulfilled a long time goal to own his own business when he came home to Guelph to become the President and Managing Director at Gilchrist Chapel - McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home. In June 2023, he chose to signal his commitment to the business and his community by putting his name on the door, rebranding the firm Brombal Funeral Home & Cremation Care.

Dean Brombal is a graduate of Bishop Macdonell High School in Guelph – where he met his wife Lynn (Uliana) – and holds a BA (Economics) from Wilfrid Laurier University. Always active in his community, his contributions were recognized when he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.

Dean and Lynn have two children, a son and a daughter.

A Guelph native, Cameron (Cam) Skipper was born to his profession - his parents, Jack and Nancy Skipper, owned the Skipper-O'Drowsky Funeral Home on Waterloo Avenue for many years. A graduate, of G.C.V.I. he went on to Humber College for the Funeral Services Education Program. Graduating in 1981 he began his career in Kitchener before returning home to Guelph in 1985 to work at Gilchrist Chapel.

In July of 2011 Cam became owner and Managing Director of the firm. After more than a decade at the helm, in 2023 he sold his interest in the business as a first step toward retirement. He continues to work as a funeral director, offering his 40 years experience in the service of the families of our community.
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A founding member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium, he remains an active Rotarian. Cam and wife Barb have two grown sons.

Cam Skipper
Funeral Director

Doug Gilchrist
1958-2024

A 1979 Honours graduate of Humber College, Doug Gilchrist joined the firm in 1980 and was named the firm's Managing Director in 1981.  He purchased the funeral home in 1985 and remained in that role for more than 25 years until 2011. Doug continues to serve families as a funeral director.

Active at Lakeside Church, Doug is a Past President of the Royal City Kiwanis Club, Past Master of Trillium Masonic Lodge, Past President of the Central Ontario Funeral Directors Association and a board member of the Humber College Funeral Services Advisory Committee and current member of the Board of Funeral Services. 

​We are deeply saddened to acknowledge the passing of our friend and colleague Doug Gilchrist on November 6. 2024.