Our Staff

Chris Martin Jong

President, Funeral Director

Christopher G. (Martin) Jong represents the fourth generation of the Martin Family and the first fourth-generation funeral director in the Province of Alberta. As the President of Pattison Funeral Home, he is committed to the highest standard in the funeral profession. Funeral Service and caring for people in their time of loss has always been Chris's passion, study and focus. Chris is a Past-President of the Alberta Funeral Service Association. Chris also serves on the Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board-Funeral Education Review Committee (F.E.R.C.) in this roll he and the committee make education reviews and suggestions to the Alberta provincial government and the Funeral Legislative Review Committee (F.L.R.C) where he contributes to ongoing discussion and reviews of the funeral law of our province.  He is also an embalming examiner with the Canadian College of Funeral Service, evaluating students on the practical portion of the embalming exams.

Chris started his funeral service career in 1997 washing the funeral cortège and working evenings at Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels Ltd. after school. After graduating from the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in 2003, Chris enrolled in the Funeral Director/Embalmer program with the Western School of Funeral Service and graduated in 2005. Chris worked with Arbor Memorial Services Inc. in Edmonton from 2003 until 2007 obtaining his license in both Funeral Directing and Embalming outside of the family firm gaining more perspective. Chris married his high school sweetheart Carla Mroch and together they have two children Grayson and Aubrey. Both Chris and Carla feel blessed and humbled to be raising their family, serving the community, and sharing their lives in our beautiful community of Medicine Hat.

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DEREK MARTIN

Senior Funeral Director / Embalmer

In May of 1976, Derek Sr. and Leslee Martin purchased the Pattison Funeral Home. Their sons, Gregg and Derek Jr., went to work early at the Funeral Home, learning the business from the ground up. Ten years after the purchase of the Funeral Home, Gregg & Derek Martin Jr. bought their father’s shares and took over the day to day operations of the Pattison Funeral Home.

Gregg and Derek apprenticed at Pattison’s and obtained their Funeral Director and Embalming training from the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 1988.

Derek is a past president and present board member of Medicine Hat Musical Theatre. He gives freely of his time and resources in support if his involvements in the community. He is married to Kathy, has three children and two step daughters.

GREGG MARTIN

Senior Funeral Director /Controller

In May of 1976, Derek Sr. and Leslee Martin purchased the Pattison Funeral Home. Their sons, Gregg and Derek Jr., went to work early at the Funeral Home, learning the business from the ground up. Ten years after the purchase of the Funeral Home, Gregg & Derek Martin Jr. bought their father’s shares and took over the day to day operations of the Pattison Funeral Home.

Gregg and Derek apprenticed at Pattison’s and obtained their Funeral Director and Embalming training from the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 1988.

Gregg is a member of the Medicine Hat Rotary Club, President of the Top Hat Bingo Association and in his spare time plays slowpitch in two leagues and is a member of Desert Blume Golf Course. He is married to Kathy and they have one child.

SHELLY MAYER

Funeral Director / Office Administrator

Shelly was born and raised in Medicine Hat, graduating from McCoy High School.  In October of 1985, she joined the team at the Pattison Funeral Home.  In the early 1990's, she decided to make this her career and became a licensed funeral director.  

Shelly has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to serving the families of this community which is reflected in her longevity with the funeral home. 

Shelly married Cal and they raised their two sons in Medicine Hat.  As a family, they were involved in their community through sports.  They all took an interest in every aspect from  being athletes to coaching, and volunteering in many ways to support the cause.  

Currently, Shelly is a Yoga enthusiast, is part of a Dragonboat team and enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling near and far and treasures time  with her family.

DAVID TOWNSEND

Life Celebrant / Funeral Attendant

David Townsend started with the Pattison Funeral Home in 2011 as a Funeral Attendant. In the summer of that same year, David was certified as a Life Celebrant after completing the Funeral Celebrant Training with the In-Sight Institute. After more than a decade, David has been privileged to have served hundreds of families celebrate the lives of their loved ones and he looks forward to being able to assist others in the future. 

David came to the Pattison Funeral Home after retiring as a Staff Sergeant from the Medicine Hat Police Service. During David's 27 years of service to his community, he served in many departments which included Patrols, K-9, Media Relations, School and Community Resource, Recruiting, Criminal Investigations, and spent numerous years as a DARE and EPIC instructor. 

David has been a part of local community theatre since 1995 and continues to enjoy time on and off stage in this pursuit. His wife, Nova-Lee keeps him grounded and they enjoy time with their daughter's family which includes a wonderful grandson.

VICKI AADLAND

Embalmer / Funeral Director

Vicki was born and raised in Saskatchewan and in 1996, moved to Medicine Hat. She has two sons who are now grown. 

Vicki is very dedicated to her career and has spent the past 12 years working as an embalmer for the pattison funeral home. Vicki has a great love for animals and in her spare time she loves being with her dog, Ginger and her cat, Loki. She also enjoys reading, baking, watching several different series and movies, and gardening in the spring and summer months. 

DAVID CANNON

Funeral Director / Embalmer

Dave started with the Pattison Funeral Home in November of 2015 as a Funeral Attendant, following 15 years in the British Military, and then 12 years as a Mechanical Engineer. Dave is a licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremation Specialist; completing his education through the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2018.  

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Dave moved to Medicine Hat in 2003, along with his wife, Dee. Together with their two daughters, Chynna and Sophia, they have made Medicine Hat their home.  He is a Board Member and current President of the Board for Medicine Hat Musical Theatre.  He enjoys his time both on-stage and behind the scenes, taking on numerous roles within the organization. 

Dave feels blessed and honoured to be assisting grieving families in their time of need and, is proud to play an intricate role as a member of the Pattison Funeral Home team of funeral service professionals. 

PAT GRISONICH

Life Celebrant / Funeral Attendant

Pat Grisonich has been with the Pattison Funeral Home since 2019, as a Life Celebrant and Funeral Attendant.  Over the past 36 years, he has been a teacher, counselor, Vice Principal, Principal and coach in both the Medicine Hat Public School Division and the Medicine Hat Catholic School Division.  Currently, Pat is a Trustee with the Public School Division.  Pat’s involvement with the community has been reached through coaching various teams which he continues to do through school athletics as well as volunteering for the Winter and Summer Special Olympic Games being hosted here in Medicine Hat.  Pat was born and raised in Medicine Hat and is married to Kristin.  They have four children between them and are very proud of their accomplishments.  Having experienced the loss of wonderful parents, Pat has enjoyed his role as a Life Celebrant where is he committed to bringing comfort to the grieving and celebrating the life of your family member with love.  

BRANDEN MARTIN

Office Assistant/Apprentice Funeral Director/Embalmer

Branden was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta with a passion for the performing arts. Growing up, he was an active member in Hatterland Children’s Theatre and Medicine Hat Musical Theatre. His passion led him to obtain a diploma in Theatrical Art and Design from Keyano College and his Bacholer of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Alberta. Branden later took a break from the acting profession to pursue his interests in journalism. He received his diploma in broadcast journalism from SAIT Polytechnic and spent four years touring around northern Alberta covering local and breaking news for various  communities surrounding the Edmonton area. Journalism proved to be a great adventure, but Branden soon found himself wanting to set up some roots and start a family of his own, and where better to do that than in his hometown. Branden met his wife Serina, and soon they welcomed two little ones into their lives. The call to service came to Branden in the fall of 2022, when he joined the Pattison Funeral Home team. Currently Branden is working as an apprentice enrolled in the Canadian College of Funeral Service working towards his Funeral Director/Embalming License. 

JILLIAN MARTINSON

Office Assistant/Apprentice Funeral Director/Embalmer

Jillian started with Pattison Funeral Home in October 2022 and is an apprentice funeral director/embalmer. She is studying for a diploma in funeral services through Mount Royal University. To pursue her new career, she moved from Calgary back to Medicine Hat, where she grew up. In her spare time she loves to read and spend time with her kitten, Wednesday. 

JOCELYN HODEL

Funeral Attendant

Jocelyn Hodel started with Pattison Funeral Home in October, 2014 . Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan she and her husband Darryl, migrated to Medicine Hat in the summer of 2002 with their three children; Darryl as a Journeyman plumber/gas fitter, and she as an Administrator in Agriculture. Jocelyn volunteers with both the Heart & Stroke and the Children’s Wish

Foundations and has a passion for music. She is a member of the Live Music Club and the Folk Music Club, and can be heard at various local venues around town.

Pattison Funeral Home helps families celebrate the life of a loved one,

and having the opportunity to be a part of that celebration is warmth to her heart!

BRUCE STOCK

Funeral Attendant

Bruce was born in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan and grew up on the farm. For 42 years, he and his wife Marj, farmed South of Richmound, Saskatchewan until recently when they retired to Medicine Hat. He began working for the Pattison Funeral Home in November of 2014. They have three grown children, Stephanie, Owen and Braden and a grandchild on the way. Bruce is an avid coin collector.

D. IAN BLAKELY

Funeral Director / Embalmer "officially retired"

Ian began his career in 1968 working as a summer student in Barrie, Ontario at a local funeral home. After graduation from high school he attended Humber College in Toronto and graduated from their prestigious funeral directing and embalming program with an Ontario license. In 1975 he began working at the Pattison Funeral home in Medicine Hat and obtained his Alberta Funeral Director/ Embalmer’s license in 1977. He has been employed with the Pattison funeral home from 1975-1983 and from 1989-present.

WE WISH IAN MUCH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN THE MANY YEARS TO COME. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE FAMILIES AND THE PROFESSION. Gregg and Derek Martin and staff.

Derek and Leslee Martin

In Memoriam

Derek and Leslee Martin purchased the Pattison Funeral Home in 1976, and continued serving their community with care and compassion until their retirement.   Derek was a second generation funeral director and as a husband and wife team, Derek and Leslee would lay the foundation of service and commitment with two of their sons, who then continued that passion in the funeral profession making it a 3rd generation funeral home.  The torch has now been passed to the 4th generation making the Pattison Funeral Home the longest generational funeral home in Medicine Hat.