Janice McKenna,
Principal Owner / Funeral Director and Embalmer

Janice is a graduate from Mount Royal University in Edmonton and Calgary.

In 1995 she completed her Social Work Diploma and in 2008, she completed her Director in Funeral Industry and Embalming.

She began her business in the Funeral Industry in 2008 and is proud of her continued success.

Recognizing the need for a place to gather with family and friends after the loss of a loved one, she met the challenge by purchased a facility, began the renovations and establish the very first full service Funeral Home for Yellowknife. The facility also serves the families of Northwest Territories and western Nunavut. In 2019, Janice  established a funeral services business in Hay River to serve the families south of the lake.

Janice can be described as determined. After more than 10 years of lobbying the local and Territorial governments, she was successful at having legislation amended and now operates the very first crematorium in the Northwest Territories.

The Aquamation system has been in operation for over one year.

She has made her home in Yellowknife since 1987 and the majority of those years she worked as a Social Worker in both the government and non-profit sectors.

She has always been passionate about giving service to people in need. Janice continues that tradition of caring in her current profession. 

In 2010, Janice was honored with Business of the year award, 2011 With Business Excellence Award and 2016 Business of the year Award from the Akaitcho Business and Development Corporation.

Janice is a very dedicated strong family person. She comes from a family of seven children and was raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

She is married with one daughter.

Audrey Henderson,
Funeral Director

Audrey Henderson joined the McKenna Funeral Home in 2014.  She moved to the North with her family in 1970 and later completed a Bachelor of Education in Special Education, managed group homes in Yellowknife, and received her training as a Licensed Practical Nurse specializing in aging and end of life care.

She completed the Funeral Service Diploma at Mount Royal University. From a young age, Audrey knew her life would be spent in the service to others with distinct needs. Her compassion is her greatest asset. 

Andrew Rogers,
Funeral Director / Embalmer

Andrew Rogers joined McKenna Funeral Home in 2018. Andrew completed his Bachelor of Arts – Criminal Justice in Alberta and has worked with vulnerable populations in Calgary and Edmonton. During his time in Alberta, Andrew made a street services guide for Yellowknife to help those in need find programming related to adult mental health, counselling, domestic violence, emergency meals and services, food hampers, housing, legal, and spirituality.  

Andrew received his Funeral Services Diploma in 2021 from Mount Royal University. Andrew brings his care and compassion for helping others to our team at McKenna Funeral Home. 

Jacky Kruger,
Funeral Director - Hay River Funeral Services

Jacky joined McKenna Funeral Home in January, 2019 to provide funeral services for residents of the South Slave. She recently graduated from Mount Royal University, having studied for her Funeral Service and Embalming diplomas.

Jacky has been working for the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority for the last 11 years. In her roles, she discovered her passion for helping families in their time of loss.

Jacky was born in Sudbury, Ontario, and raised in Quebec. She is fluently bilingual. She lives with her family, including three daughters, in Hay River.

Sarah Champion,
Funeral Director

Sarah joined McKenna Funeral Home in September 2021. Sarah is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University holding a Bachelor of Arts and is currently in online schooling through the University of Florida for Forensic Death Analysis. She was born in Yellowknife, left for a decade to live on the East Coast but ultimately returned to her home to Yellowknife to create a life with her partner.

She is a committed to learning the role of Funeral Director and Embalmer. She is always willing and ready to learn new things both inside and outside of her profession and would like to one day become a Professor in Forensic Sciences.

Lorilie Rowsell-White,
Office Administrator 

Lorilie was born in Newfoundland. Went back to school in 1998, where she did Management courses, Bookkeeping, and Office Administration courses at Compu College School of Business. Finishing with a 98 percent overall average and perfect attendance. 

She has a strong work ethic, and exemplary customer services skills. Along with being a very family-oriented, positive professional person. She came to Yellowknife in August 2015 sight unseen for her job at the time and has been at home here ever since. Lorilie joined McKenna Funeral Home September 2021. 

McKenna Funeral Home 
opened officially on Nov. 01, 2010 with an open house. Representatives of the Christian churches provided blessings, along with members of the Tlicho (Roman Catholic), Hindu and Jewish communities, who spoke in their languages.

The funeral home includes a large, comfortable living room area for families to sit and talk. There is also an area to make and drink coffee and tea.

People of every faith and tradition are welcome. Talk to staff about how we can help you remember and celebrate the life lost.

A downstairs office is a private space to make funeral or memorial arrangements and view a selection of products such as caskets, urns and memorial books.

People of every faith and tradition are welcome. Talk to Janice about how she can help you remember and celebrate the life lost.