Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home

07/15/2026

Roadhouse & Rose began as a cabinet-making and undertaking business in 1842 when Samuel Roadhouse, who came to Newmarket to apprentice to John Botsford in 1838, purchased the firm at the time of Botsfords death in 1842. At this time, the firm operated as a liverly stable which included a horse-drawn hearse. And manufactured their own furniture and coffins with a horse driven factory machine.

07/13/2026

🍻 We’re proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of Oktoberfest Newmarket 2026! 🍻

Dust off your lederhosen and dirndls because one of Newmarket’s most anticipated community events is back on Saturday, October 3!

Roadhouse & Rose is honoured to support this incredible event, bringing our community together for an afternoon of authentic Oktoberfest fun, delicious food, great local venues, live entertainment, and plenty of festive spirit—all while supporting an important local cause. ❤️ This year, proceeds from Oktoberfest Newmarket go to benefit our local Cedar Centre.

Your Oktoberfest Passport includes exclusive food and beer pairings at six participating restaurants, plus access to the lively Biergarten After-Party at The George, featuring live entertainment and an unforgettable Oktoberfest atmosphere.

🎟️ Passports are on sale now—but quantities are limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!

We hope you’ll join us in raising a stein, making memories, and supporting Cedar Centre through this exciting community celebration.

🍺 Prost! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

06/28/2026

Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home is proud to support the next generation of scientific leaders through our annual Science Bursary at Newmarket High School.

Each year, this bursary is presented to a selected graduating student who has demonstrated exemplary achievement, dedication, and promise in the field of science. Through their hard work, curiosity, and commitment to learning, the recipient represents the bright future of innovation, discovery, and meaningful contribution to our world.

We are honoured to recognize and encourage students who pursue science with passion and purpose, and we hope this bursary helps support their continued studies as they work toward making a positive difference in the world.

Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Jerry Grieve, on this well-deserved achievement. We wish you every success in your future studies and all that lies ahead.

Roadhouse & Rose is proud to continue supporting education, community, and the remarkable young people of Newmarket.

06/18/2026

This past Sunday, our community gathered at the Newmarket Cemetery Veterans’ Plot for the 129th Annual Decoration Day, hosted by the Newmarket Veterans Association. ♥️ 🏅 🇨🇦

Decoration Day is a long-standing and deeply meaningful tradition of remembrance in Newmarket, an older tradition that came before Remembrance Day. Despite the rain, so many came out to honour our fallen soldiers and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of those who came before us.

This year’s Honourary Parade Marshal was Eleanor Thompson, and the ceremony was a solemn, dignified, and moving tribute from beginning to end.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who helped make the service possible, including Decoration Day Chaplain Reverend Rory Honeyghan of St. Paul's Anglican Newmarket, Decoration Day Chairman Wes Playter, Parade Marshal Ken White, and the Colour Sergeant.

Thank you to Mayor John Taylor, MP Sandra Cobena, and MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy for their thoughtful remarks, and to Margaret Warbeck for leading In Flanders Fields. Thank you as well to Sandra Smart, Lorne Tingle, Steve Housam, the Newmarket Citizens Band, and the many cadets, veterans, service groups, organizations, wreath layers, and community members who took part.

The Newmarket Citizens Band was exceptional, bringing beauty and reverence to the ceremony, and the cadets were truly outstanding — poised, disciplined, and a credit to our community.

We are grateful to the Royal Canadian Legion, the Newmarket Citizens Band, Capt. Ken White, Steve Housam, Bob Smart, Norm Smart, Sandra Smart, Lorne Tingle, Margaret Warbeck, York Regional Police Town of Newmarket Mayor John.Taylor Wes Playter Juliana Playter Jackie Playter Allison Jackson and the Newmarket Cemetery for their contributions and support.

Following the service, the Newmarket Veterans Association welcomed guests for refreshments at the NVA Hall, 406 Millard Avenue.

We are proud to help support the Newmarket Veterans' Association in keeping this important tradition going for future generations. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, volunteered, laid wreaths, and helped make the day possible.

We look forward to gathering again as a community on November 11th for Remembrance Day.

Lest We Forget. ♥️

Photo credit: Greg King Photography

06/08/2026

Each year, we gather among the stones, the flags, and the quiet names etched into history to remember those who gave everything so that we may live in freedom. ♥️ 🇨🇦 🏅

Decoration Day is a time to pause, reflect, and honour our fallen heroes — the men and women whose courage, sacrifice, and devotion helped shape the peace and liberty we are privileged to know today. Their service must never become a distant memory. Their names, their stories, and their sacrifice deserve to be carried forward with gratitude.

Please join us at the cemetery as we come together in remembrance, respect, and community.

Hosted by the Newmarket Veterans Association, we look forward to seeing you as we commemorate the fallen heroes who fought for the very freedom we have today.

Decoration Day 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026
1:30 P.M.
At the Cenotaph in Newmarket Cemetery

Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony at the Newmarket Veteran’s Hall.

Lest we forget.

06/01/2026

Congratulations to Wes Playter on receiving his 20-year membership pin from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 426! ♥️ 🇨🇦 ⭐️

Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home has always been deeply connected to remembrance, service, and community, and Wes is honoured to be recognized for two decades of membership and continued support of the Legion. From assisting with Remembrance Day services to Poppy Sales, Wes has been dedicated to our local veterans and their service to our country.

We are grateful to Branch 426 for this recognition and for the important role they continue to play in honouring our veterans and serving our community.

Congratulations, Wes!

05/27/2026

Join the conversation and stay inspired with us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook for the latest updates, events, history, and more… Let's remember the history of Newmarket and shape the future together by following Roadhouse and Rose on all social media platforms. 🌹

436 Followers, 403 Following, 14 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home ()

05/27/2026

We were delighted to welcome the Newmarket Historical Society to Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home for a special evening of local history, heritage, and community connection.

Presented by Wes Playter, local historian and Manager of Roadhouse & Rose, the presentation explored the remarkable story of Newmarket’s oldest continuously operating business and the third-oldest funeral home in Ontario, from its beginnings in cabinet-making to its evolution into undertaking and funeral service.

Wes shared the journey of the families and owners who helped shape the funeral home across generations, beginning with Samuel Roadhouse, whose cabinet-making work naturally grew into the care of the deceased at a time when furniture-making and coffin-building were closely connected trades. The story continued through N.J. Roadhouse, Lyman Rose, Don Rose, Rodney Ecobichon, Wray Playter, Glenn Playter, to Gregg Davey & Wes Playter.

The presentation also touched on the fire of of 1956 , and the Tudor-style architecture Roadhouse & Rose restored in 2010 to reflect the historic character of the original building that was lost to that fire.

Across generations, Roadhouse & Rose’s connection to this town has extended beyond funeral service and into community life, local events, charitable work, and the ongoing care of the people and stories that make Newmarket so special.

A heartfelt thank you to the Newmarket Historical Society for joining us with such enthusiasm and curiosity. We were honoured to host you and hope the evening offered a deeper look at who we are, where we came from, and how Roadhouse & Rose continues to fit into the wider story of Newmarket.

Special thanks to Juliana Playter for putting together the presentation and slideshow, Jackie Playter for the catering, and Rachael Shindle (Rachael Marie) for her support in helping make the evening such a success.

History lives not only in buildings and archives, but in the people who continue to remember, preserve, and carry it forward.

05/20/2026

Meet Our Charcuterie Cart Sponsor! 🧀🍴✨

Let’s be honest—it’s not a real party until the charcuterie arrives.

A massive thank you to our incredible Charcuterie Cart Sponsor, and for bringing the ultimate grazing experience to Catering for a Cause! Thanks to their incredible support, attendees will be able to enjoy the newest offering from A Million Mouthfuls; the Charcuterie Cart!

We are so grateful for your generosity and for helping us create an unforgettable night for our community! 💛

Don’t miss your chance to graze for a good cause.
🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/catering-for-a-cause-tickets-1985464211905?aff=oddtdtcreator