About Us

34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, New Brunswick

Set against the history and beauty of the heritage property nestled in the quaint Town of Sussex, New Brunswick.  In 1976 John and Flo Ross purchased a beautiful old farmhouse at 34 Sunnyside Drive, known as the Slipp Farm, which was built in 1856.  Although extensive renovations had to be made to this century home, its unique style and charm were maintained.  It is pristine white with stately columns and is situated with a prominent view of Sussex with a panorama of pastoral farmland.  The interior decor was carefully selected with every detail meticulously attended to in order to provide Sussex and area with a funeral home unlike any other in our area.

The house was built in 1856 by William Roach and was sold to George Slipp in 1879. At that time the rear addition was added which made up the kitchen and summer kitchen. In our rear foyer hangs a piece of plaster that says “ William Duncan, Sussex Boss, Charles McMann, St. John, Painter, James Aston, Liverpool England, Painter, Thomas Thompson, Richibucto, painter, painted this house may 1^st, 1879”, which was found during the restoration in 1977.

The home remained in Slipp family until 1952 when it was sold to Sussex Realty Co. the farm was sold into lots and the house made into apartments and rooms for rent. In 1955, it was sold to potters; Erica and Keld Deichmann where they made their internationally known pottery. In 1977, it was sold to Wallace Funeral Home Co. and was restored to it Historic beauty.

September 14 2005, 34 Sunnyside Dr. experienced a devastating electrical fire, the first fire in its 149 year history. The building was closed for several months while the restoration took place. For all intense and purposes the look of the building was maintained, however public opinion has it, that it looks more like a museum than a funeral home. Many of the furnishings in the building are from local families and most recently an empire sofa and side chairs belonging to the original Slipp family have found their way back home and are sitting the same place they did over a hundred years ago. The light fixtures in the main rooms of the house once light the Newtown Baptist Church, which was built in the same year as 34 Sunnyside Dr. Before the Church was torn down the oil lights were donated to Wallace Funeral Home, they were converted to electric and now their history lives on with us.

Throughout the building hang many photos of the original families who lived here. There are photos of Sussex and familiar streets as they were in the 1800s and there is furniture made by Fenwick Wallace himself.