“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grief Resources

The death of someone we care about can be one of the most difficult experiences in life. Words fail to describe how painful the grief we feel can be. It is more challenging than we, or others, might expect.

These articles are meant to describe different types of grief; their intent is to help you understand your own, or to help you empathise with another person's grief.

These articles were written by Dr Bill Webster, our Director of Grief Education, and are part of a comprehensive library available on our Grief Journey web portal. Dr Bill is the founder and executive director of the Centre for the Grief Journey. He earned his doctorate at the University of Toronto in 1990, and has been awarded a prestigious fellowship in thanatology by the Association of Death Education and Counselling (ADEC).

Dr Bill`s knowledge of grief exists not just in theory, but from a very difficult personal experience. In 1983, Bill`s young wife died suddenly of a heart attack. Her passing left him in the difficult situation of coping with immense loss while raising his two sons, who were only seven and nine when their mother died. Dr Bill has become a recognised author, and a renowned international speaker and seminar leader who draws from 30 years of experience in the field of grief support and counselling.

Funeral

Understanding Grief

These articles will help you understand your own grief or the grief of another. Grief is not as simple as it's made out to be; it is more than just "feeling sad."

These articles will help you understand the dynamics of specific losses, such as the loss of a spouse, or the loss of a pet.

Children and Grief

Children and Grief

These articles will help you understand the grief process of a child, with tips on how to help them cope.

Holding hands

Helping those who Grieve

These articles will provide you with some useful information on how to help someone who is grieving, as well as tips on how to help navigate special days and holidays, which can be especially difficult in the wake of a loss.

Olive branch

Coping with Complicated Situations

Grief can come unexpectedly in life. These articles offer more specific information on certain types of grief, such as grief following a suicide, and grief in the workplace.

Frequently asked questions

It is common to have questions about the funeral process. This section answers some commonly asked questions to help make this process easier for you. If additional questions arise, please feel free to contact us directly at the funeral home.

  • A funeral is a ceremony for a deceased person, prior to burial or cremation. A funeral gives the opportunity for family and friends of the deceased to gather and mourn the passing of their loved one, to share cherished memories, and to celebrate their life. A funeral is a vital first step in helping the bereaved heal after the loss of someone special.

  • If no pre-arrangements have been made, the type of service is entirely up to you, but it is best to consider what the deceased may have wanted. Services are usually held at a funeral home or a place of worship. There are a wealth of different services, ranging from traditional religious or military services, to something a little more unique. Our funeral directors are more than happy to work with you to figure out what would be the most appropriate.

  • Of course you can! In fact, more and more people are opting for non-traditional, personalised services.  There is no one way to celebrate somebody’s life. Let the funeral director know exactly what your desires are and they will honour your wishes.

  • It is highly recommended to have an obituary notice that is either posted in a local newspaper or online.  An obituary lets the public know that a death has occurred, and provides them with information about the service.  Obituaries generally include the deceased’s full name, age, city, and date of birth, as well as the city they were living in when they died.  It also includes the name of the deceased’s spouse, along with the names of anyone else significant in their lives, such as parents, children, or grandchildren.  Space may be limited in a newspaper obituary, but you might also wish to include a short sentiment on the life and legacy of the deceased.  An online obituary or memorial website offers you the chance to add a lot more about the deceased. 

  • Funeral directors are in charge of all the logistics following a death.  They complete all the necessary paperwork, make arrangements for the transportation of the body, and put into action the choices made by the family in regard to the funeral service and the final resting place of the body.  Beyond all of this, funeral directors are there to provide emotional support and personal guidance in the wake of a loss.

  • We are here to help. Funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

  • We can arrange to have the remains transported from anywhere in the world. We will assume responsibility and make the proper arrangements to have the remains return to the community.

  • The cost of the funeral depends on the services selected.  The cost includes all professional services including transportation, embalming and other preparations, the use of a facility for the ceremony, and the purchase of a casket or urn.

  • Funerals are labour intensive  A funeral's cost extends beyond the merchandise, and includes the services of the funeral director. Their role in making the necessary arrangements, filling out forms, and dealing with all the other figures involved after a death (doctors, lawyers, insurance companies).  Funeral directors work an average of forty hours per funeral, and the cost of operating a funeral home is included as well.  Funeral homes are a 24 hour operation, with extensive facilities that need to be maintained and secured.