MacIsaac Funeral Home

05/29/2026

05/26/2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sarah Anne Kennedy on May 25, 2026 at the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home. Born in River Denys, Cape Breton, on March 5, 1932. She was the second eldest of eleven children of Michael and Ena Mae (MacIsaac) Chisholm. Sadie graduated from Teacher’...

05/26/2026

On November 25, 2025, Elizabeth “Betty” Boyd of Edmonton died peacefully in the Edmonton General Palliative Care, at the age of 95 years. Betty was born in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, on July 8, 1930. Betty graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan. She worked for a sh...

05/25/2026

Keeping Your Family Together
Purchasing Family Plots, Reserving and Buying Adjoining Niches.

In the past, the decision to purchase a family plot was more automatic in nature. Families were bigger, traditional funerals and burials were more commonplace and there was less mobility from one generation to the next. Having an extra spot for an unmarried son or daughter was often part of the purchase decision. “They can go in the family plot.”

Times have changed, but given the choice, wouldn’t it be better if family can have a final resting place together? Many families are doing exactly this. Some purchase a family plot where either casket burials or cremation urns can be placed. They identify the location with a family monument, where the names of family members who are interred at the grave are inscribed on the memorial.

Sometimes families who choose cremation will purchase 2, 3 and sometimes more niche locations or urn garden spaces adjacent to one another. This keeps everyone together and makes it easier to visit in the future.

It takes a family discussion and a bit of planning to make this choice. If given options, wouldn’t it be better to be interred beside relatives, rather than people you don’t know?

© MacIsaac Funeral Home/CFHC Online

05/20/2026

Coping with Survivor’s Guilt

Sometimes the circumstances surrounding the death of a loved one have the survivor(s) experiencing guilt. Perhaps the death is accidental, a car accident for example. Some family members die and some live.

Not only are survivors experiencing grief, they are also questioning the fairness of what has happened. They are burdened with lingering questions such as, “Why them and why not me?” Could something have been done to have a different outcome? Self-blame is experienced and this complicates the griever’s ability to accept their loss.

Some strategies to cope include:
• Exercise self-compassion and patience. Know that what is being experienced can be managed.
• Allow emotions to be experienced such as guilt, sadness, anger and grief. Suppressing feelings can prolong the pain and the journey to heal from grief.
• Share feelings with trusted individuals who are compassionate to your experience. Being part of a community can provide a sense of relief.
• If struggling or unable to cope, support from a mental health professional may be needed. They possess the training and have experience with others who have also experienced loss. They can provide strategies to help better manage grief and overcome survivor's guilt.

Some individuals choose to channel their feelings of guilt to stoke their own desire to make a difference in someone else’s life. For some the act of helping others brings immense benefits to them - providing new purpose and meaning to their life.

Anne DeButte
Grief Coach and Podcaster
“Let’s Talk About Grief with Anne”

© MacIsaac Funeral Home/CFHC Online

05/20/2026

Carolin Christel Schluter, of Georgeville, NS, passed away peacefully at the age of 58 on Saturday May 16, 2026 in Antigonish, surrounded by friends and family. Carolin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on July 8, 1967 to Lothar and Christel Schluter. When Carolin was 7 years old, the family moved to....

05/16/2026

Marilyn Ann Theresa (Ward) MacIsaac, 86, of Halifax passed away peacefully on May 13, 2026. She was holding her son Grant’s hand, with one of her favourite songs, Little Baby Ducks by Tom T. Hall, playing in the background. Born in Halifax to Mary (Power) and Frank Ward on July 25, 1939, Marilyn g...

05/13/2026

It is with heavy hearts and deep love that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother (Nana), great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, Velma MacDonald (née Bates), who passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2026. Velma was born on November 30, 1928, in New Waterford, Nova Sco...

05/13/2026

The Nurse Honor Guard consists of volunteer nurses that give nurses a lasting dedication upon their death.

05/12/2026

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of George (Buddy R.) MacDonald of Brierly Brook, Antigonish County, aged 91 years. He was the son of the late Hector and Susan (Bowie) MacDonald. Buddy lived on the old homstead and operated the family farm. He also worked for the Department of Highway...