Celebrating Life's Sweet Memories

05/10/2026

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to the moms of the world! It is a number of years since I said goodbye to my sweet mom, but there is never a day that I don't think of her. To celebrate this special day, I remember some of the wonderful Mother's Day celebrations we had, as well as all the wonderful times and wonderful memories I have of her..

05/05/2026

I STILL REMEMBER THE SENSE OF PANIC I FELT WHEN WE LOST MOM, because I had no idea who would conduct her service. She had not been active in a church for some years, so there was no Minister expecting our call. I had no idea what we were going to do.

Fortunately, my niece was active in the United Church, and she offered to contact her Minister. I worried that since my mom was not a member of that church, nor known by my niece’s Minister, that he might refuse. It was such a relief when he agreed to help us, and in the end, mom’s service was filled with music, memories, and moments that mattered to her.

Less than two years later, mom’s husband passed away, and that sense of panic returned, only this time, the Minister who had so kindly helped us out with mom’s service, had retired. There was no longer anyone known to our family that we could approach to conduct a service for our step dad. I had no idea how we would pull off a service with no-one to officiate it for us. It was then, that I heard the word “Celebrant” for the first time. The Funeral Director provided us with a list of names, and we made it a priority to call someone asap!

We were fortunate to reach a Celebrant quite quickly, who agreed to do the service for us, and we set up a time to meet with her. What a relief this was! I was so surprised at how many questions she asked and how much interest she showed in our step dad’s life. But even more impressive was how so many of the details she collected made it into the service. She helped make the day special, personal, and memorable. I was blown away! With the help of the Celebrant, I think we created the perfect service and send off for our step dad…he would have loved it!

It was a number of years before I myself decided to explore what becoming a Celebrant might look like for me. I soon found an online course through Life Celebrants International TM, which was fabulous, and since completing it, I haven’t looked back. I’ve never forgotten the relief I felt when we secured a Celebrant for our step dad’s service, nor what a positive experience it was.

In a nutshell, I hope I can leave a sense of warmth, safety, and love with the families I have the honor of working with, and even a little bit of relief, if their experience is anything like mine was.

03/25/2026

My heart is with the families and friends of these two young men, whose lives held such promise...

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, two young pilots who tragically lost their lives when their Air Canada flight collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night.

Antoine Forest, just 30 years old and from Québec, and Mackenzie Gunther, a 2023 graduate of Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, were at the start of promising careers when this devastating accident took their lives.

“These were two young men at the start of their career, so it’s an absolute tragedy that we’re sitting here with their loss,” said FAA Administrator Bran Bedford, encapsulating the profound sadness felt by all who knew them.

In this time of loss, our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. Their bravery and dedication will not be forgotten.

We also send our thoughts and support to the 41 individuals injured in the incident, and our gratitude to the first responders and medical teams who worked tirelessly to provide aid.

💔 Rest in peace, Antoine and Mackenzie. You will be remembered.

02/14/2026

Love lives forever...Happy Valentines Day to all those who are no longer with us...

12/24/2025

The holidays can be difficult for those missing a loved one. Here are some great suggestions to help you navigate the season. Do only what you feel you can, but don’t hesitate to lean on those you love. Remember that those you are closest to will welcome you and your grief for any activity you choose to participate in. Mostly, just take care of yourself and don’t make demands of yourself. Wishing you peace and comfort this holiday season…

Grief and the Holiday Season

For most of us, the holidays are generally anticipated with excitement and joy. Griever’s however, approach the season with a mixture of dread, excitement and anxiety. Their memories of holidays past can bring forward painful emotions filled with longing and regret. Expectations of family and friends can further add to a griever’s fear of ruining the joys that others experience. This can lead to wanting to avoid situations and to isolation. For individuals who have recently lost someone close, the season is an especially difficult period to navigate.

A starting point to overcoming anxiety associated with attending holiday festivities is to have honest conversations with family and friends about what activities you are comfortable with and what activities you feel may be difficult for you. Discussing plans before the event is one way of letting family and friends know that they may need to be counted on for support. Grief takes energy and making sure you have adequate rest, silence and solitude helps create a space where unique needs can be acknowledged and addressed.

When attending events, remember that the emotions associated with grief can surface when least expected. Some grievers report feeling ambushed by grief, never knowing what word or situation will trigger an uncontrollable outburst of emotions. Having recourse to step away or even escape may be warranted: plan this with a trusted individual and hopefully this will eliminate any fear of losing control.

Begin by attending a shorter event, one which lasts only an hour or two. Learn how this makes you feel and assess you’re your ability to cope. Achieving a small goal such as meeting with family and friends reinforces the grievers understanding that they can participate in holiday season activities. Engaging in a creative activity of the griever’s choosing can lead to uplifting thoughts where small joys are experienced.

It is important to lower expectations and engage in activities that are manageable. Having a plan that addresses concerns in the days preceding the holidays will ease the task ahead.

Remember, the holidays season will soon be over. Some will find solace in knowing that ‘this too shall pass.’

Bertha Brannen
Bereavement Group Leader

© Affinity Funeral Service/CFHC Online

12/14/2025

A good reminder for all year long, but especially during the holiday season.

"Slow Down" 🎄

11/18/2025

Today is National Grief and Bereavement Day...this is definitely a topic that deserves more attention and education, since most of us will be affected at some time in our lives.

Today is National Grief and Bereavement Day. Grief is real, valid, and deeply personal, but no one should have to navigate it alone.

We call on Canadians to join the national dialogue to improve Grief Literacy in Canada and ensure everyone has access to the support and resources they need. Let's work together to .

11/11/2025

THE FIELD OF CROSSES SET AGAINST THE CITY SKYLINE - A stark reminder of all we enjoy today because of those who fought for our freedom. The 3700 crosses each represent a Southern Albertan who died in service to our country. Each one of these men and women had families, lives, hopes, dreams, and stories cut short, as each made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could live out our life stories. We have much to be grateful for as we remember and honor them today. Lest we forget...

10/31/2025

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN - and be careful out there! Go with a group; stay close to home; make sure you can be seen by cars; don't stay out to late if you're not with a parent; and, carefully inspect the candy before eating to ensure there are no nasty tricks! Also, don't forget to keep the furries safely indoors.

10/31/2025

If you are missing someone today, these are wonderful suggestions...

🎃 While is a time of excitement and fun for many, it's important to recognize that for some children, it can also be a time of mixed emotions. While they may be excited about costumes and candy, they might also feel a sense of loss and sadness, missing a loved one who isn't there to share in the fun. Seeing others celebrate with their families may serve as a reminder of their own loss.

It's perfectly normal for children to experience these feelings. As they navigate through this, let's offer them our support and understanding. Encourage open conversations about their emotions and let them know that it's okay to feel sad or miss someone special, even on Halloween.

Here are some activities that might help ⤵️