Sunbury Funeral Home

09/09/2026

Funerals, Because Sometimes Actions Speak Louder than Words

The requirements of the pandemic meant that many people were unable to say good-bye to loved ones in person. Restrictions and mandates meant that many families needed to mourn in isolation, which was heart-breaking.

Life has returned to normal. Social venues like movie theaters and sporting arenas now host thousands of people, and we in funeral services continue to offering families the opportunity to say goodbyes in person.

A funeral provides exactly this, a normal way to acknowledge the passing of someone close, someone who in some special way had a positive effect on our lives. Funerals also provide a location to unite and mourn. A funeral is a place where well-wishers can provide comfort and support.

Yes, many things seem to be changing, but the time-honoured ways of paying respects and honouring our loved ones doesn’t need to be one of them. We do have choices and sometimes the value of some of the actions we take isn’t always immediately visible to us. Yes, we can speak fondly about them, but to meet and honour them as a community holds many benefits based on compassion and love.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

09/03/2026

When I am gone

"When I am gone, release me. Let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years.

I gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.
And if you listen with your heart,
You'll hear all my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and say welcome home..."

Author Unknown

09/01/2026

Celebrate the life of Mary Doucet and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/26/2026

Protecting Those I Love at a Vulnerable Time

Anyone who has assumed the responsibility of taking care of the arrangements of a departed loved one knows that the obligations of this role are not easy. Phone calls, emails, texts and meetings are all duties that are part of this undertaking.

There are a lot of decisions that need to be made, even with services that are not overly complicated. And, as we know, for most, this is unfamiliar territory. And of course, there’s the time factor and the anxiety of not knowing if the right decisions are being made.

People get through these duties, but to say the experience is an easy one would be denying some of the harsh realities of this task.

So, what can someone do, to help? It begins with talking about and making some choices in advance. It is recommended to talk with a funeral director. At very minimum they can record your wishes and build a file containing important information such as vital statistics.

By doing so, those administering to this responsibility won’t be starting from scratch. Please contact us to talk with one of our directors about what’s involved when planning a funeral.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/21/2026

Generosity

Being socially isolated, even when not grieving, has a profound effect on a person’s well-being. Cognitive, emotional and physiological behaviours are altered by loneliness. Being lonely does not simply mean being alone. It means lacking a connection to other people – and that connection is vital following the death of a loved one.

It’s important for family and friends to seek out, surround, nurture and care for someone in their peer or family group that has lost someone they love. How can caregivers do this? By being generous.

Generosity, in this sense, does not mean spending cash on gifts and trinkets. This is the time to be generous with your presence, your genuine concern, and your support. Having a nice card to hold is not as comforting to a grieving person as having the hand of a friend to hold.

Your presence can be a powerful healing tool in the life of a grieving person. Being generous with your time and support will have a lasting, positive effect on the person you are comforting.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/20/2026

Celebrate the life of Leonard Nason and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/17/2026

If a farmer dies without a will, knowing the nuances of provincial estate law regulations can save survivors money.

08/12/2026

Unmarked Graves
The Where and the Why

Following the interment of a loved one, next of kin are tasked with arranging for memorialization. This process involves a number of steps, and there are a few questions that are typically looked into at this time: has a monument or marker already been ordered, what lettering is desired for the inscription and will design work be added to the memorial? Placing orders and completing work can take time; in some instances, memorials are ordered and shipped from non-local suppliers.

This is one reason we sometimes find unmarked graves at a cemetery. Sometimes a grave remains unmarked over longer periods of time. This is typically due to survivors of the deceased not initiating the purchase of a memorial or... if the deceased is interred through social services. The expression used in the past was a “Pauper’s Grave.”

Two points need mentioning here. All locations at cemeteries appear on section maps and just because a grave is unmarked, this does not mean it is not identified. Staff can assist in locating a loved one when needed. The second is that a monument or memorial can be purchased in the future as an account is settled and with cemetery regulations and bylaws being adhered to.

Visiting a loved one’s grave needn’t be an occasion of regret.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/07/2026

08/03/2026

Commemorating a Life with a Memorial Tattoo

Archeological digs indicate tattoos date back some 5000 years. Otzi the Iceman who is thought to have lived at about 3200 BC had tattooed skin. More recently, the practice of modern day tattooing seems to have originated with visits to Tahiti by Captain James Cook, an explorer in the 18th Century.

In modern day society, personal tattoos are being worn by increasing numbers and what was predominantly a male custom is now equally adopted by members of both sexes.

According to Inked Magazine there are many reasons for getting tattoos which include: it’s trendy and spontaneous, to spread a message or support a cause, because it’s creative and artistic, and for some tattoo recipients, they like pain. The top cited reason people get tattoos however was to honour someone… “In Memory of…”

Sometimes a memorial tattoo is a picture of a beloved. Sometimes it is a script tattoo, a special verse which, in some way, is personally significant to the wearer.

What we choose to wear and how we wish to appear in public drives at the heart of who we are as a person. Memorial Tattoos honour our relationships with others and pay tribute to those who were near and dear to us.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online