Belvedere Funeral Home

08/28/2026

Celebrate the life of Joann "JoAnn" Gallant and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/28/2026

One of the decisions that comes up for a funeral is - who should be the pallbearers? Learn about the norms and etiquette of choosing pallbearers to help you.

08/24/2026

Celebrate the life of Charles Lord and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/24/2026

08/23/2026

Stages of Grief – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Renowned psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, in her 1969 book “On Death and Dying” outlined five stages of grief, which explored experiences of the dying. This book revitalized a conversation about death and dying to a society that had ‘tucked away a public dialogue on this difficult topic.’ Society was provided a framework to understand how individuals mourn their own death and how loved ones grieve. Her theories of that time were widely accepted as she took upon the role to address this often-overlooked part of the human condition. The influence of her work is still felt today as buzz-words such as denial, depression and acceptance are regularly explored by modern day grief professionals.

The Stages

• Denial is the initial stage of disbelief that the loved one is no longer there. It is often referred to as the buffer stage as it allows a griever a bit of time in order for the truth to be gently revealed.

• Anger is the natural response to facing the end of a life that has been lived and enjoyed. This stage can be particularly difficult for survivors. Anger allows for the free expression of frustration, loss and pain. Dying, death and grief are very emotional events for all involved.

• Bargaining is a human response to consider how difficult outcomes can be changed. Bargaining offers a sense of limited control allowing a reprieve from reality by focusing on things that could change the outcome. The terminally ill patient may make a commitment to self or a bargain with God to live a healthier lifestyle in order to be healed. Bargaining is not known to be as common with the bereaved although some have admitted to offering whatever it takes for their loved ones to be healed. Praying for a miracle is often assigned to the bargaining stage.

• Depression is the natural response to the full realization that no further actions will change the outcome or reality of an impending or recently experienced death. At this point in the grief journey withdrawal and sadness occur. All hope for an alternate outcome is lost.

• Acceptance is the final stage of coming to terms with the reality of the outcome. This stage allows for self-reflection and making peace with the end of life or for a griever, the acceptance that a love one is gone.

Kubler-Ross pioneered this much-needed dialogue and framework to address death and dying. Her books on grief and related topics have been studied and expanded upon over time to gain an understanding about all losses associated with the human experience. Her normalizing of the end of the life journey has paved the way for future grief experts such as Kessler and Wolfelt to expand upon this discussion.
It is important to note that the stages are not experiences in a linear fashion by all who grieve. Some oscillate between the stages and some skip stages altogether; this it is a reminder that dying is a complex process. That being said, her work and stages have been the basis for countless paradigms that have followed which have led to a broader understanding of the normal experience that is end of life.

In Summary, though Elisabeth Kubler-Ross focused on educating hospital workers who were caring for the dying, family members also largely benefitted from her teachings about palliative care.

Family members who are given information about the stages are better equipped to address denial (interpreted as doing the best you can under the circumstances). Anger can be the opportunity to vent and express frustration. The bargaining stage introduces listening and supporting a dialogue with the understanding that speaking words out loud helps to unravel thoughts. Depression is better addressed by choosing to comfort and support without offering false hope or platitudes. Acceptance is difficult for the dying and family members but it makes room for a special time to say goodbyes, make amends if necessary and express love.

Concluding Remarks:
The above Kubler-Ross paradigm was dedicated to normalizing the end of the life journey and it has been followed by current paradigms from present-day grief experts such as David Kessler and Dr Alan Wolfelt. Though some scholars have been critical of the successional order of her stages of grief, it remains a fact that her work has led to many insights into the process of dying and to a broader understanding of the normal human experience that is end of life.

Society has come to understand that caring is as important as curing and that a human response to death needs to encompasses patience, compassion and healing.

Bertha Brannen
Grief Recovery Specialist

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/23/2026

Remembering Robert Stanley Weir, the Canadian lyricist behind
“O Canada”

Today, we honour Robert Stanley Weir, a Canadian judge and poet best known for writing the English lyrics to “O Canada,” who passed away 100 years ago on August 20, 1926.

Educated as a teacher and a lawyer, Weir served as a municipal court judge before being appointed to the Exchequer Court of Canada. In his spare time, he liked to dabble in poetry. He published several pieces in magazines and book collections, with his poem, “O Canada” – which was written in 1908 – being his most notable work.

While a French version had been in place since 1880, more than 100 English renditions were used until Weir’s “O Canada” gained popularity. It was published in official form for the Diamond Jubilee of Canadian Confederation in 1927 and on July 1, 1980, it was officially proclaimed the English version of the national anthem.

In addition to having a postage stamp and a street named after him in Montreal, Weir was honoured as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Today, a monument in his honour stands at Weir Memorial Park, on the shores of Lac Memphrémagog, near where he wrote the lyrics to our nation’s most patriotic song. On the 100th anniversary of his passing, we stand on guard for thee, acknowledging Weir’s contribution to our nation’s history.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Robert Stanley Weir FRSC (November 15, 1856 – August 20, 1926) was a Canadian judge and poet most famous for writing the English lyrics to "O Canada", the national anthem of Canada. He was educated as a teacher and lawyer and considered one of the leading experts of the day on Quebec's municipal c...

08/22/2026

Celebrate the life of Gene Cross and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/21/2026

Celebrate the life of John MacSwain and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/21/2026

Celebrate the life of Joan Axworthy and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

08/20/2026

Celebrate the life of Juanita (Bonny) Worthen and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.