Have you ever heard of an end-of-life doula? While most people recognize the term doula as related to birth and babies, there are now doulas specializing in death and dying. For those who have received the unfortunate news that they have a terminal illness or that their health is declining,…
When it comes to scattering ashes, many people have ideas of where they would like their final resting place to be.You would have likely heard that you cannot just scatter ashes wherever you want, but is that true? Let's look at the practice of scattering ashes in Ontario and what's…
It's everyone's worst nightmare - a loved one dying abroad. You worry about all sorts of things going wrong, especially if it's your senior parents. When you pass away in Canada, it's fairly straight forward. You follow the process,by calling a funeral home, the police or an ambulance. Loved ones…
Writing an obituary can be a painful, yet cathartic experience. It's an opportunity to celebrate a life while also informing friends and neighbours of a loved ones passing. They also provide details on how you can honour the dead - by attending a visitation and funeral or by sending flowers…
If you're having a tough time after a death, but are intimidated by traditional therapy, consider trying some grief counseling apps and web platforms to break the ice. There's no shame in grieving, especially if a close family member or friend passed away. Everyone copes in different ways. And while…
And RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) is an investment you make for your future. The idea is that you contribute to the savings during your working years as it grows in value and gains interest, so that when you're ready to retire you have money to live on. With good…
Have you heard about Bereavement Photography? Unless you've ever been in the position to request this service, it's unlikely that you have. It's a hush-hush topic, as it generally has to do with terminally ill children or still born babies. And while you might want to turn a blind eye…
Many municipalities, such as Hamilton - the focus of a recent Hamilton Spectator article - are running out of room for people in its cemeteries. Not only this, but the population is looking for more economical burial options, and traditional burial in a cemetery can be pricy. It's not just…
While at present, most funeral homes and cremation centres offer two burial options - cremation and burial. But for residents of Washington State, there will soon be a third option. Governor Jay Inslee just signed a new piece of legislation into law that allows for "aboveground decomposition." Making it the…
Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday, which was May 24, 1819. And while the holiday celebrates the life of our second longest reigning monarch (Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her), one of the most often told stories about Queen Victoria is about how she mourned her beloved…
