What to say to a grieving person

How many times have you felt anxious at the thought of attending a visitation? Did you run through what you might say to those in the receiving line? If so, you aren’t alone. People often feel uncomfortable and unsure of what to say or do.   What not to say The following video by Kay Warren provides helpful guidance in what and what not to say. If you aren’t a person of prayer, you can… Read more »

We’re heading back to school …

As summer ends and parents scramble to gather school supplies, sneakers and backpacks, we thought we’d take a moment to explore how the school curriculum relates to the funeral service profession. Music How many of us spent early mornings at band practice? Playing music has numerous therapeutic benefits. When we take time to listen to music, it can help transport us to memories of the past, provide solace and comfort, and perhaps even brighten our… Read more »

Social media and funeral service

It’s World Social Media Day (#SMDay) – a day to recognize and celebrate social media’s impact on global communication. As funeral service professionals, we use social media as a ways and means of communicating with families, our community, and colleagues from around the world. Our first foray with online communication was the development of our website, www.macleanfh.com almost two decades ago. Since that time, we’ve developed our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram pages,… Read more »

The Island Way

How many times have we heard the phrase, “It’s the Island way”? There are any number of habits, phrases, or actions that can be deemed “the Island way”. In recent weeks, CBC PEI published an article about the PEI Highway Traffic Act and the legislation around funeral processions. The social media reaction was significant. Although the legislation states, “whenever a person operating a motor vehicle approaches a funeral procession, he shall reduce his speed to… Read more »

The Empty Seat

This past weekend millions around the globe tuned in to watch Prince Harry marry Meaghan Markle. The observant watcher would have noticed something different – an empty seat, to the right of Prince William. Prince Harry and his bride ensured that Lady Diana was not absent from the ceremony. The empty seat recognized her physical absence from the event, but rest assured, she was in the hearts and minds of many. The bride and groom… Read more »