We don’t need a big, red circle around certain days on the calendar. These are the dates that are etched in our memories. We remember where we were, who we were with, and what time of year it was. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the death of my grandfather. In those 30 years there have been innumerable family milestones: births, weddings, graduations, and holiday gatherings. A diagnosis My grandfather was diagnosed with a brain… Read more »

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 »

Often times while serving the public, we’ll hear comments such as “You must be used to this” or “You’ve become immune to death”. No, we are not immune to death or the far-reaching impact it has on families and our Island community. Yes, funeral service professionals are trained to care for the deceased, taking measures to ensure dignity and respect during the transfer from the place of the death, to our care. We are trained… Read more »

Most Canadians prefer to die at home, yet almost 70% of deaths occur in a hospital. Most older adults die either in hospital or a long-term care facility. When we are called to receive the deceased into our care, we respond with care and compassion. Funeral directors have been trained to demonstrate dignity and respect for the deceased. For a number of years, we were asked to receive the individual through a back door, hidden… Read more »