The funeral service has developed through the years as a result of our instinctive wish to honour our departed loved ones and to comfort the bereaved.  The ceremony of the funeral symbolizes the beliefs of a culture, its moral standards and its spiritual concepts.  The funeral is a cremony of proven worth and value for those who mourn.  It provides an opportunity for the survivors and others who share in the loss to express their love, respect and grief.  Through the funeral the bereaved family and friends take that first step towards emotional adjustment to their loss.

We encourage the personalization of services and we will work together with you to create a fitting tribute.  The following are just a few suggestions to help you personalize a funeral service for your loved one.  You are welcome to incorporate any other unique ways to reflect on and celebrate the life of the person who has died.  A ceremony that is individualized and personalized can become a memorable and comforting occasion.

• Custom  memorial cards with a photograph provide a personalized keepsake.  We can provide these free of charge.
  
  
• If you have favourite scripture readings, you can have them incorporated into the service.
  
  
• Write a letter to the person and express all of the feelings you ever wanted to say, but were afraid to or were never able.  Seal the letter in an envelope and place in the casket.  Your written thoughts will go with your loved one to his or her final resting place. 
  
  
• We have special caskets that can be personalized with different corners and interior panels that include themes of religion, nature or fraternal organizations.

·        Many times, the young children in the family draw pictures of their memories of the deceased and place these in the casket.  This helps to include all family members in the service.

·        Bring in favourite music of the deceased on disc or tape and we will play it during the visitation or service.

·        We offer the use of memory boards and tables so photographs and articles from the deceased's life can be displayed during the visitation and service.  These items encourage friends and relatives to share their memories. Photographs often include those of family gatherings, special events, participation in sports or friends at work.

·        If your loved one had a hobby, loved to building things, was involved in art, photography, crafts or similar interests,  please bring some articles from these areas of their life to be displayed at the funeral home.  For example, we can take quilt work and drape it over the casket or we will make an easel available for a special painting. We have had displayed everything from a cribbage board and preserves to Muskoka chairs and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the funeral home during visitation.

·        If the deceased had a great love for their car, truck or other vehicle, it can be driven in the funeral procession to the church and/or cemetery.  We have even arranged services that have included  fire engines, antique cars, a fleet of motorcycles and a Mack truck in the cortege. 

·        If your loved one composed poetry or essays, we can reproduce several copies so that people might take it with them from the funeral home or perhaps they could be recited as a part of the remembering ritual of the funeral.

·        You may place cherished items in the casket like pictures of the grandchildren and other family members, a photo of the family pet, a favorite golf club, a pool stick, a well worn baseball cap, or a religious item.

·        You might ask someone to eulogize the person. There are times when the clergyperson did not know the person who has died and since the funeral is intended to recognize a life that has been lived, it is important to recognize that life in a personal way. If you are up to the task, you or another family can participate, but most often the family will ask a friend who knew your loved one personally to share a eulogy. Some tips for a eulogy are found in The Eulogy section.