Privilege

By: Alyssa Jerrett
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Our position as a Funeral Director is nothing short of a privilege. Just as it is a privilege to have a driver’s licence, to vote in a provincial election, it is a privilege to care for families during the most difficult times in their lives. Within our chapels, you will find a sign in the front foyer of the following quote - “This building is dedicated to the loving and sensitive care of people in times of need. In this building, we honour and remember human life which is unique and irreplaceable”. 

Our role within the community is a unique one, and vital to those who call upon us when needed. We are entrusted with the care of those who have passed on in a way most people cannot. Several years ago, a Funeral Director, who I was assisting with the arrangements of his own father’s funeral, taught me a special attention to detail he does for each person he serves – before the closing of the casket.  He will take a moment to hold their hand and wish them farewell on their last journey. He said he does this to protect them from the very last moment while also giving the family peace. As a Funeral Director, we are the last ones to ever hold the hand of a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

We are the last ones to stand by their grave, protecting them until the last piece of earth is placed back into their burial plot, before we depart the cemetery. Our dedication to their loved one does not waiver until our position has been fulfilled. My calling to Funeral Services is more than a job, it has always been a vocation. A pathway I knew I was destined to journey each day.  I am provided the privilege of being the last one to hold their hand, wish them a peaceful farewell. With each family I have served through my seven years with the funeral home, my mind takes a little piece of them home with me, and I feel I have the honour of calling them a friend.

Our position within the community extends further than physically honouring someone; the bereaved look to us for the answers to their questions. We are often asked to honour those by being the ones to illustrate their life histories within an hour-long Funeral Service or by saying those final prayers before an urn or casket is placed within their final resting place. We take on each task, each celebration and each final disposition with grace, integrity, and honour, knowing that, at the end of each day, we have made a difference in those who we have served and in their lives for years to come.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Does my loved one require an urn?

Does my loved one require an urn? No. An urn is an ornamental purchase and is not a requirement. The crematorium supplies a temporary container which can be used for the cremation burial or to be ...

Commissioner of Oaths

Do you have cemetery property? Are you the original owner of the plots, or were they handed down from a parent or a grandparent? Most cemeteries allow for either one casket and two urns or four urn...

Featuring Amanda McKinlay

Over the past year, we have been highlighting a number of the dedicated men and women that we are fortunate enough to have working on our team. With Mother’s Day approaching, it only seemed fitting...

Featuring Sean McGivern

I have known Sean McGivern since I first started my career as a Funeral Director many moons ago. Originally from Wallaceburg, Sean has been a licensed for over 36 years and...

Featuring Brian Carney

Brian Carney was made for customer service. Following his time with the Irish military, Brian has worked throughout his professional career in many customer service jobs, both on the front lines an...

Featuring Kim Pierce

They say if you want something done, to ask a busy person. Kim Pierce has been our in-house hairstylist at the Funeral Home for over 30 years. We are so lucky to have her on our team. Kim is very t...

Featuring Mary Ellen Myers

Last week we were out celebrating the birthday of a very key member of our team -  Mary Ellen Myers. I am prone to telling anyone who will listen that I have the best mother-in-law in the worl...

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is a special day where we get to openly celebrate our life partners. There are many who celebrate this day with energy, while many others may sooner have a quiet dinner at home. For...

Featuring Kim Pidgeon

To call Kim Pidgeon a jack-of-all-trades would be an understatement. Kim is skilled in so many areas and is an essential part of our team. Whether he is working out a plan on the parking lot, assis...

Featuring John Brennan

If he does not know you by name, he likely knows you by shoe size. John Brennan was the owner of Simply Shoes in Blenheim and Chatham before taking a much-earned retirement and joining our team. He...